South Australian anglers now have better access to the latest fishing rules and regulations – and it’s all at the push of a button.

PIRSA Fisheries has launched a new mobile text messaging service known as SMSFish, which provides recreational fishers with more rapid and convenient access to fishing information.

Simply by sending a text message to the SMSFish number 0427 767 995 with the species name that they are targeting, fishers will then receive an immediate return message providing them with the minimum legal size, bag and boat limit, along with any information on closed seasons that relate to that particular species.

SMSFish allows fishers to quickly and conveniently determine all the relevant information they need to know to allow them to stay within the law while fishing.

The new service aims to make it even easier for anglers to conform with current fisheries regulations.

With Spring upon us, PIRSA Fisheries has issued a reminder to recreational fishers of the strict regulations that apply to blue swimmer crabs.

Blue swimmer crabs are traditionally a popular target at this time of year as the weather warms up and they begin to move closer to the shoreline of Gulf St Vincent.

Regional Manager Central South Randel Donovan said that strict size, bag and boat limits apply to blue swimmer  crabs to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

“At this time of year we traditionally start to see a lot more recreational fishers along the beaches of upper Gulf St Vincent specifically targeting blue swimmer crabs,” Mr Donovan said.

The regulations relating to catching blue swimmer crabs are a daily bag limit of 40 per person and a daily boat limit of 120 (combined limits with sand crabs). A minimum size limit of 11cm width measured across the carapace from the base of the largest spines also applies. It is also illegal to take female crabs with eggs and they must be returned to the water straight away without harm.

PIRSA Fisheries is committed to improving linkages with the recreational fishing sector.

To do this, we are setting up a Recreational Fishing Champions / Opinion Leaders Group.

The aim of the group will be to bring together effective and influential recreational fishing personalities, and through quarterly meetings, be briefed on and discuss issues relating to the recreational sector to ensure that you are well informed on the issues.

The group will meet for the first time during October.

Anglers often ask the question: Can I go out fishing more than once per day?

You can go out fishing as many times in one day as you would like.  HOWEVER once you have taken your bag limit of a particular species then you cannot take any more of that species for that day. 

You will also need to remember that once a boat limit of a species has been taken from a specific boat in one day, then people on board that boat cannot take any more of that species on that particular day.

She’s small, she’s light, and more importantly - she’s fast!

‘She’ is PIRSA Fisheries new tender boat, launched by Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Paul Caica during August.

The new tender boat sits aboard Fisheries main patrol vessel the Southern Ranger, and is purpose built to work as an independent patrol vessel when away from the Southern Ranger.

Master Offshore Patrol on the Southern Ranger, Les Parsons, said that the main role of the vessel is to give Fisheries Officers access to commercial and recreational fishing vessels in most weather conditions.

“The new tender is a major improvement on the previous boat. It has high speed pursuit capabilities, being able to achieve 40 knots (75kmph) for extended periods of time, and comes equipped with the latest navigation technology to ensure greater operator safety during night operations,” he said.

Undersize mulloway are often caught on the surf beaches of South Australia.

In order to help protect this valuable and much sought after fish, PIRSA Fisheries is providing a few hints so recreational fishers can better care for the state’s mulloway stocks:

• Use bigger size hooks (Minimum 8/0 to 10/0 is suggested);
• Undersize mulloway need to be returned to the water as soon as possible. The small fish are not great swimmers in the surf wash and can sometimes be too weak to swim back out after being caught; and
• Treat undersize fish delicately - use a wet cloth to handle them and take care when removing hooks.

A Tantanoola man has been convicted and fined more than $6300 in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court for using in excess of the legal number of rock lobster pots.

Under South Australian legislation recreational fishers may only use a maximum of two rock lobster pots which must be registered through PIRSA Fisheries.

Neil Colin Webber pleaded guilty to six counts of taking fish using excess gear. Mr Webber was fined $5400 with an additional penalty of $910 imposed by the magistrate.

In addition to the fines, the magistrate ordered that Mr Webber be prohibited from any rock lobster fishing activity for five years as well as ordering the forfeiture of four rock lobster pots and a quantity of rock lobster.

Fishers are also reminded that recreational rock lobster pots are not permitted to have a buoy attached that displays the licence number of a commercial fishery.