Welcome once again to My Big Catch

Commercial octopus fishery licence secured in Gippsland

Commercial operators in East Gippsland will be able to fish for octopus thanks to a new category of licence which will secure valuable jobs in the region and provide more fresh food for seafood lovers.

Boating and Fishing MP Melissa Horne said 11 ongoing licences will be issued, allowing operators to catch up to 68 tonnes of octopus per year through sustainable fishing in the Gippsland zone.

The new category of licence will be specific to the octopus’s fishery and will permit operators to fish in waters east of Loch Sport to the New South Wales border.

“Securing the octopus fishery long-term through new licensing arrangements is terrific news for East Gippsland, and for Victorians who love fresh seafood on their dinner plates,” Ms Horne said.

“We’re providing much-needed security for commercial operators, while ensuring this fishery is managed sustainably.”

The new dedicated licence and quota is tradeable, which will improve business security for operators and enable more confident investment into boats, equipment and staff.

Octopus have been harvested by commercial fishers in Victoria in the past under other licence categories.

They will be caught in purpose-built, unbaited traps that minimise bycatch and are environmentally friendly.

The catch from the region could be worth up to $1 million annually to the Gippsland operators as Australian chefs and consumers move to embrace Victorian octopus.

Most of the fishery is based on pale octopus, which inhabits sandy substrates in bays and coastal waters of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

They can be found in waters to depths of almost 600 metres and are of little interest to recreational fishers.

Catches from the Western and Central zones, where octopus fishing is more developmental, will continue to be managed using permits issued by the Victorian Fisheries Authority.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone please keep those photos coming in of your own big catch!

Photos: Please forward them to the email address below, with Type of fish, weight, length, location, and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big catch.

Email photos to [email protected]

Last week a photo in this column was incorrectly captioned… the picture was of a nice Gummy Shark caught by Amelia Agosta of Lorne, not by yours truly.

Our apologies for any confusion.

 

Fishing Reports

Weather conditions and water temperatures are still affecting anglers though a few nice catches have been caught

The reports below are again based on past reports as well as some current ones but fishing is slow.

 

Anglesea

Whiting catches have been few and far between

The odd pinkie are still being caught

Gummy Shark are still around

A few flathead had been reported

Salmon reports off Point Road knight and local beaches.

Thanks to the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea

 

Barwon Heads

Previous reports were of some snapper being caught out deep

Flathead had also been reported offshore but no great numbers

Last reports of whiting were in close offshore

Some salmon reports off local beaches

River was seeing the occasional whiting and Trevally being caught.

Reports compliments of the Ocean Grove Angling

 

Torquay

 

The latest reports regarding whiting has seen most catches close inshore

A few small pinkies and the occasional snapper

Flathead reports are still few and far between

Gummy sharks’ reports are also only occasional at present

Local beaches are still seeing some salmon being reported

Spring Creek, and small bream go hand in hand.

Reports compliments of the Torquay Angling club

 

Queenscliff

 

St Leonards is still seeing reports of King George Whiting, flathead, squid, and the occasional snapper

Clifton Springs continues to report snapper, whiting, calamari, flathead, and squid along with the odd Gummy Shark

Queenscliff reports consist of a few whiting, trevally, and flathead.

The Creek reports a few trevally as well as salmon

Swan Bay reports the odd squid, whiting and Flathead being caught

Point Lonsdale Salmon, trevally, whiting a few squid and snapper have all been reported

The White Lady is still seeing whiting, along with calamari, and snapper.

Indented Head is still seeing reports of flathead, King George Whiting, snapper and calamari.