Heres some info on the elecric reel ban that i beleive is totally hiporcritical, Basically power assisted reels will be banned unless you have a disability... I agree electric reels are not traditional but neither are digital sounders, or high tech whaling boats, or 99% of commercial fishing practices... Is krudd gonna offer a buy back like j howard did with the rifles? everyone bring this up at your next club meeting and send off emails in distgust...
Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing
Outcomes from Meeting 47 – Tuesday 25 August 2009
Cronulla Fisheries Centre
Attendance
Bruce Schumacher (Chair), Kevin McKinnon, Neil Ryan, Charlie Howe, Sanchia Glaskin, Max Castle, John Clarke, Ann Garard, John Humphries, Adrian Wayne, Ron Croker, Claudette Rechtorik, Jan McLeod, John Drew
10. Electric reels
Electric fishing reels are generally used when targeting deep water fish species such as
gemfish, blue-eye trevalla (blue-eye cod), hapuku, banded rock cod (bar cod) and bass groper.
Electrical reels appear to be increasing in availability and popularity. The current bag and size limits were developed based on traditional harvest methods of deck/hand winches. The bag and size limits are currently 5 deep sea fish in total, only 2 gemfish, and a boat trip limit of 10 gemfish. With such limits in place, deep water species can also be prone to high grading. They also are unlikely to survive any catch and release practices.
I&I NSW is becoming increasingly concerned about the current escalating investment and use of electric reels for fishing in NSW and potential impacts on deep sea fisheries resources. The majority of council members considered the use of electric reels was not a, traditional, acceptable form of recreational fishing and therefore, the use of powered/electric reels should be restricted.
Note: Electric reels are often necessary to allow people with disabilities to fish successfully. It is considered that the use of electric reels by people with disabilities is acceptable. Electric reels are also commonly used by charter boat operators but are already heavily restricted by the boat limit of 10 gemfish.
Motion: The council supports the banning of electric reels, subject to a permit system for
acceptable use (e.g. to assist disabled fishers). The council recommends that the ban be
implemented during the next review of bag and size limits and that the Minister consider issuing an investment warning in the near future to advise the recreational fishing sector of this position.
Moved: Charlie Howe. Seconded: John Drew. Carried. (Against: John Humphries, Ann
Garard, Neil Ryan).
Here's a link to the entire meeting. Makes for some interesting reading as well...
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pd...21/ACoRF-47.pdf