CATCHING SNAPPER

As all fishers would be aware there is a complete Snapper Fishing closure in place for the West Coast, Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf waters, including Investigator Straight from 1 November 2019 to 31 January 2023. During the closure catch and release fishing (targeting snapper) is illegal with significant on the spot fines of $315 and, if prosecuted, a maximum fine of $20,000 could apply. In the event of by-catch, snapper should be handled carefully and released. Where fish are caught from a greater depth and have experienced barotrauma, fishers are required to use a weighted release hook and line to return them to deep water thereby reducing the risk of fatality. The only opportunity to catch snapper in South Australia will be when fishing in the Southern Snapper Fishery with Snapper Tags allocated by PIRSA. I expect many readers, like me, missed out on receiving any ‘Recreational Snapper Tags’ following the recent randomly drawn ballot run by PIRSA. Interested fishers over the age of ten years were entitled to one entry into the ballot which was drawn around 20 January this year. These tags are for use along the south coast waters from Victor Harbor to the South Australian border and Kangaroo Island only and not in the closed area. It should also be noted the prior existing size and bag limits still apply. All charter fishing operators were allocated 49 tags each for use in the Southern Zone for the year commencing 1 February 2020. Snapper that meet minimum size requirements that are to be kept must be tagged immediately after being caught. The tag number and size of the fish are then recorded in a register provided by PIRSA. Before transporting any tagged fish through a restricted catch area PIRSA must be called and the catch reported.

after the... closure

All Snapper Tags are dated with the year of issue and carry a number that is recorded along with the date of catching and length in centimetres. More information on the closure of the South Australia Snapper Fishery is available from: www.pir.sa.goc.au/snapper

Peter Schembri CYCSA Fishing Association Committee Member