The massive East Coast Low with predicted 7-metre waves put an end to fishing this weekend. A few brave anglers from the Narooma Bowlo fishing club did venture out before the storm but more on that later.
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The Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club’s building was among those on Forsters Bay impacted on by Sunday night’s king tide. President Les Waldock said the tide almost came in again on Monday night, but stopped a couple of centimetres short.
There was a plus side to all the flooding and storms as skipper of the Narooma charter boat The Sheriff, Matt Betts hand caught a stranded squid on the Narooma town wharf on Sunday night. Well done Matt!
“There were garfish and flounder coming up to the surface...heaps of eels and one green sea snake,” Matt said, with his view that the fish trying to get out of the layer of freshwater.
The club is getting back on its feet and don’t miss Charlie Bettini’s trivia night this Saturday. Always a good night and popular so if you are interested book early as numbers are limited, contact Les on 0411 392 608.
As usual the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club rooms, situated on the inlet near the restaurants, is open for fish stories, drinks and snacks from 4pm till 9pm on Friday. Visitors are most welcome to come along and have a chat with the members.
Now here is the Club Narooma Bowlo Fishing Club report from Fishfingers:
“So it was not just raining over the weekend it was pouring, but that didn’t stop some very keen fishermen from Club Narooma Bowlo’s fishing competition wetting a line for the final round of this season.”
There are some big bream hanging around the town wharf in the dirty water as Mick Kavic found out with trevally and flathead in the mix, so the next few weeks is looking good for the fishermen with some new beaches being formed with the huge seas.
Winners for the month saw Mick Kavic as overall winner with Peter Shakeshaft, Greg Tiffen, Brenda Setzer, Wayne Giffen, Clare Giffen, Adam Giffen, Dave Clark and Randall Setzer all picking up a prize this month. Being the last comp for the year, the results will be announced at presentation night in August and it is a very close competition with some very keen members contesting this year.
“Lets hope next month’s weather is better as both charter boats are booked already for the start of next years comp, so happy fishing over the next few weeks as it has definitely been stirred up enough.”
Geelong Star
Federal Shadow Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was in Batemans Bay on Thursday to speak to recreational fishers about the Geelong Star Super Trawler, which the Labor party is opposed to. Along with Gilmore candidate Fiona Phillips, Mr Fitzgibbion held a forum at the Soldiers Club.
Mrs Phillips said about 50 people attended the forum. “I don’t think anyone there was in support of the super trawler,” she said. “It was very good and a lot of issues were discussed. The main focus was on the trawler and how we can stop it.”
As the Labor shadow Minister for Forestry, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Affairs, Mr Fitzgibbon said his party opposed super trawlers and criticised Gilmore MP, Ann Sudmalis for her lack of action on the issue.
“Labor has been fighting the super trawlers since 2012 ,” he said. “We will continue to oppose the operation of super trawlers until such time it can be demonstrated clearly and scientifically that they do no harm.”
It was towards the end of last year that the Labor government tried to move a motion in the senate to continue the suspension of Geelong Star’s activities. A tied vote meant the motion was defeated, and the trawler was allowed to resume its operation.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the fight against super trawlers was far from over, citing the lack of scientific evidence in favour of its activities.
“Labor maintains its commitment to ensure super trawlers don’t have adverse affects on our recreational fishing stocks and our pelagic fisheries,” he said “We will continue to oppose the operation of super trawlers until such time it can be demonstrated clearly and scientifically that they do no harm. If in doubt, leave it out.”
Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy meanwhile is in the sights of Eurobodalla councillor Gabi Harding, following his failure to oppose the return of the factory trawler Geelong Star.
“I will be putting a Notice of Motion to Eurobodalla Council, that the council write to Dr Hendy and Ann Sudmalis requesting that he oppose any further activity of super trawlers in our coastal waters.” Similar Motions were passed recently in Bega Valley and Shoalhaven councils.
Marine park
The newly re-established Batemans Bay Marine Park Advisory Committee was due to hold its third meeting on May 28. The Batemans Marine Park covers almost 85,000 hectares from north Murramarang Beach near Bawley Point to Wallaga Lake in the south.
BMP Acting Manager, Justin Gilligan said; “The Committee represents the views of several interest groups from marine conservation and science to indigenous communities, tourist and scuba groups and commercial and recreational fishers.” Issues regarding the management or use of the estate can be discussed with a committee member via email to batemans@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Committee members are: Jo-Anne Dee Starling, Jack Tait, Stephen Bunney (Rec Fishers); Norman Ingersole (Charter Fishers); Esmay Hropic, John Brierley (Commercial Fishers); Jim Yiannaros (Aquaculture), Cr Keith Hughes, Cr Amanda Findley, Cr Robert Pollock (Local Government); Dr Christopher Fulton and Dr Alison Hunt (Marine Science); Garran Carnall (Scuba Divers & Spearfishers); Joshua Waterson (Tourism); Janette Neilson (Farmers); Bill Barker and Nicholas Blackman (Marine Conservation) and Geoffrey Dixon (Aboriginal Culture).