Category Archives: Reports

Download The Report

Targets for 2019-20

1. Tag 20,000 fish

2. Record 1,500 recaptures

3. Registered taggers in range of 400-500

4. Upgrade database

5. Information distribution through 20-25 dashboards

Impact of COVID-19

It is important to understand the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and society however

there are very few objective ways to measure its impact on recreational fishing. Soon after the

start of the pandemic Infofish Australia used the recapture of tagged fish as a random sample of

the fishing population to see if it was possible to detect changes in fishing effort and fisher

behaviour.

The number of recaptures is correlated to fishing effort and the number of deployed tags while

behaviour is related to the distance travelled to go fishing. The actual distance travelled was

unknown so the distance from the fisher’s address or postcode to the recapture location was used.

In order to see if there were differences in the impact in different regions a number of areas were

selected for monitoring. These were:

• Statewide

• SEQ estuaries (Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast)

• SEQ Bass impoundments (adjacent to SEQ)

• Fitzroy River (regional estuary)

• Barramundi impoundment (Lake Awoonga)

Dashboards covering these areas were compiled and distributed monthly. Initial feedback was

positive, and this work was then absorbed into a broader Covid-19 project funded by the Fisheries

Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and Recfishing Research. At the end of 2020 a

review was undertaken comparing 2020 with 2019. This was widely distributed to key

organisation, fishing groups and individuals that would benefit from having the information. Again,

the feedback was positive both in terms of the information provided and the format for presenting

the data.

A summary of the comparison between 2020 and 2019 is provided and the complete

dashboards were provided to Fisheries Queensland. This will continue to be monitored in

2021 as there are likely to be further impacts from Covid-19.

Assisting Stocking Groups

The responsibility for monitoring of stocked impoundments has shifted from Fisheries

Queensland to stocking groups. Infofish Australia is working with Suntag and FFSAQ to provide

basic information from tagging and other sources to assist stocking groups in better

understanding their impoundments and their stocking regimes.

Crystal Bowl dashboards are being developed for as many impoundments as possible that

have a history of tagging data. Initially this was for 6 Bass impoundments providing a 10 year

timeline of tagging and recaptures, catch rates, size distribution, growth, survival, movement,

tag locations and recapture postcodes (indicating where fishers are coming from). This has

now been extended to include Golden Perch and other impoundments where sufficient data

are available.

As with the Covid-19, a 2020 review covering impoundments with sufficient data over the past

10 years is underway and will be completed shortly. One dashboard has a summary

comparing 6 Bass and Golden Perch lakes in SEQ. These are:

• Advancetown (Hinze)

• Maroon

• Moogerah

• Wivenhoe

• Somerset

• Borumba

 

Download The Report

Targets for 2019-20

1. Tag 20,000 fish

2. Record 1,500 recaptures

3. Registered taggers in range of 400-500

4. Upgrade database

5. Provide data to researchers and others

Development of Information Products

With 1.4 million fish records in the database the focus in Q1 of 2020-21 has been on the

development of information products using the data collected over 30 years. There are many uses

for the data, even more so when combined with other datasets, however making that available in a

format that is useful, particularly to influence decision making, is a challenge.

Suntag’s strategic partnership with Infofish Australia has enabled that challenge to be met. The use

of Crystal Bowl dashboards that are continually updated that focus on species, locations, challenges

or issues (eg Covid-19) provide data in an easily digestible format.

Dashboards will continue to be developed covering a wide range of interests, issues and locations.

Impact of COVID-19

Recaptures of tagged fish are being used as a random sample of the fisher population to assess the

impact of Covid-19 on recreational fishing in Queensland. This is one of the few objective measures

available and is a low-cost approach providing data in near real time.

The assessment includes a comparison of 2020 with 2019:

• fisher effort (number of recaptures) and

• fisher behaviour (distance travelled to go fishing)

• effect of border closures (interstate recaptures)

While it is not possible to measure the actual distance travelled both on land and on water the

straight-line distance between the fisher’s address (or postcode) and the recapture location is used

as an approximation however is an underestimate.

Assessments are made at a number of levels:

• All of Queensland

• South East Queensland estuaries (Noosa to Gold Coast)

• Regional Fitzroy River

• South East Queensland Bass impoundments (6 impoundments)

• Lake Awoonga Barramundi impoundment (added in Q1)

Dashboards provide assessments for each of those locations and are updated daily and distributed

monthly. All the feedback received so far has been very positive and this assessment process has

now been incorporated into a broader FRDC project.

In summary the initial impact of Covide-19 was short-lived from Mar-Jul. There was little impact

in SEQ estuaries and Bass impoundment fishing bounced back strongly after most

impoundments were closed during Apr. The impact in the Fitzroy River was greatest with the

bounce back starting after winter but subdued compared to 2019. There was little if any impact

at Lake Awoonga. However, the strong upward trend in the last 3 months of 2019 is not being

reflected to the same extent in 2020.

Part of the summary of the statewide assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on recreational

fishing in Queensland.

Monitoring Bass in SEQ impoundments

The responsibility for monitoring of impoundments has shifted from Fisheries Qld to stocking

groups. It will take some time for what that means in practical terms to eventuate. In the

meantime, there is already a significant amount of data available through Suntag and other

datasets that stocking groups can use.

Crystal Bowl dashboards have been developed for Australian Bass in 6 impoundments that

fringe SEQ from Lake Advancetown behind the Gold Coast to Lake Borumba adjacent to the

Sunshine Coast. A summary dashboard provides a comparison of impoundment status, catch

rates for T20 fishers (taggers), fish lengths, trophy fish, recaptures, growth rates and fish

spillage. This is updated and distributed monthly.

Separate dashboards are then available for each impoundment providing a 10 year timeline of

catch rates, fish lengths, growth, grid locations of tagged fish, recaptures external to the

impoundment and postcodes of fishers recapturing fish (indicating where fishers are coming

from to fish the impoundment). Infofish can then add bathymetry, bottom habitat, fish counts

and size gradings to provide as complete a picture of an impoundment as possible.

Download The Report

Targets for 2019-20

1. Tag 20,000 fish

2. Record 1,500 recaptures

3. Registered taggers in range of 400-500

4. Upgrade database

5. Provide data to researchers and others

Impact of COVID-19

There are very few objective ways to measure the impact of COVID-19 on recreational fishing. The

recapture of tagged fish can be viewed as a random sampling of the fishing population to get some

insight into the impact on effort and travel. A number of different assessments were made including

statewide, regional for the Fitzroy River and South East Qld, and impoundments adjacent to SEQ.

The analysis was based on the cumulative number of recaptures and the direct distance between

the fisher’s home or postcode and the recapture location comparing 2020 with 2019. The actual

distance travelled was unknown, but this provided a reasonable approximation for comparison

purposes.

The data were updated daily, and this will continue through to the end of the year to see what

happens as restrictions are eased and government support for workers ends or is reduced in Sep. A

summary was sent to key interest groups and individuals at the end of each month.

In summary to date there was a reduction in fishing effort from mid-Mar to early-May with travel

distance restrictions mostly adhered to. From mid-May fishing effort was mostly back to normal or a

bit above with longer travel distances. The impact was mostly felt in regional areas and

impoundments (mostly closed during Apr) while there was little impact in SEQ.

Part of the summary of the statewide assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on recreational

fishing in Queensland.

Monitoring Bass in SEQ impoundments

Crystal Bowl dashboards are being developed for Australian Bass in 6 impoundments that fringe

SEQ from Lake Advancetown behind the Gold Coast to Lake Borumba adjacent to the Sunshine

Coast. A summary dashboard provides a comparison of catch rates for T20 fishers, fish lengths,

trophy fish and growth rates.

A separate dashboard is then available for each impoundment providing a 10 year timeline of

catch rates, fish lengths, growth, grid locations of tagged fish, recaptures external to the

impoundment and postcodes of fishers recapturing fish (indicating where fishers are coming

from to fish the impoundment). At this stage dashboards are being updated every 6 months but

may be updated more frequently if there is sufficient demand.

 

Download The Report

Targets for 2019-20

1. Tag 20,000 fish

2. Record 1,500 recaptures

3. Registered taggers in range of 400-500

4. Upgrade database

5. Provide data to researchers and others

Impact of COVID-19

Hardly a highlight but COVID-19 has impacted on all aspects of society and fishing has been no

exception. Q3 results have been significantly impacted. Towards the end of Q3 boat ramps are

being closed or use severely restricted so that will have a significant impact on fishing activities

including tagging in Q4. What the impact of that will be in the longer term is largely unknown.

World Record for Australian Bass

The undoubted highlight for Q3 was achieving the world record for the longest time out for a

freshwater fish tagged with an external tag. The fish was a Bass tagged in Reynolds Creek on

29/1/1994 and recaptured on 9/2/2020 in Tingalpa Creek having moved 190km. It was out for

9,507 days or just over 26 years. It was just 18 days short of the overall record held by a

Southern Bluefin Tuna. The Bass grew very slowly from 26 to 39cm or just half a cm a year.

Highlights

Other highlights for quarter 3 at 31 March 2020 were:

• Database upgrade has been put on hold as we deal with the fallout of COVID-19

• 311 tag grid maps now available in Google Earth on a catchment or regional basis

• Mangrove Jack W71300 recaptured 12 times in 1.05 years from Mar 2019 - Mar 2020

Download The Report

Targets for 2019-20

1. Tag 20,000 fish

2. Record 1,500 recaptures

3. Registered taggers in range of 400-500

4. Upgrade database

5. Provide data to researchers and others

Highlights

Highlights for the quarter at 31 December 2019 were:

• Grant funds of $20,000 were received in Oct 2019

• The number of registered taggers at the end of Q2 was 430

• Number of taggers actually tagging fish was 295 for Q2 and 392 for the year

• There were 4,662 fish tagged in Q2 and 8,513 for the year which is below the target of

5,000 per quarter - numbers for Q2 will increase with late returns

• Recaptures were 534 for Q2 and 841 for the year which is on target

• Database upgrade has been slowed due to other work commitments however 309

tag maps have been upgraded and are available through Google Earth

• Mangrove Jack W71300 was recaptured 11 times in 10 months from Mar 2019 to

early 2020