Sportfishing has a large following in this country. It does not appeal to everyone but to some the thrill of fishing and catching the fish in an honest, sporting manner is more important than in taking home a large esky full of fillets at the end of each trip. It is this 'sporting' attitude towards fish that ultimately sees the conservation of fish stocks. Sportfishing could very well be put in a number of phrases, a couple of my favourite are "Fish for the Future" and "Limit your catch don't catch your limit". Sportfishing need not be ultralight line on big fish but a compromise between breaking strain and the fishes chances of survival needs to be made. There is no sport involved in catching Snapper on a 100 pound handline, but correctly balanced tackle in the 6 - 10kg class will still land the biggest of Snapper comfortably and allow a much more enjoyable fight and give the fish slightly more of a chance.
The ANSA motto (Sport-Conservation-Integrity) says it all. There is mythology amongst anglers that ANSA fishermen are too good for other people. This is not so with the majority of us, we are normal people that enjoy fishing and occasionally take nice fish on lighter lines. If you are interested in getting into a Sportfishing club it is a good idea and you will benefit greatly in skills, mateship and many other factors involved in fishing. Perhaps an example of a sportfisherman is myself. I certainly don't catch a lot of big fish, but I do enjoy the challenge and sporting aspect to lighter lines and catch and release ethics.
My best fish on light line is a 6.78kg Carp on 1kg line. This is not bad but Carp are nothing special fighting wise and consequently any normal person could emulate this if you can get one big enough to take a bait. I've never caught a 10kg Snapper, let alone a 10kg Snapper on 2kg line or a 4kg Salmon on 1kg or a 1000lb Marlin, etc, etc, etc. Sportfishing need only be as difficult as you make it.
I think that while there is catch quota's on certain fish it is good to leave a healthy amount around to catch next time. I don't know how often I've seen people take shopping bags full of Mullet and titchy Bream or Whiting but it absolutely disgusts me, especially when the fish are so small as to be ridiculous. I delight in putting fish back, even when they far exceed the legal limit and whilst not everyone can bring themselves to release fish, it would be nice to think they would stop fishing when they have enough for their immediate needs. This may be only a couple of fish for the single person, and maybe a dozen or so for a large family. I cannot stress enough that we DO need to limit our catch if we are to fish for the future.
Over the last 2 or 3 years I have started releasing the majority of my catch, and while I would never knock somebody for using heavier line or keeping fish it is nice to think they do not get wasted. In this way I intend on detailing some fine ways to keep your fish fresh.
It is time that sportfishing is recognized by the government as the main sustainable form of fishing and that they further tighten regulations for both professional and amateur catches, put more money into the policing of fisheries and support bodies like ANSA by helping out with money to promote sportfishing. If you have any complaints with this opinion don't bother telling me because I have no sympathy for people who think that 30 Garfish or 1 big Mulloway is not enough. Just imagine if you could only take a very few fish, over the years the fishing will improve dramatically to the point where we may once again see schools of Bluefin in our Gulfs, Big Salmon cruising the metro beaches and Snapper schools so thick that the water turns red.
In SA we have some great sportfishing targets. Of these, the readily accessible species are such like Snapper, Mulloway and Carp in the freshwater. Of course there are many more too.
Snapper- A great sportfishery exists.
Mulloway- Another great lighter line target.
© 1997 bradheath@hotmail.com
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