Fishing gets a technological boost

Finding Nemo just got a whole lot easier with Albany’s new fish aggregating devices.

FAD floats, above, are anchored to the ocean floor and act as beacons to schools of small bait fish seeking food and shelter, which in turn attracts bigger pelagic species.

The new devices are part of a three-year Statewide trail aimed at providing new sport-fishing opportunities for recreational anglers.

The four FADs were deployed off Albany last week between 20km and 40km south of the city.

Albany fisher and Western Angler magazine editor Scott Coghlan said he was excited to see what he could reel in.

“Local boat fishers are already buzzing about the prospect, as it creates a completely new fishing opportunity off Albany,” he said

“It’s going to be really exciting to see what’s going to turn up on the FADs — will it be tuna, yellowtail kingfish or even dolphinfish?

“We have had dolphinfish occasionally show up off the south coast in the past but we would love to see them turning up in numbers here.”

The program was announced by the Minister for Fisheries and Recfishwest last month and is being funded through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund.

Recfishwest operations co-ordinator Matt Gillett said he wanted to see more FADs rolled out across WA.

“We expect the data and lessons we learn from this trial will help the Government and industry commit to the establishment of a permanent FAD network in the future,” he said

“These rec-fishing enhancing initiatives will draw fishers from across the State, interstate and abroad to sample the superb sport fishing we have to offer.”