The 2018 Barra Season starts with a splash in Fitzroy River
Published on 01 February 2018
The ‘Home of Barramundi’ has seen an influx of visitors, with eager Rockhampton anglers hitting the Fitzroy River to mark the start of the 2018 Barramundi Season.
Closing in November last year for the annual shutdown, the new season officially kicked off at midday today with Chair of Council’s Infrastructure Committee Cr Tony Williams one of the first to put a line in the water.
“Whether you’re a seasoned angler or it’s your first time putting a line in the water, there is no other feeling quite like hooking a Barramundi in the stunning Fitzroy River,” Cr Williams said.
“Council is a massive supporter of our recreational fishers and we’ve taken a number of steps to attract more locals and visitors alike to the Region.
“We adopted the Recreational Fishing Strategy last year to take advantage of the Net Free Zones, we’ve rolled out the Rockhampton Recreational Fishing Voluntary Code of Practice to encourage responsible catch limits, and we’ve actively lobbied for funding to improve infrastructure.
“In fact, Council was successful in securing $100,000 from the Queensland Government to implement our Fishing Strategy and we’ve matched that dollar for dollar to go towards land-based fishing platforms, marketing and business development.
“We’re still in active discussions with the Government around boat ramps at Casuarina and Inkerman Creeks so it’s an exciting time for our visiting and local fishers.”
Cr Williams said anglers are also reminded to refresh their knowledge on the regulations prior to dropping in a line this season.
“While we wish everyone ‘tight lines’ this Barra Season and look forward to seeing everyone enjoying the fantastic fishing opportunities our Region offers, we also want to remind everyone that there are regulations surrounding catching size,” Cr Williams said.
“Legal catching size for the Barramundi is from 58cm to 120cm, though Council encourages the community to release any Barra over one metre as these are our breeding females.
“It’s also important to remember to take a feed and not and not fridge full when taking home your haul, so we can ensure great fishing in our Region for generations to come.”
More information on the Rockhampton Recreational Fishing Voluntary Code of Practice can be found here.