Fish bites: Spanish mack back on Queensland's catch list
Spanish mackerel seasonal closure ends. Weather-watching tips; baby Whaler teased; Haines Hunter opens its doors to visitorsQueensland-based fishers targeting Spanish mackerel in the northern part of Australia can wet a line from tomorrow as the annual northern closure comes to an end.
The staggered east coast northern closures for Spanish mackerel, three weeks long and held to coincide with the new moons in October and November each year when the fish aggregate and spawn, apply to a 350km stretch of coastline running between Mackay and Yeppoon.
The reopening coincides with new Spanish mackerel limits brought into Queensland on July 1 this year. These include a recreational possession limit of one fish per person, or two per boat with two or more recreational fishers onboard.
Spanish mackerel also has a minimum size limit of 75cm.
Queensland’s southern fishing zone is also subject to annual temporary closures that start in February each year.
Spanish mackerel stocks in Queensland are rated as depleted on the east coast or low in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Weather tips for boaters
The Bureau of Meteorology has teamed up with NSW Maritime to produce a new video series showing boaters how to manage weather.
The video series covers everything from weather forecasts and warnings to wind and wave forecasts and conditions.
The resource includes a link to Transport for NSW’s handy guide to how the size of waves affects boats of different sizes.
Baby Boston teased
US saltwater fishing specialist Boston Whaler has teased what appears to be a new trailerable model that will join its line-up early next year.
Tagged as a Vantage, the new model due to have its full reveal next week and shown briefly in a video posted to social media, appears to be smaller than the 7.4-metre Boston Whaler 240 Vantage, the entry-level member of the line-up.
Images posted to the Boston Whaler website show the boat is missing a hardtop, and features a runabout interior with a short cockpit, a low windscreen and what appears to be a split console leading to a bow lounge.
“This is a Whaler that might surprise you with a welcome blend of family comfort and fishing prowess,” Boston Whaler said.
“Easy to own and impossible not to love, the newest member of the Vantage family brings a versatile angle to the unsinkable quality that has made Boston Whaler legendary for decades.”
No other details were provided ahead of the official reveal.
Haines Hunter open day
Melbourne-based Haines Hunter will throw open the doors to its factory on Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
The brand, which also produces Southern Formula boats, will use the event to showcase its latest offerings.
It is also a chance for potential buyers to come and see the factory’s cutting-edge technology used to build its range of trailerable fibreglass fishing boats, and the craftsmanship of the finishes applied to each boat.
The Haines Hunter factory is located at 56 East Derrimut Crescent in Derrimut in Melbourne’s west.
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