snapper15.4kg

Ocean mullet are nice but mullet from muddy creeks such as Price, Port Wakefield etc are pretty average. 
 
Must be fresh or they are bait

And in the mean time the rec fishing industry can't be bothered defending itself, we can scream until we're blue in the face but we're only hobbyists but if the industry screamed they would have a much better chance of getting some cut through with gov.

Reckon you're right Barney, but no-one seems to want to run an economic survey, and maybe the only way to prove it's true would be to get bums on seats in an environment where the Govt will have to listen - eg as members of their own RF Council.
Cheers,
RJ

Yes it is warranted, as this bloke has repeatedly attacked me personally. His posts are slanderous !

Your a pig Mate,nothing short of it. All three groups that are on the council have more members than RFSA individually. What you need to get into your head is - SA voted- - RFSA is gone as the representative body July 1. The Ministers Recreational Fishing Advisory Council is on the table now. This Council and the Minister will then decide the best approach for forming the Representative body to replace RFSA. 
FB is only one avenue to communicate - but powerful enough to convince a Government to make change. 
We are having a get together night soon, all those that fought for change will be there. How about you Man up and come make those accusations face to face. Or, just hide and keep making gutless remarks about good people ! ?
This forum should be ashamed  of itself for allowing this behaviour !!

A few more issues, expanding on previous items.

- This is a new body, no current organisations are being made defunct per se.

- It appears to be "merely" an occassional advice conduit to the Minister, and not much more. And an "add-on" organisation at that.

- Who will be performing the current peak body functionality and routine grunt-work of DEWNR and PIRSA departmental liaison, talking to SABCPFA, councils... dam access, artificial reefs, etc etc?

- Who will all those other parties approach as needed?

- Will RFSA be in a position to do this once the MRFAC is established, and/or once their funding is (presumably) pulled? Hardly think so. Then who will do all this and how will it be done? Or is it expected that "someone" will carry out all these tasks without any operational expenses funding support...from their loungeroom whenever they (hopefully) have a spare half hour here and there?

- No mention of ANY funding for recfishing representation other than reasonable travel reimbursement for any regional members of the MRFAC.

All I am seeing is an umbrella coalition with a specific role of a Ministerial advice council - this is not a VRFish, RecFishWest, AFANT etc "peak body" representative organisation which has to deal with the daily/weekly grind of multitudinous matters.
It very much appears that we may have gone down the road of "never mind the quality, feel the width"...

Evening all,
Agree with the previous posts, although I think 'apathy' might be a bit strong. 'Apathy' has been an overused cop-out term within SA Rec fishing circles for decades. Although it certainly does exist, "apathy' doesn't mean the same thing as "I want change, but I can't be buggered fighting with the SA rec fishing system", and if surveys are going to be distorted or ignored - why bother?
But regardless of anyone's level of interest, it's hard to engage with a representative system that didn't work very well and didn't welcome 'outsiders'. The SA rec fishing representative system was poorly constructed, poorly managed, completely underfunded and totally ignored by successive Governments, and there hasn't been much incentive for anyone to put their hand up to work within it. Those that have are truly dedicated and should be thanked instead of kicked.
Reckon people mostly want to do the right thing and would contribute where they can; especially on the issues that are directly affecting them - or will affect them. But no-one wants to become a punching bag for anyone in the rec community who disagrees with their views, while at the same time they have to try to promote their views into a system that simply doesn't want to have to deal with them. I don't think that's apathy - it's a sign of a failed system.
 
For what it's worth, a bit of a brain dump on the new Council (as described so far):-
Two biggest problems:-
1 No funding (Govt actually saves $125K per year)
2 No one to do the work.
Others
3. How will the RFC members meet outside of the 3 (whatever) times per year so that they can co-ordinate the workload (to be done by whoever), and raise new issues that are not on the Govt agenda?
4. No initiative to pull everyone together. Hostilities between the warring groups are continuing even now, and without some mediation to settle things down the infrequent RFC meetings will be unproductive shit fights.
5. There is no specification around organisational representative nominations to the RFC – do nominees need to be democratically elected by their membership?
6. PIRSA will “assist” at the infrequent meetings. But they should be a RFC member, with the Chair of the RFC reporting to (advising) the Minister of the agreed RFC outcomes. As it is, PIRSA retain their pre-eminent position and can block whatever they don’t like, regardless of the RFC's position. (eg to the Minister: "The RFC advises this, but PIRSA and SARDI recommend that instead".)
Overall the new RFC (as described) offers no change, backward step if anything.
The 4 named RFC organisations represent (membership) about 20,000 rec fishers in SA (my guess), so there are still more than quarter of a million SA rec fishers who won’t be connected to the system. The RFC needs to have a fully funded portal that is independently and impartially run (website + forum) that will provide a connection that is open to all rec fishers in SA, so that anyone can raise any issue and state their own opinion without being censored. There need to be regular (monthly?) public meetings of the RFC that are open to all comers and fully documented to the public via whatever media is available. Probably won’t get much meeting attendance – but that’s not the point. Point is that any rec fisher can rock up, witness what goes on, and have a say if necessary. I don’t think they really intended it this way, but the Govt's new RFC arrangement (as described) will just be a more effective ‘tick-the-box’ - with no improvement in representation for the bulk of the 277,000.
The people who agitated for change and fought the good fight didn’t do enough forward planning, just like George Bush’s victory in Iraq. Amendments to planning and design of the new system need to be done now – before the RFC is put in place, else we’ll quickly return to confusion and anarchy.
My 2 bob's worth, thanks for your time. Corrections very welcome.
Cheers,
RJ

Folks, what I am seeing here seems very much to be at best a sideways step.
At best. May be actually a step backwards, ironically.
"Unintended" consequences potentially, albeit not entirely "unforeseen".
🙁
Start with the PIRSA masthead (a "hmmm" there for a start) and look through the highlighted bits in context.
 
180831 Subsequent Highlights - MRFAC Consultation Paper A4 74401.pdf

well the current system has been really shit for us so i'm prepared to give anything a go......read it and done my submission.Give it a go and have your say.
                                      cheers b

Our economic value to the state is actually far higher than that of the commercial sector.....

Options 1 and 2 appear to me to give PIRSA too much say...........

Yep, the best fisheries managers in the world.

I think the difference between our viewpoints is that I am commenting on what I believe a rec fishing peak body should be and I understand that you guys are talking about the reality of the current situation and the compromises that you have had to make just to have some skin in the game.
 
These compromises are why I don't think the new Rec Fishing Council will make any difference what-so-ever, the main problem is that RecFishSA is entrapped by PIRSA and PIRSA don't have the best interests of rec fishers as a priority. PIRSA have set up RecFishSA to deliberately be a toothless tiger and give rec fishers an impression only that they have some representation enabling PIRSA to work against the interests of rec fishing while saying that they are helping rec fishers.
Oversight of any rec fishing body needs to be separated from the Primary Industries portfolio as rec fishing is not a Primary Industry but a sports and rec industry with tourism having a giant stake.
I will say that PIRSA have done one good thing, they commissioned the study into Shark Shields proving that they are effective against even breaching GWS's, as a kayak fisher I appreciate this although they would have done it for commercial divers and not rec kayak fishers.
 
Do you guys really think that the commercial fishers unions like the MFA take fairness to rec fishing into consideration when lobbying for their members?
Did the commercial sector reps take the
approach to KGW bag limits?
It is very concerning to hear that RecFishSA are required to be secretive about what happens in negotiations, what are PIRSA trying to hide?
A peak Rec Fishing representative body needs to mirror the fairness that the commercial sector shows rec fishers so that a happy compromise can be reached. If we are fair to them and they are not fair to us the result of a compromise will be unfair to rec fishers.
 
Three cheers to all volunteers that have tried to further the cause of rec fishing, I and I think many others are very grateful for your efforts.

well someones doing a shit job because plenty of fisheries are a shadow of their former selves,its all down to Pirsa then for allowing their demise?
                 cheers b
                                              

well said AD,no matter what the future it has to be better than the past or our hobby is doomed
                                                                   cheers b

Hi Jay,
I notice that you seem to be very anti SAFA/RecFishCentral, is this because you are happy with the status quo?
I'm assuming as this is a rec fishing site that you are here as a rec fisher, do you believe RecFishSA has and is doing a good job of representing rec fishers?
Were you happy with RecFishSA's representation in the following issues;
Marine Parks. Blue Swimmer Crab bag limits. Blue Swimmer Crab commercial season opening at the beginning of December just to make sure there was no metro crabs left by Christmas for recs. KGW bag and possession limits. The amount of noise they are currently making RE. cutting the Southern Bluefin Tuna bag in half. I'm interested if you feel RecFishSA represented you strongly enough on the above issues?
 
A bit about myself, I'm not aligned with SAFA or RecFishCentral, I'm just a passionate Rec Fisher and believe me I hold them to account too (check the dark side), I have no allegiance to SAFA, RecFishCentral or RecFishSA.
I think SAFA and RecFishCentral at least have whats best for rec fishers in mind in what they are doing, I've been scrutinising them for about 18 months now and have not seen them put a foot out of place. I disagree with their assumption that because they did a deal with the Libs the Libs are going to do anything about the peoples resource being privatised and it all being moved to a pro resource, I believe that is against Liberal ideology but they are confident that they have a deal with government so until such time as we have a Rec Fishing Council that fails to make a difference or not I'm reserving my judgement.
RecFishSA, well, they have proven to be unable to represent rec fishers on the above issues, I've talked to Danny Simpson and given him the benefit of the doubt as these could be reflective of previous personnel of RecFishSA and asked him to prove to me that RecFishSA under him is better but the crickets I'm hearing over the SBT issue seems to be giving me the answer.
So we have a situation of no representation under RecFishSA or to try something different. A wise man once said that continuing to do the same thing expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity, are we insane?
 
Dave

Oh, and your we use handles on the internet. Well you didn't let me enjoy the same, did you. But see I haven't got anything to hide.

Hiding behind the black curtain again. I will be happy to put up the report from next weeks meeting.
Hating so much is bad for your health, maybe you should try meditation ?

The haters are out again -     how about you put your glasses on Mr hiding in the shadows -
From todays Yorke Peninsula Times -
The Marshall Liberal Government is moving full steam to deliver our commitment establishing a new body to be the voice of recreational fishers to government.
As promised, recreational fishers will have the chance to stand for election and be voted onto the new representative recreational fishing council.
Existing organisations like RecFishCentral will be given a seat at the table, as promised at the election.
A final consultation paper will be issued to the sector in coming weeks, with an intention for the body to be established for the new year.
Consistent with historical practice the previous government entered into a two-year funding agreement with RecFish SA which ends on 30 June 2019.
Prior to the March 2018 State Election, the Government made an election commitment entitled Representation for Recreational and Commercial Fishers.  
This commitment aims to ensure recreational fishers have much better representation and proposes to establish a new body for recreational fishers, including representatives from RecFish SA, Recfish Central, the SA Fishing Alliance and any other relevant groups.
 

Well Mr hide in the shadows, taking cheep shots. Put your glasses on, we now represent all of them - From today's Yorke Peninsula times -
The Marshall Liberal Government is moving full steam to deliver our commitment establishing a new body to be the voice of recreational fishers to government.
As promised, recreational fishers will have the chance to stand for election and be voted onto the new representative recreational fishing council.
Existing organisations like RecFishCentral will be given a seat at the table, as promised at the election.
A final consultation paper will be issued to the sector in coming weeks, with an intention for the body to be established for the new year.
Consistent with historical practice the previous government entered into a two-year funding agreement with RecFish SA which ends on 30 June 2019.
Prior to the March 2018 State Election, the Government made an election commitment entitled Representation for Recreational and Commercial Fishers.  
This commitment aims to ensure recreational fishers have much better representation and proposes to establish a new body for recreational fishers, including representatives from RecFish SA, Recfish Central, the SA Fishing Alliance and any other relevant groups.
 
 

Not correct, the new body will be up and running in the next few months.

From Tim Whetstone`s FB page, posted this afternoon, a little more info;
 
 

According to the policy above, no, RecfishSA are to be part of the new body.
"We will establish a new body for recreational fishers, including representatives of Recfish SA, ...."
Just to make sure we're talking the truth not assumptions.

Snapper15.4kg "abolished" was probably the wrong word to use sorry.
I am a supporter of the idea but I just feel that atm everyone is getting ahead of themselves. the details are vague and no time frame has been put in place. I just feel as though all of this carry on is getting peoples hopes up. we need to take a step back and wait for something to happen before jumping the gun. 
We need to understand that this is a new gov and they have almost no experience in governing. Things will more than likely take longer than anticipated to happen because of this. I also feel that there are more urgent matters for this gov to deal with than this issue.