recfishwest Fisheries Minister joins Recfishwest to release 5,000 more juvenile kingies WA Fisheries Minister Don Punch has rolled up his sleeves to help Recfishwest release another 5,000 juvenile yellowtail
kingfish into the State’s metropolitan waters. As part of the ongoing metro yellowtail kingfish stocking program, Minister
Punch helped release the fish at Cockburn Power Boats Club on May 13. May’s release saw the total amount of fish
Juveniles being released as part of the metro yellowtail kingfish stocking program.
Gideon Mettam with a typical WA kingfish. NEW PRODUCT
New rods from Daiwa Two of Daiwa’s new rod releases for 2021 are the Emeraldas X and 21 Over There. Emeraldas X rods are entry-level specialist squid rods. Featuring
4.0 sizes often popular in southern states. Outfitted with Fuji anti-tangle Alconite guides, Emeraldas X rods pack plenty of punch for their price.
and performance. HSD Graphite blanks minimises weight yet enhances overall rod balance and function, while Fuji stainless steel framed Alconite guides
Daiwa’s Braiding-X blank design, these rods maintain the snappy and responsive actions required to get the most
Daiwa’s new range of Over There rods have been specifically designed for those distance-challenged anglers fishing the rocks,
ensure ultra-long casting performance and ultimate corrosion resistance. The three lightest Over There models feature
released through the project reach 30,000. A three-year commitment to stocking kingfish, pink snapper and barramundi is all part of the WA Government’s COVID-19 fishing package announced by Premier Mark McGowan last August. Recfishwest is proud to help drive new initiatives like this that can potentially open up more diverse fishing opportunities for the State’s metropolitan fishers.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how this stocking program impacts on the metro kingie fishery in the next couple of years,” Dr Rowland said. “Just like the snapper stocking program, all the juvenile kingfish reared for these releases by the DPIRD aquaculture team have their otoliths stained allowing fish from the stocking program to be identified when caught and analysed in the future. “This is new territory
in the coming years, please consider donating the filleted frames to the terrific Send Us Your Skeletons program run by DPIRD and help build a better understanding of the success of these stock enhancement activities,” he said. “In the meantime, we’ll keep cranking the handle to get more fish in the water and help protect and enhance your fishing future.” Minister Punch added: “I am sure recfishers
WA Fisheries Minister Don Punch and Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland releasing juvenile yellowtail kingfish. action out of today’s high performance squid jigs. Available in the four most popular and desired specific actions, Emeraldas X rods cover the most popular egi sizes used in Australia, from the diminutive size 2.0 through to the larger 104
JULY 2021
break walls, headlands and beaches. Pitch perfect for Australian anglers chasing salmon and tailor, the 21 Over There range features five models, ranging in length from 10’3” to 11’, and blank design and technologies selected for optimum casting distance
exclusive Daiwa reel seat designs while the heavier 110H/XH models feature heavy duty Fuji DPS reel seats. For more information on these and other new releases from Daiwa, visit www.daiwafishing. com.au. – FMG
With international travel restrictions in place for the foreseeable future and the challenges of a COVID world, Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said fishing was more important than ever for people’s relaxation and well-being and support for local economies.
here in WA, which is what makes it so exciting, and there is an important role here for fishers to assist in providing samples to support the science.” “The fish released today should reach legal size round late-2022,” Dr Rowland said. “So, if you are keeping metro kingies for the table
cannot wait for some of these fish to start showing up in their catch in the next few years,” he said. “Western Australians love their fishing and the industry supports local jobs while also generating an estimated $2.4 billion a year for our State’s economy.” – Zach Relph
