Bad_Bubby
06-01-2006, 01:50 AM
Hi guys, I just noticed the discussion going on with Urangan Jetty and thought I'd air my opinion on what is happening to the jetty fishing up here in Cairns. I know a few Cairns members frequent these boards so I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on the situation we have here with landbased fishers and tourists. What I'm going to say may not be crowd pleasing but there have been a few issues that have really made me think about where this town is heading now that the new year is upon us. Has anyone noticed how few places we can fish now without a boat? #:-?I like fishing by boat its relaxing and allows you to get to special spots. But I also like my landbased fishing and I think its a real shame what is happening here in Cairns. I've noticed ever since the Fitzroy Island Jetty was closed off to fishing a domino effect has occured with much of the fishing around the mouth of the Inlet all prohibited to fishing :-/.
The Fitzroy Island Jetty was closed, from memory due to shark fishers leaving a mess. Then about 18months ago fishing became banned at most of the Marlin Jetty and the Esplanade. From the whole length of the broadwalk (near the casino) downstream through to the outer marlin jetty fishing is all prohibited. Out of the whole Marlin Jetty marina and surrounds only one side of the outer jetty approx 80m long is allocated to fishing ::). This may comprise 20% of the perimeter of the whole marlin jetties. It also just happens to be the side where there is continual waist heigh railing and no rod holders. If thats not enough a security patrol car drives up and down the jetty all night at 15 minute intervals.
The whole Esplanade is prohibited now. You get kicked off by security guards if you walk on there with any fishing equipment, even a cast net. About 5 years ago it was possible to fish anywhere around the Pier marketplace and Esplanade. I used to cast net mullet outside MacDonalds and carry them to the best spot on the marlin jetty where anyone could fish safely and easily. Kids, tourists, and families could all fish there in harmony. You could catch fingermark, jacks and cod with other fishers and have a good time 8-). There was also the rock wall outside the Pier where you could stroll down after work and have some casts before it got dark. That was until the second jetty was built over the top of it.
The only other jetty is Palm Cove Jetty, a solid half hour drive from Cairns. The Barron River jetty is useless, you cannot land fish off it due to its height. It is not even the length of an everage cast, and not accessable or known by many. Not everyone has a boat. If young people can't fish in their own town is it any wonder they start joining gangs, turning to alcohol/drugs and bashing up tourists at night time (i.e remember the recent incident where the English backbacker was bashed?). I'm sure many locals wish to walk the Esplanade at night after they finish work but are forced to stay in the suburbs due to the gang problem. Has anyone ever tried walking nearby the CBD MacDonalds any time of a night? there are gangs there almost constantly everytime I've gone there especially over the past year :o.
On this point is it also not the protection of tourists interests being the motivation behind banning fishing at these jetties? How can Cairns be seen as protecting the interests of tourists by having jetties without fishers yet having a problem with visitors being jumped on. Afterall, the tourists have no way of knowing where the safe parts of Cairns are. It seems to me that youth having no way of enjoying or expressing themselves outside of school in Cairns. I don't think they are to blame, I think its the way they are marginalised into a world where they must either be at home watching tv or causing mischief whenever they are outside of home. Fishing is an integral part of living up here yet they are discouraged to take it up :-/.
I'm no expert but I think having such rigid rules really defeats the purpose of there being rules to begin with. Wouldn't it be better if Cairns embraced fishing, using it as a way of keeping young people out of courtrooms. It would also be better for many tourists who come here to fish landbased. I've lost count the number of times I've seen dissapointed tourists. I know some tackle shops up here have an annual kid's day at Palm Cove or the mouth of the Barron....but what use is this really to the few people that participate?. Palm Cove is a long car trip away for 90% of Cairns residents and the Barron mouth cannot be fished properly in certain conditions let alone safely when darkness closes in (crocs). Both of these locations can't be fished without a drivers license, whereas the CBD can at least be reached by bicycle as many students ride to Cairns high and Trinity Bay high just up the road.
I think its a real shame that the area around the Esplanade through to Trinity Wharf has a stigma that your doing an injustice by fishing. Townsville may not be the best example of an orderly city but at least they have the right balance between the rights of tourists and locals at popular, easily accessable local fishing spots. The situation here in Cairns is so vastly different that it makes me feel very miserable for people learning to fish here or even growing up in this town :-[. Goodluck to anyone fishing landbased in Cairns during 2006...you're gunna need it. Cheers
The Fitzroy Island Jetty was closed, from memory due to shark fishers leaving a mess. Then about 18months ago fishing became banned at most of the Marlin Jetty and the Esplanade. From the whole length of the broadwalk (near the casino) downstream through to the outer marlin jetty fishing is all prohibited. Out of the whole Marlin Jetty marina and surrounds only one side of the outer jetty approx 80m long is allocated to fishing ::). This may comprise 20% of the perimeter of the whole marlin jetties. It also just happens to be the side where there is continual waist heigh railing and no rod holders. If thats not enough a security patrol car drives up and down the jetty all night at 15 minute intervals.
The whole Esplanade is prohibited now. You get kicked off by security guards if you walk on there with any fishing equipment, even a cast net. About 5 years ago it was possible to fish anywhere around the Pier marketplace and Esplanade. I used to cast net mullet outside MacDonalds and carry them to the best spot on the marlin jetty where anyone could fish safely and easily. Kids, tourists, and families could all fish there in harmony. You could catch fingermark, jacks and cod with other fishers and have a good time 8-). There was also the rock wall outside the Pier where you could stroll down after work and have some casts before it got dark. That was until the second jetty was built over the top of it.
The only other jetty is Palm Cove Jetty, a solid half hour drive from Cairns. The Barron River jetty is useless, you cannot land fish off it due to its height. It is not even the length of an everage cast, and not accessable or known by many. Not everyone has a boat. If young people can't fish in their own town is it any wonder they start joining gangs, turning to alcohol/drugs and bashing up tourists at night time (i.e remember the recent incident where the English backbacker was bashed?). I'm sure many locals wish to walk the Esplanade at night after they finish work but are forced to stay in the suburbs due to the gang problem. Has anyone ever tried walking nearby the CBD MacDonalds any time of a night? there are gangs there almost constantly everytime I've gone there especially over the past year :o.
On this point is it also not the protection of tourists interests being the motivation behind banning fishing at these jetties? How can Cairns be seen as protecting the interests of tourists by having jetties without fishers yet having a problem with visitors being jumped on. Afterall, the tourists have no way of knowing where the safe parts of Cairns are. It seems to me that youth having no way of enjoying or expressing themselves outside of school in Cairns. I don't think they are to blame, I think its the way they are marginalised into a world where they must either be at home watching tv or causing mischief whenever they are outside of home. Fishing is an integral part of living up here yet they are discouraged to take it up :-/.
I'm no expert but I think having such rigid rules really defeats the purpose of there being rules to begin with. Wouldn't it be better if Cairns embraced fishing, using it as a way of keeping young people out of courtrooms. It would also be better for many tourists who come here to fish landbased. I've lost count the number of times I've seen dissapointed tourists. I know some tackle shops up here have an annual kid's day at Palm Cove or the mouth of the Barron....but what use is this really to the few people that participate?. Palm Cove is a long car trip away for 90% of Cairns residents and the Barron mouth cannot be fished properly in certain conditions let alone safely when darkness closes in (crocs). Both of these locations can't be fished without a drivers license, whereas the CBD can at least be reached by bicycle as many students ride to Cairns high and Trinity Bay high just up the road.
I think its a real shame that the area around the Esplanade through to Trinity Wharf has a stigma that your doing an injustice by fishing. Townsville may not be the best example of an orderly city but at least they have the right balance between the rights of tourists and locals at popular, easily accessable local fishing spots. The situation here in Cairns is so vastly different that it makes me feel very miserable for people learning to fish here or even growing up in this town :-[. Goodluck to anyone fishing landbased in Cairns during 2006...you're gunna need it. Cheers