Bass swim 260km, jump wall to breed!

[bchaser]

Hey, anyone else read this in the weekend star this morning?

Bass swim 260km, jump wall to breed

10th December 2009, Northers Star.

• TWO bass fish leapt over a 36 metre dam wall in an incredible 260km journey to breeding grounds in southeast Queensland, new research has revealed.

Queensland Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the research showed stocked fish displayed the same behaviour as naturally bred Australian bass.
Both fish were tagged as part of research into the state's fisheries stocking program in freshwater dams.

The first fish, dubbed Bill, was originally tagged in Lake Baroon near Maleny in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in February 2005 and measured 240mm.
Another bass, which measured 245mm, was also tagged in Lake Baroon the following month.

Mr Mulherin said both fish were caught this year in Tinana Creek near Maryborough and both now measured 290mm.

"During their journey the two fish leapt over the 36 metre high Baroon Pocket Dam wall at Maleny, swam down Obi Obi Creek into the Mary River and eventually made their way to the 8.1 metre tidal barrage," he said.

"They swam over the barrage and entered the estuary - most likely to breed.
"The fish then swam up another tributary, went upstream through the fishway at Tinana Barrage, and are now in Tinana Creek, presumably waiting to do it all over again in the coming winter."


Had to share this one. Makes me wonder what other species are making similar journies from other impoundments....

bren.

[stonecold]

Missed that story Bren....pretty amazing stuff. Always intrigues me how they manage to get up the falls at the clarence gorge. Even when the waters up high enough the sheer volume of water coming down there must make actually getting up a super feat in itself

[matt fraser]

Interesting story, tagging certainly is a great tool for understanding fish movements and growth.

There are lots of stories of fish going over dam walls in flood, unfortunately, becuase of the design of the spillway, many fish don't survive. Other dams are more fish friendly.

Back in 1999 (I think) when their were big floods, Bass that were tagged in Somerset, were caught in the Brisbane River below Wivenhoe. That's two big dam walls to survive.

There are lots of rivers downstream from dams that fish very well, thanks to the escapees.

Matt

[NAGG]

see what a preoccupation with sex does ....... I bet it was a tiger bass