THERE is a group of fishermen who I feel are taking advantage of and abusing the situation at the St Lucia estuary.
Every few weeks on the spring tide, water from the sea back-feeds into the Mfolozi River mouth and into the estuary.
At these times there is a huge movement of fish either into or out of the estuary.
This is great for the estuary and the St Lucia system as a whole.
The problem is that certain fishermen are positioning their boats in the tiny area where the fresh water is entering the estuary.
Because of the restricted area, fish are being caught in huge numbers. It’s almost like fishing in a koi pond.
I would like to think that size restrictions and bag limits are being adhered to, but who knows …
In years gone by there was a ‘no entry’ sign on the estuary bank opposite the ski boat club.
Boats were never allowed to stop and fish in the mouth of the estuary. Why is this being allowed to happen now?
Someone needs to put a stop to this slaughter.
The new fish stocks that are coming into the estuary are vital to the overall health of the St Lucia estuary system that we all love so much and which has been under such pressure over the last few years.
I am also a fisherman, and love nothing more than catching a nice grunter or stumpie, but this is not on.
SAD FISHERMEN
