Sydney Harbour Recreational Fishing Haven

13/10/2026

Well here we go again, when will NSW Fisheries start to accept we need to work together to manage our States Publicly Owned Fish Stocks across Australia and the World.
Would the 'Swearing In' of all Fisheries Staff and Politicians to ACTUALLY tell the truth the whole and nothing but the truth, improve relationships between fishos and the bureaucrats?
Or should we rely upon 'Pinocchio's fictional Law' to catch out those who embellish the truth?
So the blame game of miss information driven by recreational and commercial fishers now swings too -
• Why can local fishers still see kingfish if the stock assessment says spawning biomass is very low?
How could this work?
- How does Fisheries Aged Data compared to New Realtime Data? What Data is required, is this Data about Individual Fish or Schools of Fish, from Whom, how Accurate, How much is needed, Where from and When?
• Local sightings are important, but they do not provide the same information as a stock assessment.
What would Fisheries Scientists and Managers accept as appropriate Fish or Fisheries Data, Records or Reported information relevant too, how much would be required and gathered over what time period, would assist in their deliberation and determination?
Now here is the latest kicker!
A stock assessment looks across the NSW component of the stock and estimates the mature fish available to breed and support future generations.
So are now accepting that Kingfish have tails, can swim however as we know any timeline has many different points and variables, so how will this work in any Stock Assessment understanding that Environmental (mother nature) has its challenges and changing time line.
There has been this theory that Kingfish started their life cycle off around Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, then visit the Australian East Coast currents of Australia, then head off to New Zealand, then back up to the Islands again, has this circular pattern been tested, yes and no, tagged fish seem to go in many directions.
So how are looking at Kingfish, as a whole shared stock or in isolation to other jurisdictional locations as part of this draft Harvest Strategy changes?
Why has not produced a Citizen Science Fisho overlay of capture tagged recapture Kingfish data, this might provide some insight into where Kingfish move locally or over distance and time, we have seen this for Billfish!
However the ocean currents only support part of this theory. Its a bit like all Tailor on the East Coast only spawn at Fraser Island in Queensland!
However when keen fishos over the decades have examined their catch they find ripe ovas and milt sacks that indicate that story is not true when caught 1,000kms to the south.
Understanding where and when fish aggregate to spawn is part of the required Fish Biology Matrix knowledge needed to best understand any fish species existing movements needs and wants to survive to maturity and beyond.
Let's see what Fisheries come up with next, we understand and know Fisheries Science is an unknown or incomplete Science in many ways. However there must be plausible commentary and explanations where knowledge gaps exists, if the Government, Politicians and Fisheries Managers are ever going to rebuild the Trust and Respect needed to build a new age era where FISH are FIRST and Trust and Respect could EXIST!

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1404020908573798&set=a.113915440917691

Why can local fishers still see kingfish if the stock assessment says spawning biomass is very low?

Local sightings are important, but they do not provide the same information as a stock assessment. A stock assessment looks across the NSW component of the stock and estimates the mature fish available to breed and support future generations. That is why the draft Yellowtail Kingfish Harvest Strategy focuses on spawning biomass and long-term rebuilding.

Read the proposal and make a submission through Have Your Say.
https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/yellowtail-kingfish

23/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1680133600151234&set=a.571250214372917

Fishing World reporting the Minister has extended the closing date to 15th February 2027.

Hopefully the requested data is now made available. What happens to those who have already submitted, will they get a second chance to submit a more informed response??

THE NSW Government has extended consultation on the draft harvest strategies for yellowtail kingfish and snapper.

In a statement released today, the NSW Minns Government said the extension reflects its commitment to robust consultation to ensure fishers and the community can provide informed submissions based on science and independent expert advice.

Yellowtail kingfish and snapper are highly valued by commercial and recreational fishers in NSW. However, current assessments show the biomass for both species is well below desired target levels.

The NSW Government claims to have adopted the best scientific and expert approach in determining the health of yellowtail kingfish and snapper stocks and then determining the most appropriate harvest plans by undertaking the following:

- Taking on board advice from commercial, and recreational fishers, plus independent experts, through the Line & Trap Harvest Strategy Working Group
- Implementing an assessment model that brings the state in line with fisheries best practice around the world
- Using spawning females as a more accurate measure of the breeding population and overall stock status
Incorporating additional biological and fishery data, including age, size, growth and spawning information, to better determine the health of the stock
- Assessing spawning biomass, that is the breeding population, which is the key indicator used to assess sustainability.
- The draft strategies set out practical measures designed to recover fish stocks, provide certainty for fishers and secure access for future fisheries.

The draft yellowtail kingfish strategy is proposing the following for feedback from stakeholders:
- A reduction of catch from around 250 tonnes to 120 tonnes, which has been estimated to allow biomass to increase to 20 percent of unfished biomass and a sustainable stock status in around 9 years.
- A heavily reduced monthly catch limit for that recognises the need to maintain continuity of supply to markets, is proposed for commercial fishers.
- A zero-take imposed outside of the Line West and Line East sectors of the Ocean Trap and Line Fisheries.
- For recreational fishers, including charter, the following is proposed in the draft strategy:
- a reduced bag and possession limit of one and boat limit of one
- a recreational Yellowtail Kingfish - catch and release season around the estimated spawning period from November to January each year if catch levels need further management under the proposed bag and boat limits.

Snapper stocks in NSW have been slowly rebuilding since the 1990s after reaching historically low levels. While the stock is considered sustainable, biomass is still below long-term target levels and the draft Snapper strategy is proposing the following for feedback from stakeholders to support the biomass to reach 30 percent of unfished biomass by 2035:
- Management changes that will keep catches around the current level of 300 tonnes p.a.
- Introducing commercial monthly catch limits, and
- a recreational bag and possession limit of three, with one over 70cm for recreational fishers.

The public now have until 15 February 2027 to provide their feedback on the draft NSW Yellowtail Kingfish and Snapper harvest strategies and management options.

All feedback provided through the public consultation will be considered by the Line & Trap Harvest Strategy Working Group and the Government before the harvest strategies are finalised.

The NSW Government said it recognises that some fishers are still catching small and medium-size Kingfish in reasonable numbers. But not enough of those smaller fish are making it to breeding size.

Experts advise the stock of NSW kingfish is now “depleted” at just 5.5 percent of unfished levels.

16/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1674057184092209&set=pcb.1674057230758871

08/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1093300366418496&set=a.223038046778070

DAY 5.. King Fish seem to be dominating the headlines however tucked in with this proposal is our Snapper!

Our Minister led department have done a cracking job on this part of the harvest strategy, This post could be pages long however here are five points you need to consider...

1. NSW-only data for a stock shared with Queensland

2. Uncertain recreational catch estimates built on historical assumptions

3. Incomplete surveys that do not directly cover all NSW

4. One assumed discard-mortality rate applied across completely different fishing sectors

5. Age-data and regional gaps that DPI says still require further work.

This is not an argument against sustainable fisheries. It is an argument against imposing major restrictions before the evidence is complete, transparent and independently tested.

Release the data. Fix the gaps. Show the modelling. Then consult fishers properly.

Is their approch evidence based? You decide...

07/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1665941218237139&set=a.571250217706250

⏸️ MINISTER MORIARTY—PAUSE THE SNAPPER AND KINGFISH PROCESS

DPIRD originally said the fishing advisory councils would review these harvest strategies before public consultation. That promised scrutiny did not occur. The Department instead proceeded directly to consultation and now proposes sending the drafts to the advisory councils after submissions close.

RFA NSW has lodged an extensive GIPA request seeking the data, modelling, assumptions, peer reviews and decision records behind the proposed restrictions.

Seven weeks is not enough for fishers to examine complex scientific material—particularly when critical information has not been released and the promised advisory process was bypassed.

We call on Minister Tara Moriarty to:

pause the current consultation;
release the requested evidence and modelling;
complete the promised advisory-council reviews; and
restart consultation with enough time for proper independent scrutiny.

This is not opposition to sustainable fisheries management. It is a demand for a fair, transparent and evidence-based process.

Release the data. Complete the reviews. Then restart fair consultation.

06/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1664230755074852&set=a.571250217706250

🎣 SHOW US THE DATA: TRANSPARENCY MUST COME BEFORE RESTRICTIONS

It’s great to see people trying to explain the stock-assessment methodology—but a model is only as reliable as the data and assumptions entered into it.

Unless NSW DPI releases the complete datasets, model files, assumptions, sensitivity testing and independent-review material underpinning the proposed Snapper and Yellowtail Kingfish restrictions, confidence in this process will remain at zero.

We have been here before.

During the Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion process, the MARXAN approach was promoted as world-leading. It took the RFA NSW and the Underwater Skindivers and Fishermen’s Association around six months of determined work and information-access requests to uncover serious weaknesses in the data and the way recreational fishing information had been used.

We are now confronted with the same fundamental governance problem: fishers are being shown the model’s conclusions without being given everything necessary to independently test them.

Show us the data. Show us the assumptions. Show us how the proposed restrictions were selected.

RFA NSW and USFA will once again pursue the underlying information and seek a genuinely independent scientific assessment.

But why should fishing organisations and volunteers have to carry that cost?

Recreational fishers pay licence fees that fund programs intended to protect and improve fishing access. If government modelling is being used to justify major reductions in access, a properly governed portion of those funds should support transparent, genuinely independent scrutiny of the evidence—particularly where the analysis may reveal that the data or assumptions are unreliable.

Any funding arrangement must be independent of the officials and advisory structures responsible for the original process. Those who developed, commissioned or endorsed the assessment should not control who reviews their work or determine what information the reviewer receives.

This is about sustainable fisheries, sound science and public accountability. If the evidence is strong, independent scrutiny will strengthen it. If it is flawed, fishers have a right to know before enduring restrictions are imposed.

Zero transparency means zero trust. Stay tuned.

04/09/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2R27RPJt9k

Mark Banasiak MLC and Charlie De Villiers (USFA President) talk abo...

02/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1728453252618690&set=a.503850075079020

Government Discrimination against Boat owners

Boat anglers have been specifically targeted in harsh new kingfish reforms.

In an act of gross discrimination by DPI Fisheries , boat fishermen and their families have been singled out for ‘special’ harsh treatment in a new proposed kingfish harvest strategy.

Under the new proposal the bag limit for kingfish has been slashed from 5 to 1 fish . This means a group of licenced anglers can go fishing from the shore and retain 1 kingfish each . However , if that same group of fishermen choose to fish from their boat then they will only be allowed to retain one fish for the whole group.
To make that very clear , if you and 5 mates or family go boat fishing you will only be allowed to keep one fish --- despite the fact that you have all paid exactly the same for a fishing licence. In other words , one of you will be going home with one whole fish and the others will go home with none OR all 6 of you will go home with one sixth 1/6 of the fish . Unless it’s a massive fish then there generally won’t even be enough for one family dinner.

This has major implications for all boat owners and charter operators.

You can have your say here : https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/fishing/harvest-strategies/yellowtail-kingfish

01/09/2026

Ok - have more accurate data, the early reports are correct, see below text plus links, share wide and far
https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1677233/Draft-NSW-Yellowtail-Kingfish-Harvest-Strategy.pdf

https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1677234/Draft-NSW-Snapper-Harvest-Strategy.pdf

01/09/2026

🎣 SNAPPER AND KINGFISH: NSW FISHERS FACE MAJOR NEW RESTRICTIONS
The NSW Government’s draft harvest strategies propose:
🔴 Snapper
A three-fish bag and possession limit.
Only one snapper over 70 cm.
The potential for further restrictions, including seasonal closures, boat limits or even a zero bag limit.
🔴 Yellowtail Kingfish
Just one fish per person.
A one-fish recreational boat limit—regardless of how many licensed fishers are aboard.
A one-fish charter boat limit.
A possible catch-and-release-only season from November to January.
These are not minor adjustments. They could fundamentally change recreational fishing in NSW. ONLY 1 MONTH CONSULTIATON !!!!!!!