tagging is predominantly in estuaries and impoundments fish are not highly mobile so recaptures

occurs.

suggests that Covid restrictions had little overall impact on fishing in 2020 and 2021 although

there were some regions that were impacted more than others, particularly those fished by

travelling fishers.

Travel by intrastate and interstate fishers was down in 2020 when Covid travel restrictions were in

Barramundi, Bass and Flathead. These species account for 55% of the total tagging effort. Based

on recaptures of legal sized fish by other than taggers, 50% of Barramundi, 12% of Bass and 57%

of Flathead were kept.

Tag rates and fish lengths at the statewide level have remained steady over the past decade and

have not shown any particular trend.