FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

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FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by fishingvic » Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:13 am

FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS


MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 20 November 2019
FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Torquay’s offshore artificial fishing reef welcomed the return of five fish aggregating devices (FADs) today with another two to be deployed off Lorne and Aireys Inlet in the weeks ahead.
Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO, Travis Dowling, said a FAD is a large floating surface buoy attached to a long rope attached to the bottom. FADs provide structure in an otherwise open sea and attract pelagic gamefish species popular with saltwater fishers.
“Our FADs program is funded by the Victorian State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan to get more people fishing, more often, in more places,” Mr Dowling said.
“The five FADS at Torquay are each attached to concrete reef clusters up to four metres high and weighing 20 tonnes. The addition of FADs 25 metres above the reef mean there is more vertical habitat for kingfish, tuna, dolphinfish and trevally.
“The two-year trial of FADs at Torquay saw kingfish captured as anticipated, which is why the trial is being extended and expanded to include two other southwest Victorian locations.
“The two new FADs at Lorne and Aireys Inlet have come about from collaboration with the Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club, which had liked the Torquay FADs and wanted something similar.
“Club members’ local knowledge of the waters and kingfish hot-spots guided the decision to locate the two new FADs off Stoney Creek, north Lorne, and offshore of Aireys Inlet.”
Mr Dowling said FADs are installed during the warmer months then removed to reduce the risk of damage from large winter swells or entanglement during whale migration.
“We’re really excited to hear how the two new FADs perform this summer and look forward to seeing lots of smiling faces with great fish through the holidays.”
The Torquay FADs are above the reef at 38˚ 19.990' S 144˚ 22.440' E.

Before the end of November 2019, FADs will be deployed at the proposed locations off Lorne (38° 32.264’S 144° 01.940 E) and Aireys Inlet (38° 29.143’S 144° 09.728 E), when fishing for kingfish along the southwest coast really hots up.

Media contact: Lauren Hall 0459 894 437

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by re-tyred » Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:17 am

Why oh why do we not get some artificial reefs and fads just offshore from Lakes Entrance and while they are at it some shellfish reefs in the lake between lakes and metung.
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by Kimtown » Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:31 am

re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:17 am
Why oh why do we not get some artificial reefs and fads just offshore from Lakes Entrance and while they are at it some shellfish reefs in the lake between lakes and metung.
Maybe fisheries don't see Lakes as a big of an angler destination as South West coast? Idk

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by re-tyred » Wed Nov 20, 2019 1:17 pm

They don't but it could be. Plenty of kingfish around here but nothing to hold them close to the entrance. They are even in the lake. But not much structure to attack them..
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by Tackleberry » Wed Nov 20, 2019 1:35 pm

re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:17 am
Why oh why do we not get some artificial reefs and fads just offshore from Lakes Entrance and while they are at it some shellfish reefs in the lake between lakes and metung.
I've been saying that for 20 years Mike and why not in lake king and Victoria.
re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 1:17 pm
They don't but it could be. Plenty of kingfish around here but nothing to hold them close to the entrance. They are even in the lake. But not much structure to attack them..
Kings around paynesville too ..
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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by Kimtown » Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:14 pm

re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 1:17 pm
They don't but it could be. Plenty of kingfish around here but nothing to hold them close to the entrance. They are even in the lake. But not much structure to attack them..
I went on a charter off lakes a couple years ago was thousands of kingies around. Mostly rats however.

If they created more man made structure, possibly they might stick around? Unsure on their migration habits

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by Lightningx » Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:35 pm

Very good!
I’m sure plenty of boaties will appreciate this :tu:

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by Bugatti » Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:23 am

Nice to see the progressive nature of The Victorian Fishing Authority (only if other states were the same)

re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:17 am
Why oh why do we not get some artificial reefs and fads just offshore from Lakes Entrance and while they are at it some shellfish reefs in the lake between lakes and metung.
Diversity, I agree re-tyred (you are definitely no retread). Widening the scope of artificial reefs and FADs would benefit everywhere, everyone and spread the Fishos and fishing efforts out wide

Cheers, Bugs

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by CannonsJS » Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:45 pm

re-tyred wrote:
Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:17 am
Why oh why do we not get some artificial reefs and fads just offshore from Lakes Entrance and while they are at it some shellfish reefs in the lake between lakes and metung.
May be a stupid question but why do we need an artificial reef when we have a natural one already? Also isn't there an artificial reef at Nungurner and Metung already?

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Re: FAD-TASTIC SUMMER AHEAD FOR SOUTHWEST FISHERS

Post by re-tyred » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:05 pm

10-15 nm west of lakes there are reefs in 25/26 meters that hold good snapper but there are none close to the entrance. That depth can be found a bit over a mile from the entrance. If a high reef was created say 10-15 mtrs it would attract kingfish as well.
Regarding in the lake, the reefs created are in shallow water close to shore, they attract small fish and aid in the breading of luderick. They do little else. In the lake between kalimna and shaving point metung we have a deep channel mostly clean swept sand, however there are a couple of small areas that have hard coffee rock. This holds spongy weed which attracts the KGW and school whiting. A shell bed reef along the sandy areas in the deep channel would increase the habitat for them.
There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)

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