The author and Matt Arkell hold up a big mackerel that was caught while targeting dogtooth tuna.
Far north Queensland spaniards
L
Spanish mackerel are prolific around Cape York. This one was taken by the author on spear.
The author’s daughter Lyla, holds a mackerel caught off Thursday Island. Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, August 2021
IVING on Thursday Island, I’m fortunate to be able to explore remote parts of Cape York and the Torres Strait regularly. One of my favourite species to target and cook up is the magnificent spanish mackerel, which has certainly been making headlines recently. Spaniards tick many boxes because they can be caught using a range of techniques, they grow big, look impressive, know how to get a reel singing and are great eating. I must say, as for many keen north-Queensland fishos, I’m having difficulty accepting the recent stock assessment that claims spanish mackerel are under significant threat and unsustainable. The reason being that spaniards have been at their thickest for about 10 years in the Torres
Cape York & Torres Strait by MATT POTTER
Strait and around the tip of Cape York, as I’ve noted in previous articles this year. And at times they have been a pest because they take our shiny snapper leads when targeting reef fish. The latest data on spanish mackerel – which is actually based on new modelling – came as a shock to fishers in all sectors. The East Coast Spanish Mackerel Working Group, who met on May 17 and 18, 2021 in Brisbane, noted the unfished biomass is below that of which a fishery is recommended to be closed (20 percent), according to the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy and under National Guidelines. While I’m all about sustainable fishing
practices and justifiable regulations, it is hard to digest this information, particularly when we are having our best year on mackerel in a long time. I believe a lot more data and information needs to be collected before further limits are placed on a species that is crucial to both recreational and commercial fishers. Here are a few considerations. The shark factor Blasted sharks! As with many others, I believe Fisheries Queensland should gather further data on how many fish recreational and commercial fishers lose to shark predation because the populations now are ridiculous. * continued P77
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