Lower Cudgegong

5 good sized Murray Cod, up to 10pounds were caught by a Gulgong fisherman at Yamble Bridge during the week. Only problem was his wife forgot to pack the camera!

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Cod fisherman heading west

The out west cod fishing season is just heating up with many local anglers buying or catching yabbies by the truckload, chopping in to trees is search of wood grubs and hard boiling eggs. The first successful news I have received came from Mike O’Shea who ventured to the Darling River at Louth on the 7th of this month and came up trumps with a Cod weighing 38lb. Amazingly it was caught after swallowing a 2lb yellow belly that had taken the yabbie bait. It measured 103cm.

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Middle Cudgegong

The trout season came to a close this month with many locals fairing well on the river pulling in their last fish of the season. Although the water was a little murky the fish were still actively feeding. I found hard bodied lures and spinners to be the pick of the weekend. Just a reminder that the Cudgegong River between the Lawson park Weir and

Scotty Bell and a 2.5 pounder caught while fishing with Bluey.

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Moustache Patrol

Received word that one poor sod who had taken his son fishing the other day was booked for having illegal rod holders. A note to everyone to check the legalities regarding their rod holders when taking their sons or daughters fishing. Wouldn’t want you to run into that notorious copper performing his “civic duty” or it could cost you $260.

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Fishcare

On the weekend I attended some seminars in Bathurst funded by the NSW fisheries and the Recreation Fishing Fee Trust Expenditure Committee. Contrary to popular belief, the money raised from fishing fee’s actually all goes back into fishing. FFTEC is the committee who decides how the money will be spent and where, e.g. stocking habitat restoration etc. They also provide educational school’s programs, educational talks at fishing clubs, help running competitions (they will be providing a vessel and volunteers for a floating weigh-station at our next pub and club comp) and a fishcare volunteer program. Over the next year in our area there will be lots of events happening and volunteers in there area. They will be conducting angler surveys to find out what’s being caught and where but more importantly where anglers want to see their licenses money spent. They can then use this data to decide where best to spend the money. RFFTEC is also keen to fund any grants programs in our area. If anyone has any idea’s about a worthy cause for a grant (E.g. improved boat ramps, fishing platforms, jetties, fishing cleaning tables, re-stocking, habitat restoration etc) come and have a yarn with me or jump on the fisheries website and get pro-active. The money is there we just need to put in the effort.

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C and R

Thought that I would write a short note on tips for people wishing to catch and release their fish. It’s becoming more and more popular these days for people to fish for enjoyment and not for the table, and many people aren’t aware of a few techniques that would help the survival of fish being released. It’s also good practice to follow when releasing undersized fish. Tips:

• Use barbless hooks or flatten the barbs on your hooks

• Using circle hooks reduces gut-hooking and increases fish survival

• If a fish is hooked in the gut or gills cut the line rather than rip the hook out.

• Cheaper hooks will rust out quicker when the line is cut

• The least time spent un-hooking a fish the better

• Never put your fingers in the fishes gills, never!

• Needless removal of hooks is the greatest impact on fish survival

• When using a braided line, always use a mono leader! Not only will braided line physically cut the fish, but having no stretch means it puts large amounts of pressure on a fishes jaw.

• Always wet your hands before touching a fish on handle fish smoothly.

• Never ever hold a fish only by the jaw, use your other hand to support the fishes body.

• Never squeeze the fish

• Try to buy a knotless net. E.G a rubber net

• Support the majority of the fishes weight with your hands

• Use a comfort lift if not using a net

• Never use a keeper net for C and R

• Try to fight the fish as quickly as possible

• Never let a fish float off belly up, hold in the water upright and use your other hand to swoosh water of the fishes gills until it swims out of your hand

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Fisherman’s Watch

Speaking to Matt Ryan the fisheries officer that handles most of our area the other day, he wanted me to pass on to everyone the need to report illegal fishing activities. He said properly 70% of the busts they make are from tip off’s from the public. If you see anyone breaking the rules, e.g. fishing in closed waters, taking undersized fish, using nets etc, give fisherman’s watch a ring on 1800043536. Stop the law breakers ruining it for the rest of us.

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Pub and Club Comp

Round 3 of the Fish N Trips Fishing Pub and Club Challenge will be held on Sunday the 16th of December at Windamere. More details will be coming soon. There is plenty of time until the comp so get your teams together. I’ll be sending out information to publicans and presidents, or else drop in and see me at Mudgee Camping World.

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Field Days

Plan a little extra time for the field days this year. Twice a day I’ll be holding a half hour fishing talk followed by a learn to cast / casting competition. There will be showbags, giveaways and plenty of prizes for the competitions. See you there.

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Burrendong

Having water levels fluctuating at Burrendong has turned on some really good fishing. Catfish and carp are doing particularly well. Carp up to 5 kg are being taken as well as dozens of undersized catties with a few legal specimens thrown in. Let’s hope the rain continues and the dam fills up!

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Mudgee Small Field Days

Just received some more prizes for our field days clinics and casting competitions; keyrings, water bottles, lures, calendars, tassie devils….. Make sure you get out there.

Plan a little extra time for the field days this year. Twice a day I’ll be holding a half hour fishing talk followed by a learn to cast / casting competition. There will be showbags, giveaways and plenty of prizes for the competitions. See you there.

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Recent Research - Smarter Fishermen

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo, much like the brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. The slowest buffalo are the sick and weak so they die off first, making it possible for the herd to move at a faster pace. Like the buffalo, the weak, slow brain cells are the ones that are killed off by excessive beer drinking and excessive fishing, making the brain operate faster. The conclusion to this research is: Drink more beer and fish more, it will make you smarter.