Rock lobster season opening this Friday
12 November 2018
Keen recreational fishers are checking their dive gear and rigging their hoop nets ahead of season opening for rock lobster this Friday, 16 November.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said rock lobster fishers planning a season-opening trip at week’s end could expect to see plenty of uniformed Fisheries Officers out and about as part of Operation Brass.
“Officers right along the coast, from east to west, will be undertaking patrols focusing on rock lobster fishers,” Mr Dowling said.
“They will be checking recreational fishing licences, inspecting catch bags and boosting community awareness of the three-year tagging trial, now in its second year.
“Introduced in 2017, the tagging trial requires everyone who takes rock lobster recreationally to tag each lobster individually, using free coloured tags provided by the VFA.
“The aim of the trial is to quantify the recreational take of rock lobster so that, combined with commercial harvest managed by quota, the fishery remains sustainably managed.”
Tags for the 2018/19 recreational season are now available online or from selected Victorian Government offices at Warrnambool, Queenscliff, Geelong, Lakes Entrance and Traralgon.
Up to 20 tags can be ordered at a time. To order tags for the coming season, fishers need to report on last year’s tag use, which can be done easily online at www.vic.gov.au/lobstertag
Mr Dowling said the rock lobster fishing community had embraced the tagging trial, which reflected the value everyone puts on rock lobster and their fine eating qualities.
Fishers are reminded that:
- the daily bag limit is 2 and the possession limit is 4 (applies state-wide including your home for priority species such as rock lobster)
- The minimum legal size (carapace) is 11cm for males and 10.5cm for female rock lobster
- rock lobster tails must be clipped or tail-punched
- rock lobsters with eggs or soft-shells cannot be taken
- rock lobster can only be taken by hand or with hoop nets. Snares, gaffs, hooks and baited sticks cannot be used to assist in the taking of rock lobsters.
Other fishing rules apply to rock lobster and can be checked at www.vfa.vic.gov.au
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing for rock lobster is urged to call 13FISH (133474) anytime.