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Amazing reef images from a photography competition run by Reef Check Australia in partnership with Project AWARE, created to raise awareness about the effects of climate change, over-fishing and pollution to our national reefs.

In an Australian first, authorities are tracking 11 whales which survived a mass stranding in Tasmania's north-west.

Authorities have used satellite technology to confirm 11 whales that survived a mass stranding in Tasmania's far north-west on the weekend remain at sea.

Starlo fishing game goes to family show

The Melbourne 2008 National 4WD show, Fishing Show and Outdoors Expo was once again a great success. This was the fishing board game ‘Starlo Fishing Forever Australia’s’ first show and we’re happy to have had it presented by Ifish star Paul Worsteling on stage.

Many games were given away during his ‘Stumped’ performance, which allows everyday fishos to fire a question at Paul and if he is not able to talk for 3 minutes nonstop on the subject, they win a prize.

Congratulations to all the winners, and we hope those who won the game are now enjoying their fishing every day.

Eric Wagnon

Rescuers fight to save lives of pilot whales after mass stranding in Tasmania.

BIG MUMMAS

Well, it’s big flathead time in our east coast estuaries and over the next couple of months many lucky anglers — visitors and residents alike — will cross paths with sort of “crocodiles” our waters are so justifiably famous for… giant dusky flathead from 70 cm in length up to… Well, who knows?

You’ll hear a lot of loose talk about “metre-plus” flatties, and they certainly do exist, but they are rare creatures! I’ve been fishing for 45 years and I’ve never seen a genuine metre-long “lizard”, although I’ve helped to measure a few that went very, very close, including specimens in the 94 to 97 cm range.

Those fish were absolute beasts and would have weighed in excess of 7 kg (over 15 pounds on the old scale).
One of the greatest things to happen in recreational angling over the past decade has been the widespread acceptance of the importance of these big “brood stock” flathead in the overall scheme of things, and the need to carefully release the “big mummas” that keep our waterways populated with baby flatties. It has been proven that any flattie over 70 cm is definitely a female, and it’s also known that the really big duskies are capable of producing millions of eggs each year! (Dusky flathead don’t seem to change sex, as some fish do, but the females live longer and grow much larger than the males.)

Protecting big dusky flathead is now enshrined in law in QLD, with a “slot size” limit between 40 and 70 cm (meaning flatties under 40 and over 70 cm must be released, by law) and a daily bag limit of five fish per person. Here in NSW the minimum legal length is 36 cm and we are allowed a very generous 10 duskies each per day, but only one of those may be over 70 cm in length.

Personally, I reckon it’s probably time we came in line with the Banana Benders on this one!

Happily, lots of NSW anglers are nowadays voluntarily choosing to release any big flathead they catch, and I would really encourage you to do the same! Fish between about 40 and 55 cm are the best to eat, anyway, and by carefully unhooking and releasing the big mummas, you know there’ll be plenty of those “eaters” in our rivers and lakes for generations to come.

STARLO

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New recreational fishing rules are instigated in Western Australia from October 15,2008.Research has revealed that dhufish and pink snapper are being over fished throughout their geographic range on the west coast. The changes aim to ensure the sustainability of these fish, while allowing the enjoyable fishing experience to continue in Western OZ

Fishing Game promotes sustainabilty

New recreational fishing rules are instigated in Western Australia from October 15, 2008.

Research has revealed that dhufish and pink snapper are being over fished throughout their geographic range on the west coast.

The changes aim to ensure the sustainability of these fish, while allowing the enjoyable fishing experience to continue in Western Australia.

Starlo Fishing Forever Australia uses the fun of the family fishing board game to promote sustainability.

Marc Sibille