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This summer's fin clipping at Gaden Trout Hatchery, Jindabyne is scheduled to start on Tuesday the 13th January 2015. As usual there will be 37,500 rainbows to clip (which is 25% of the 150,000 to be stocked into Lake Eucumbene). Fisheries will provide lunch, morning and afternoon tea on the day(s) of clipping, so if you feel like helping trout research and can spare some time, feel free to join in. Much debate has occurred about rainbows in the past couple of years, so this is a good chance to play a part in the research that helps understand the fishery.

Fisheries staff are on site setting up Monday afternoon, but all the action takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, starting at about 8.00-8.30am.

As last year, Fisheries staff will be using the coded wire tagging machines to tag the 50,000 trout to be released into Jindabyne.

All are welcome to join in (spouses and children included), but remember that you will need covered-in shoes for safety reasons. And don't forget your glasses...the fish are very small.

Feel free to forward this message on to friends and clubs.

Contact Jamin Forbes, Senior Fisheries Technician, Department of Primary Industries NSW on 0400 368 816 or [email protected] if you have any questions, and most importantly to let him know if you're coming.

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'This is the busy time of the year at the Hatchery, with egg picking commenced for this production cycle.

403,000 Atlantic salmon ova were laid down. After egg picking there were 275,000 eyed ova left, a 68% fertility success rate. The Hatchery currently holds 400 1 year+ Atlantic salmon, 155 2+, 90 3+, 60 4+ and 30 5+.'

'150,000 Brook trout ova have been laid down. The Hatchery holds 350 1 year+ fish.

Screens to the permanent fish trap were installed on 23 May 2014 to target brown trout. Since that date, 1,204 brown trout have been trapped and stripping of the brown trout is now complete. 504,000 ova were laid down at Gaden and 490,000 green ova were transferred to Dutton Trout Hatchery at Ebor.

Only a small number of rainbow trout have been captured this season. The Hatchery currently holds 1000 1 year+ rainbows, 320 2+ and 280 3+.'

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Fisheries Victoria would like to hear your ideas! Join Fisheries Victoria for a public forum with VRFish to learn more about what they are doing to improve recreational fishing across the state.
Go along and share your ideas or, if you cannot make it along on the night, email your ideas to [email protected] or post them on www.facebook.com/DEPIFisheries

• 16 July 7-9pm Albert Park Yachting & Angling Club, 129B Beaconsfield Parade, Melbourne
• 22 July 7-9pm Snapper Point Angling Club, Mornington Yacht Club, Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington
• 24 July 7-9pm Greensborough Angling Club, 161 Para Road, Greensborough
• 30 July 7-9pm Torquay Angling Club, The Esplanade, Fisherman’s Beach, Torquay
• 5 August 7-9pm Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, Cnr Wendouree Parade and Pleasant Rd, Ballarat
• 6 August 7-9pm Bendigo Legion Angling Club, 26 High St, Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo
• 13 August 7-9pm Warrnambool & District Anglers Club, Cnr Simpson St and Otway Rd, Warrnambool
• 20 August 7-9pm Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club, Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance
• 26 August 7-9pm DEPI Offices, 1 McKoy St, Wodonga
• 27 August 7-9pm Nagambie Angling Club, Mcleods St, Kirwins Bridge, Nagambie

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Fishers are reminded that the annual trout spawning season commences in the Snowy Mountains from 1 May 2014.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Inland Senior Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway said:

"The annual trout spawning season fishing rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal).

Restrictions are in place from Thursday 1st May to provide protection for early spawning trout while also providing fishers with the opportunity to catch a trophy sized trout.

The Eucumbene River in particular has provided excellent fishing for large brown trout over the past two years.

A minimum size limit of 50cm, daily bag limit of 1 and possession limit of 2 trout will apply to these waters from 1 May to the end of the Queens Birthday long weekend on Monday 9 June.

Anglers will be permitted to use 1 attended rod and line with up to 2 hooks with artificial flies or lures and up to 3 treble hooks attached to any lure is permitted. Fishing gear rigged for bait fishing is prohibited.

The annual closure on fishing in trout streams throughout NSW will then be in place from Tuesday 10 June 2014 allowing brown and rainbow trout to breed uninterrupted until the trout fishing season re-opens on the October long weekend on Saturday 4 October 2014. Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.

The minimum size limit of 25cm, daily bag limit of 2 and possession limit of 4 trout will again apply to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers when the season opens in October.

While 150,000 rainbow trout have been stocked into Lake Eucumbene and 50,000 rainbow trout into Lake Jindabyne each year for more than a decade, it is important to provide increased protection for brown and rainbow trout during their annual spawning runs.”

Fisheries officers will be patrolling the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers to ensure that fishers are abiding by these rules.

All fishers are reminded to respect other users, use facilities provided, dispose of any rubbish or refuse responsibly and not interfere with other fishers by parking or camping too close to the water (where permitted) when fishing these rivers.

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Some of the undersized kingfish seized by DPI fisheries officers during the operation.

A recent compliance operation targeting fishers retaining prohibited size kingfish in the Sydney region, has resulted in the apprehension of a number of fishers and the seizure of many small fish, says DPI Supervising Fisheries Officer, Chris Clarke.

“The operation was conducted last month by DPI fisheries officers in the Sydney North District after receiving information that there was allegedly a number of prohibited size Yellowtail Kingfish being caught by recreational and commercial fishers,” Mr Clarke said.

“Yellowtail Kingfish are a highly valuable recreational and commercial species and are listed as a ‘priority’ species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994. Fishing in and around Sydney is currently very good, with lots of Yellowtail Kingfish being caught. The operation targeted fishers in Middle Harbour, Pittwater, Sydney Harbour and Blackwattle Bay and resulted in the apprehension of three commercial fishers and four recreational fishers and the seizure of 35 prohibited size kingfish, between 48.6cm and 64.3cms in length.”

The minimum legal length for Yellowtail Kingfish in NSW is 65cm and the possession or bag limit is five per person.

”Prohibited size, or “rat” Yellowtail Kingfish can occur in large schools off the NSW coast at this time of year and although great sport to catch anyone found keeping or in possession of these prohibited size fish can expect harsh penalties,” Mr Clarke said.

“Ten separate offences were detected including possess and sell prohibited size fish as well as the Master of a boat being fined for allowing an offence to take place . The Master of a boat commits an offence if they allow another person on the boat to commit a serious fisheries offence.

“They are all facing fines of $500 per person per offence.

“These offences each carry maximum penalties of up to $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) for a first offence or $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second or subsequent offence.

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On 5 March the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Amendment (Snowy Advisory Committee) Bill 2013 passed the NSW Legislative Assembly. It establishes a new Snowy Advisory Committee but dissolves the previous Snowy Scientific Committee which was first established by the previous Labor government in 2008.

The committee advises on the timing and patterns of the annual release of environmental water recovered under the Snowy water licence.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said members of the new committee will include NSW and Victorian Government specialists, four local community representatives, one representative from an environmental organisation, two Aboriginal representatives and a representative from Snowy Hydro Limited.

It seems the new committee will be comprised of non-scientists. The Bill for the new committee specifies that there will be representatives of Aboriginal groups, environmental and community interest groups, etc., but does not require anyone with expertise in hydrology, water resource management, aquatic science or fisheries management. Local groups who have lobbied for the restoration of the Snowy River for many years have apparently not been approached about representation on the committee.

Both Labor and the current Coalition government effectively abandoned the original Scientific Committee by not reappointing new members, which rendered it unable to supply its annual State of the Catchment Reports as required by the legislation. That committee was comprised of scientific specialists who were empowered to consult, network and seek further independent advise as they felt necessary.

There may well be room for an additional Advisory Committee but there is also a place for a properly appointed and properly funded Scientific Committee. The cost of running that small committee could easily be afforded by the three governments that share in the profits from Snowy Hydro, and the benefits of even partly restoring that once magnificent river would be priceless.

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Thompsons Creek Dam near Lithgow in NSW is a water storage for the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations and offers some of the best lake-based fishing for trophy sized rainbow and brown trout in NSW. It is managed by DPI as a trophy fishery and access to this private property is granted for anglers only.

DPI, anglers and Energy Australia jointly developed an access agreement. Conditions of entry form part of the agreement negotiated and have been developed in the interest of all parties. Anglers must abide by the conditions of entry to ensure ongoing access is maintained for all.

Fishing rules and conditions of entry

Access to and fishing at Thompsons Creek Dam is regulated under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and by the Conditions of Entry and Use.

Fishing rules specific to Thompsons Creek Dam contained in the closure notice restrict fishing activity to:

• Artificial fly and lure fishing.
• One attended rod and line per person fishing with no more than three hooks.
• Not more than three treble hooks or three double hooks attached to any lure.
• Shore based fishing only. This does not include active wading (note: fishing from the dam wall is not permitted by virtue of other restrictions).
• fishing is only permitted between one hour before sunrise through to four hours after sunset.

Conditions of entry and use

In addition to the requirements of the Fishing Closure, the Conditions of Entry and Use are:

• walk-in access only (e.g. no vehicles, motorbikes, pushbikes, etc.);
• one point of entry, being from the Willow Vale Road car park;
• no fires;
• no guns or other firearms;
• no camping, swimming (including active wading), boating or digging;
• no removal of firewood, rock, flora, fauna, or anything else from the land except fish;
• no dogs or other animals;
• no interference with the landholders’ property; and
• persons fishing do so at their own risk.

Please note that the landholder may at any time at its discretion refuse access through the land to the fishing site by any angler.

For more information relating to access at this site please contact Angler Access staff [email protected] or Ph 02 60424214 .

Report illegal or suspect fishing activities to the Bathurst Fisheries Office on: 02 63311428 or use the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536.

For emergency access to the fishing site call Energy Australia Security Ph: 02 63528603

View Thompsons Creek Dam - Angler Access info at this link.

FAQs

Q. Can I walk over the dam wall?
A: Anglers can walk over the dam wall and must remain within the fenced boundaries. If a vehicle approaches anglers must give way by moving to the lake side of the road while remaining within the fenced area.

Q: Can I wade in the lake?
A: Wading is not allowed, the conditions of entry stipulate that shore based fishing is only permitted.

Q: Can I ride a pushbike in?
A: No, the conditions of entry stipulate that foot access is only allowed.

Q: Can I enter through the Sunny Corner State Forest?
A: No access is only permissible from a single point of entry being via the Willow Vale Road car park.

Q: What will happen if anglers ignore the conditions of entry?
A: Anglers as a whole stand to lose access due to anglers’ own actions. The landholder reserves the right to limit access to all anglers at any time if anglers ignore the conditions of entry.

Q: What if there is an accident?
A: If required ring 000 then contact Energy Australia security on 02 63528603 immediately. Accessing the lake is difficult and specifically identifying your location can be confusing. Describe the area you are in following the guidelines as indicated on the main sign at the Willow Vale Road car park.

Q: What will happen if I break the rules?
A: Breaching any aspects of the provisions created specifically for the Thompsons Creek Dam under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 or which generally apply related to fishing activity under legislation can result in being cautioned, fined or being prosecuted in court for any offences committed. Breaking conditions of entry can lead to being removed form the area by the land owner and/or result in other action by the land owner related to their legal rights or specific legislated provisions in respect to the area of land/waters.

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