COD season, as everyone would know, is upon us.
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That means there will be more night fishing, not that it stops through the cooler months, it just means that it is more comfortable during cod open season.
I have had quite a few people come into the shop saying that they were fishing the other night and almost hit someone who didn’t have any navigation lights on.
These fishermen said the vessels were traveling at speed - not only is this stupid, it is dangerous.
I have it on good authority that Maritime have been made aware of some of the “near misses” and that night checks from both Maritime and Fisheries will be ramped up. (Not that they were ever not doing them but because of the amount of complaints put forward, will be doing more in all waterways including the river.)
For those who don’t know, and, you shouldn’t have a licence if you don’t know, you require the following for night boating in inland areas.
- Side lights: A green light on the starboard (right) side and a red light on the port (left) side of a vessel. Each shows an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees, and is fixed to show from ahead to just behind the beam of the vessel on its respective side. On a vessel of less than 20m in length, the sidelights may be combined in one light unit, carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel with vessels under 12m be seen from a distance of one nautical mile.
- All around white light: A white light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees, this is to be used in conjunction with navigation lights and must be 1 meter above side lights with vessels under 12m be seen from a distance of two nautical miles.
- Masthead light : A white light placed over the fore and aft centreline of a vessel, showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and fixed to show from anywhere ahead, to just behind the beams of the vessel
- Sternlight: A white light placed near the stern, showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees, fixed to show from behind the vessel.
- Vessels under 12m shall exhibit one of the following: Separate or combined sidelights; a masthead light and a stern light or separate or combined sidelights and an all round white light.
- Rowing/paddle vessels: Such craft must have a torch or lantern ready to display in time to prevent a collision. Craft that are more than four metres long should exhibit two all-round lights, either continuous or a combination of continuous and flashing white lights, positioned at either end, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Rowing.
Not following these regulations is not only stupid, it is dangerous, and could result in some pretty nasty accidents especially now when a lot of parents are taking their kids night time fishing.
When fishing from the bank you are allowed the following:
- The following fishing rules apply when fishing in NSW above the tidal limits including the whole of the Murray River to the South Australian border (except Lake Hume, which is controlled by Victorian Fishing Laws), all parts of Lake Mulwala from Yarrawonga Weir wall upstream to the point where the Ovens River enters the Murray River at Bundalong boat ramp and when fishing on the NSW side of the Dumaresq, MacIntyre and Barwon Rivers (a NSW/Qld midstream border applies when fishing in these rivers).
- Two attended lines are permitted in all non-tidal waters other than some trout waters. Attended lines must be within 50 metres, in your sight (in your sight doesn’t mean asleep in your tent or swag with a bell on, this constitutes a set line), hand lines are not permitted in trout waters.
So don’t do the wrong thing and you will have nothing to worry about.
Do the wrong thing and you will be caught.
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THE fishing is pretty good right around the Riverina at the moment with heaps of 85cm plus cod being recorded in most of the cod impoundments and the number of metre-plus fish seems to already be higher than this time last year. Lots of reddies being caught as well with some good numbers of 30cm fish reported in Blowering, Burrinjuck and Mannus (nothing like a good feed of reddies), some yellas also in among the mix as well.
On the South Coast there are some good bream in the estuaries along with some half decent jewies or mulloway, good flathead but a bit quiet out wide.
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MURRAY cod season is open, and fishos are on the water everywhere.
Get a good catch? Use #riverina or #riverinasummer on social media, or leave a pic on The Daily Advertiser facebook page in a comment or a private message.