Long Liner Adventure

[denis barden]

Up at 1230 this mornin and down to Port Arlington to fish on a Long Liner as a guest
Got back about 0900 400 kg of Snapper
The guys are top people -Just trying to make a living-they treat you okie dokie

[rb85]

What inspired you to get aboard a longline boat denis?
Blokes are just earning a living no doubt would be interested to hear their views on how the bay is changing, the strict regulations they adhere to, the rev vs pro angler divide and how their future looks?

Know an retired commercial fisho from Westernport Bass strait a lot of knowledge of the bay and ocean he has.

[smile0784]

Would have been a awesome experience
Nice box snapper.
What were they using for bait?
Looks like chunks of coota?

[denis barden]

Bait was large strips of coota cut into chunks and squid from NZ.Hook size about a 3/0
They are very regulated -Have to inform Fisheries exactly the time they leave or return by the minute -If they are 1 minute off they get fined and are very closely monitored by Fisheries
They have to fill in a log book of all the fish caught -In there log book they have to estimate the catch weight to 20% or a fine
They put every bit of rubbish in bins and remove it from the boat on return-No used line goes into the water
They measure to the fork in the tail not the complete length -Also some fish like Gar Fish have a length
The hooks they use are alloy circle thet break down over time
The guys I went out with are limited to 400 hooks at a time-The other day he put his line down -about 3 klm and 400 hooks he only caught 4 fish so today was a lucky day
They also have a season limit/weight-Carnt remember the figure
The guys work hard and follow all the rules as they dont want the industry stuffed up

[KeenAds]

Sounds like an awesome experience Denis and you went on the right day. Good to see they are not taking any short cuts and following the rules.

[Nude up]

Would have been a good experience, did they have any by catch last year I saw the long liners come in with some ripper gummies

[Lightningx]

Nice mate.
That definitely would have been a great experience :thumbsup:

[denis barden]

Yes about 10 Gummies Not monsters but good size
Let go 3 Monster 7 Gill Sharks and about 20 small gummies

[KgWhiting]

Sounds like a great experience Dennis. See the odd boat that look like long liners in the distance when I’m fishing deep of Leonard’s ideneted head area. I take it u were right out wide in the middle of the bay

[cobby]

Certainly an eye opener, and most are happy to have an extra set of hands, especially if the offer is free. Most people don't realise how strict their licences are as to quotas, bycatch, fishing times, locations, random fisheries observer checks where an officer is on board for a whole trip monitoring catches, practices etc. And in the case of Commonwealth fisheries, they're monitored 24/7 by camera. Long liners aren't part of the buyout so plenty of opportunity for people to learn some things from the other side of the fence