Anyone follows my internet rantings would know I am one of the most harsh public critics of Fisheries WA Dept anywhere!

That said, when they do something good or worthy of positive comment - I feel it is only fair to give credit where it's due!

I can think of TWO instances of late where Fisheries have actually done something good!

One of my frequent lamentations has been in the area of Charter fishing statistical returns!

Now after many years of submitting such returns, my biggest gripe - was that - we never got any feedback about what all our statistics were telling Fisheries in order to allow them to better manage our fishstocks!!

Imagine my surprise to recently get a "summary" return reply telling me how many fish I'd caught and kept and released etc etc over the years!

I almost fell over!

I think it was a little "shy" of the sort of feedback I was hoping for, BUT - it was better than nothing - it was enough to make me believe that just MAYBE someone is actually looking at these damn things!

OK it was just a summary of my own returns - which with an hhour or two to spare I could likely have preparded from my own copies of summary sheets - but at least it was SOME recognition that something is done with the returns!!

I don't want to know what other charter operators catch and keep or release nor where they do it individually! That is privileged information for each operator.

However If Fisheries wanted to IMPROVE the feedback to charter operators - some sort of industry overall performance summary would be nice.

Some table maybe showing charter operators combined accounted for x% of the total recreational & commercial catches of species A, and y% of species B etc..

At least we would know - that in return for the statistics we provide, Fisheries dept have a good handle on where we fit in, as far as impacts on the resource, compared to other user groups!

So, the provision of the information by Fisheries WA IS a positive step, and should be acknowleged as such!

It could be improved even further and hopefully one day it will be!

The SECOND good thing Fisheries WA have done - is send out a couple of release weights!

Now this is GREAT!

My son works in a tackle shop - and we just cannot buy these things!

I know they are good for the resource I know they are a great idea - but if anglers and charter operators cannot get a hold of them - then it's difficult to practice the type of release ethics we might like too!!

So again, accolades to Fisheries WA (and the manufacturer/provider of the release weights) - probably the most POSITIVE action I have seen them take to date!

The release weight device could do with a little tweaking - replacement of the shackle with one a size bigger to accomodate 8 ounce sinkers etc...but generally speaking it's a damn great idea, a great design, and a positive move by the manufacturer & Fisheries WA Dept towards preserving our demersal fishstocks IMHO!

It's been a long time between drinks since I've had anything 'positive' to say publicly about Fisheries WA dept - but in fareness, these two efforts, deserve their praise!

Does that mean theres a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon we might see a change in approach from Fisheries WA toward other issues of concern to anglers, and charter operators alike?

Who knows? I guess time will tell, but at least in the interim, one might be tempted occasionally to poke ones head out of the trenches, up above the parrapit wall, for a quick looksee, without first feeling the need to lob a hand grenade into the enemy trenches, to make sure the way ahead is clear & safe to proceed!!

Cheers! ;o)