International Game Fishing Association NT Division Announcement

The Northern Territory branch of the International Game Fishing Association announced an extension of its annual membership renewal with an addition 25% discount to members. Northern Territory representative for the IGFA, Peter Cox, confirmed the membership drive to raise much need funds for the continued work the IGFA carries out on behalf of all recreational anglers.

“The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is a non profit fishing organization dedicated to ethical recreational fishing and to the conservation of game fish and their habitats world wide. IGFA has members in over 100 countries and has members of its International Committee of Representatives in countries fishing in the Indian Ocean in, Australia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand”, detailed Peter. In its latest initiative, the IGFA has recently launched its “Take Marlin off the Menu” campaign. The IGFA is campaigning to have several countries including the USA to have restaurants and fish wholesales remove billfish from their catch, sale and menu lists. “The commonly used reference or name of “Billfish” include Swordfish and several species of Marlin and Sailfish, which frequent many shared oceans of the world. The impact of commercial fishing is taking it’s toll on the Billfish stocks, and with the reduced migratory stocks comes the increased pressure on the available target species for the recreational angler’ tag and release efforts”, mentioned Peter.

Bonus Weekend’s Fishing

Well, we normally complain about the dreaded south easterly winds playing havoc for the fishing enthusiasts this time of year, but last weekend was a bonus weekend of great weather and productive fishing. Several reports of good sized Reds, Golden Snapper, Jew fish, schooling Mackerel and Trevally were reported after the weekend, with the most productive areas including Cape Arnhem, north east of Higginson shoals, east wide of Veronica Island , Brombys island network and outside the last few outcrops of Bonner Rocks. With great tides and weather, it was pleasing to get amongst some steady action and post some good results. Although some of the larger vessels of the recreational fleet were high and dry on hard stands undergoing annual maintenance and antifouling, these anglers jumped aboard trailer boats and got amongst it off shore and beyond.

Early Billfish

We were pleasantly surprised last week to hear of a small Black Marlin caught and released just west of the Granit Islands in Melville Bay. Several Billfish have been sighted, caught and released in the bay over past years, but none so early in the season. Another Billfish, confirmed as a sailfish, was also spotted on the same day. These fish have been feeding on the acres of bait presently frequenting the Melville Bay area. Check out these bait schools and have a trawl with small deep divers and metal slices for Spanish Mackerel and Queenfish. A couple of anglers have been reporting good captures of Jewfish off Wallaby and Mackerel off West Woody on floating baits. Some Queenfish were landed off town beach near the eastern rocks but these, although small, are ideal for rigging baits. Watch out for the south easterly winds from mid morning, however anglers who head out early are returning good results considering the time of year.

Some good feedback from members on the previous announcement at the beginning of July, of the reduced bag limits for recreational anglers. This sensible and responsible step forward to protecting and preserving fishing stocks in Northern Territory waters was been welcomed, albeit cautiously. Members of the Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club (NRSFC) have been fishing the “2 fish per species per angler per day” rule in competitions for several years and will not notice any change in tournament formats.

A reminder for NRSFC membership has been sent out, along with nominations for the AGM on the 27th of August next month. New residents and past members can drop into Gove Tackle and Outdoor for a 2009 – 2010 membership forms.

Countdown to the Festival

Well you can set your weekend watch on the south easterly winds at present. Saturday and Sunday saw the strongest winds for the week with white caps a plenty out wide. Several anglers fished the bay and rock wall with mixed results. A few undersized Barra and Queenfish with the odd small Mackerel thrown in for good measure. Other club members headed for the creeks and scored some Barra and mud crabs. Stacy Cox landed her first barra last weekend and has vowed to return for the elusive 1 mtr specimen – watch out David, are the future boys fishing trips threatened ? Well done Stacy. It’s good to see some of our lady members getting amongst it.