Australian bass in Queensland are off limits to anglers in spawning waters from June 1 to midnight, August 31, 2010.
“This period is aligned to the breeding cycle of Australian bass populations within Queensland’s south east river systems,” said Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district officer Brett Depper.
“Australian bass migrate down rivers within their natural range to spawn within the brackish marine systems at this time of the year.
“The closed season is an important measure in sustaining fish stocks for the future”.
Depper said while the closed season applied to all waters of Queensland, anglers could still fish for them year-round in and from waterways upstream of 22 of the state’s listed impoundments.
These include: Baroon Pocket; Bjelke-Petersen; Boondooma; Borumba; Cania; Cressbrook; Fred Haigh (Lake Monduran); Gordonbrook; Hinze; Lenthalls; Maroon; Moogerah; North Pine; Somerset; Wuruma and Wivenhoe dams; Claude Wharton and Jones weirs; Isis Balancing Storage (Lake Gregory); Clarendon, Dyer (Bill Gunn Dam) and MacDonald lakes.
Anglers are required to purchase a permit in the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) to fish these impoundments, with the money raised used to fund fish stocking.
For more information visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au and click on ‘Fisheries’ in the ‘Queensland industries’ box.
