Australian Bass Closed Season Now In Force
10 June, 2004

Anglers are reminded that a closed season for Australian bass now applies throughout Queensland until August 31.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) biologist Aimee Burton said closed seasons were in place to protect fish during vulnerable times such as spawning seasons.

However, Ms Burton said an exemption from the closed season applied to waterways upstream and within the 22 dams or weirs already stocked with Australian bass.

These include: Baroon Pocket; Bjelke-Petersen; Boondooma; Borumba; Cania; Cressbrook; Fred Haig (Lake Monduran); Gordonbrook; Hinze; Lenthalls; Maroon; Moogerah; North Pine; Somerset; Wuruma; and Wivenhoe Dams, as well as Claude Wharton and Jones Weirs; Isis Balancing Storage (Lake Gregory); and Lakes Clarendon; Dyer (Bill Gunn Dam); and MacDonald.

Ms Burton said these areas were exempt as migratory species such as Australian bass headed downstream to estuarine spawning grounds but dams and weirs prevented some fish from reaching the breeding grounds.

“If the fish don’t reach the estuaries they won’t breed. Australian bass taken upstream from these dams and weirs are unlikely to spawn so wild fish stocks aren’t being threatened,” she said.

“The dams are also stocked with fingerlings specifically bred for that purpose which again means wild stocks are not affected.”

Ms Burton reminded anglers that size and take and possession limits still applied to those Australian bass that could be taken.

The minimum size limit is 30cm and the take and possession limit is two.

For more information about recreational fishing rules visit the DPI&F Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Aimee Burton (07) 3239 0727
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

More Press Releases here: