Pectoral fin removal - do you forget?

[samson]

The rules rediculous i have a coral reef quota that lets me sell coral reef species but i still clip all my fish because the quota notification rules are bordering on suicidal so when i sell them they have their fins cliped anyway even when they aren't black marketed fish.

These rules are there to help the coral reef fishery from over fishing and black marketing but with me i think it has the opposite effect sometimes having to throw lots of fish back dead because i haven't got enough to deal with the headaches involved in quota notifing or can't get phone coverage so can't risk fines to bring fish in so they get thrown back dead.

[Scott nthQld]

I still can't see an issue with the rule, its there, its got to be obeyed and its been inforce since the Zoning occured.

Given that the rule has been there for over 2 yrs now, why are we going through the pros and cons of it now? Trying to argue with each other over something that we can do nothing about.

The point is, the rule has been in force for a length of time now, so everyone should be aware of it, any responsible fisherperson that does not check up on the rules is asking for any fines they cop IMO, its our responsibility to make sure we follow the rules, and ignorance is not an excuse (well it is, but a very poor one that isn't accepted)

There are more pressing issues that will affect us more than the extra 2-3 seconds it takes to ice a fish we catch so lets drop this one and concentrate more on our right of access to the reef, the rate things are going, we won't have to worry about clipping the fins off fish, cos we won't be allowed to catch them soon.

[disorderly]

What does everybody use to cut them off with???

I only use a knife and often dont bother cutting them off ...

Sometimes if it's a bit rock an rolly and I'm 60 km's or more out by myself then I'm sure not going to risk cutting myself for such a dumbass rule.

Sometimes I get onto a good patch of fishing and am not going to sacrifice even 30 seconds ...I want to get my line back down as quick as possible.

Sometimes because I often fish weekdays and I know there's no one around at the ramp when i return then some fish get snipped and some dont.

Sometimes I just really cant be bothered ....although sometimes when I'm returning and I'm a km or so from the ramp and see a bit of commotion I get a bit paranoid and stop the boat and start sorting through fish and quickly knocking off the fins...would really hate to get fined for 15-20 reef fish...

Scott

[Benno1]

on the calm days i use a knife...but if its a bit bumpy ive got an old pair of chicken shears that i use...easy peasy lemon squeezy

Mrs Benno1

[Scott nthQld]

yeah, shears work well, but I just use an old pair of side cutters, does the job nicely, especially if the fish happend to have a rather bony leading edge on the pectoral fin

[Nic]

What does everybody use to cut them off with???
I only use a knife and often dont bother cutting them off ...
Sometimes if it's a bit rock an rolly and I'm 60 km's or more out by myself then I'm sure not going to risk cutting myself for such a dumbass rule.

Just use shears mate, you'd be surprised how quick and easy it is. You'll be able to get a line back down quick smart.

[tunaticer]

95% of the time I remember to dock the fin to follow the rules, yet someday I know I will get caught on the 1 fish in my esky that isn't clipped through sheer forgetfulness. I bet my arse the inspector will not be forgetful about that fish especially if it is the only fish in the esky.

To me this whole thing is pretty useless and should be aimed directly at the shops that buy fish to sell.

Joe Bloggs down the road might go fishing and catch his limit of fish, and if he has the mind to sell them who would he sell to first? The local fish shop or some guy he knows wouldn't mind sparing a few bucks for a fresh feed of fish?

Who goes out these days and catches thier limit and thinks this is going to be enough to sell to the fishandchippery down the road?

Bag limits are set to a size for normal consumption, not to an amount worth selling.

No amount of regulation will be able to stop joe catching his limit and selling a couple to the pensioner down the road or vice versa as it is impossible to police effectively.

Targetting the buying practices of stores however is a finite area to aim at and where the black market should be attacked. Make the buyers fines so massive they dare not go outside the normal channels.

Will tomorrow morning be the morning I get pinged for being forgetful even though I NEVER even think about selling anything?

Jack.

[disorderly]

on the calm days i use a knife...but if its a bit bumpy ive got an old pair of chicken shears that i use...easy peasy lemon squeezy

Mrs Benno1

If you don't mind me asking.........

just what are chicken shears,Mrs Benno?....

and where does one obtain said item?

Scott

[disorderly]

I just use an old pair of side cutters,

They might be alright for you townsville blokes that just catch tiddlers but how are the sidecutters going to go once you catch a real fish..

[Alchemy]

They might be alright for you townsville blokes that just catch tiddlers but how are the sidecutters going to go once you catch a real fish..

here are my side cutters

[Alchemy]

I still can't see an issue with the rule, its there, its got to be obeyed and its been inforce since the Zoning occured.

Given that the rule has been there for over 2 yrs now, why are we going through the pros and cons of it now? Trying to argue with each other over something that we can do nothing about.

The point is, the rule has been in force for a length of time now, so everyone should be aware of it, any responsible fisherperson that does not check up on the rules is asking for any fines they cop IMO, its our responsibility to make sure we follow the rules, and ignorance is not an excuse (well it is, but a very poor one that isn't accepted)

There are more pressing issues that will affect us more than the extra 2-3 seconds it takes to ice a fish we catch so lets drop this one and concentrate more on our right of access to the reef, the rate things are going, we won't have to worry about clipping the fins off fish, cos we won't be allowed to catch them soon.

Well put Scott. I agree that there are far more pressing issues for us and fishing.

Regards,
Dave.

[Benno1]

If you don't mind me asking.........

just what are chicken shears,Mrs Benno?....

and where does one obtain said item?

Scott

No worries Scott...i got them in a knife block set Mr Benno bought me from Myers...Kmart has them also...i used to use them to cut up cooked or fresh chook...its serated on one blade...has a bottle opener on it and a nut cracker as well...very sturdy/comfortable handle...good for lefties or righties...i keep a set in the boat always ...ill find the digi and post a piccie...

Mrs Benno1

[ozbee]

why i have no trouble with the law, who gets the fine if one or two is missed . i hammer this rule to the crew but when fishing at night out on the reef when they come through it is very much a go go while the hot bite is on and it is easily to miss one. the trouble is you tend to want to pack them down in the esky between ice layers so you wont want to pull them out .

any how has any body been fined for missing one surely they are reasonable.

also how would they determine which person actually caught the offending fish not clipped or does the skipper cop it

maybe the mob that make the ausfish letters for us could make the sign ALL REEF FISH TO BE CLIPPED BEFORE PLACEMENT IN ESKY which would be great to stick on your esky .after all with the price of fuel going out to the reef is a expensive item you may carry some crew to share costs and are less skilled than you are in fishing regulations.

[samson]

Ozbee they aren't reasonable mate we had the best part of 400kg of fish on a commercial trip and my mate put one moses perch in the esky during the night without my knowledge it weighed about 200grams and if sold would have got maybe got a dollar, but this idiot from fisheries fined my mate $150 and me for $150 for being in charge of the boat thats two fines for one fish that i have more than 4 tonne of quota on but when i offered 1 tonne of quota to wipe the fine he didn't give to shits.

So if you think you can get off think again they'll fine a hole boat load of guys for one fish if they like, its not about saving the fishery it's about making their quota in fines they don't give two shits about the fishery.

[Nico.d.R]

i dont cut them off because i never catch any reefies , if i did get a reef fish i would cut it off , the law is there to try and stop the black market but it is probly not really that effective i think because most people and restaurants that buy black market fish will still by them .

i worked on a trawler 10 years ago and around xmas we were not getting much per kg $13 per kg i think) of prawns because there were lots around so the coop paid us 13 per kg and sold them for $20-$25 per kg . after un loading and getting paid jack shit for our catch , we went down to sandgate and heres a van with no license plates parked out the front of wollies with tubs of prawns that he had cast netted selling them for 20 bucks a kg. he had more than his legal catch for starters and when the skipper asked him if he had a license he said f@#k off , any way the shit hit the fan because the skipper pays lots off money every year to be able to make a living selling fish and this bloke just didnt care untill we rang the police he packed up shop and left real quick .
I also know when i was 16 that we could sell fish to the chinese shops in sandgate no questions asked or at most corner shops and pubs these places people wont care if the fin has been cut off they see cheap fish and they buy it .

so even though the cutting of fins may not work it is there to try and help so the few extra seconds it takes to do it shouldnt matter .

cod are on the list of fin fish too arnt they ? does that meen that if you catch a cod in the creek you need to cut of the fin ?

cheers nico