Community & Business
12 March, 2022
Bid to return mangrove jacks in Tinaroo Dam
VETERAN anglers of Lake Tinaroo’s waters could soon be pulling up mangrove jacks alongside their barramundi and sooty grunter hauls, with Tablelands Fish Stocking Society (TFSS) applying to stock 20,000 fingerlings a year.
In 2002-03, there were around 4800 mangrove jacks previously stocked in Tinaroo as a trial stocking and the permit was previously held by Northern Fisheries - TFSS is now attempting to add mangrove jack to their own stocking permit for the popular fishing spot.
“They did quite well in the dam, they survived and there was quite a few caught,” society secretary Laurie Wright said.
“Everybody absolutely loved them, they are just a little powerhouse of a fish to catch.
“Especially once they get up to that five or six years of age, around seven or eight kilos, they are quite a great sport fish.
“They are highly prized and anglers all across Australia who have the opportunity to catch mangrove jack just absolutely love them.”
Unlike the previous trial stocking, TFSS is hoping to stock nearly four times the amount of mangrove jack compared to the initial trial.
If the permit is approved, TFSS is hoping to stock up to 20,000 mangrove jack fingerlings per year in the dam, with stocking to commence early next year.
“The socio-economic and recreational benefits to the region are going to be quite significant,” Mr Wright said.
“Some people just target mangrove jack, they don’t target barramundi, all they want to catch is mangrove jack.
“You’ve got an increased desire of people to come to Tinaroo and to the region just to target mangrove jack only.”
If successful, anglers will have the chance to catch not just one, not two, but three separate prized fish in one haul with barramundi, sooty grunter and mangrove jack being stocked in the dam.
To show your support for putting mangrove jacks back into Tinaroo, head over to the Tinaroo Barra Bash Facebook page and like and comment on their post.
The group will be using this to gauge community desire and present it as part of their application for the permit.
