January – Gunnamatta –
February – Terrigal –
March – Kurnell –
April – Long Reef –
May – Little Manly –
June – Kurnell –
July – No Competition
August – Bayview –
September – Long Reef –
October – Kurnell –
November – Watsons Bay –
December – Gunnamatta –
2017 Individual state titles
Only one more week until the 2017 Individual state titles
The NSW individual state titles will be held over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of October on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW. The competition is generally rotated through the zones every 4 years with the other zones Sydney, Northern and Southern each holding the competition when it’s their turn. This year the Central Coast Sealions are hosting this prestigious event with aim of making it a fun and exciting event promoting safe diving , camaraderie and participation. between divers.
The State Titles are historically a rock hop in order to make the competition as fair as possible for all participants. The Locations selected for this year’s event are Catherine Hill Bay, Norah Head, Pelican Point and Bateau Bay. The aim of the competition is to swim out from a central location and catch one of each species from a restricted list of quality table fish. Once the competition is over competitors must be back in the designated weigh in area by the finish time where their fish will be weighed and scored. A huge selection of trophies and prizes are up for grabs covering every grade and also largest fish, most meritorious and committees choice. The NSW State Titles is open to all divers with any level of experience and we encourage all USFA members to attend this great event.
2017 South Coast Mighty Bonanza
I guess when I first heard about this massive, huge, big money fishing comp I was a bit ““oh yeah” line fishing, so what?!?” I was surprised that there was going to be a spearfishing event, I pricked my ears and I liked the phrases I was hearing “great for the community…educate the growing spearfishing community on safety…getting all kinds of rec fishers together…family weekend away during school holidays…. the council is right behind this…Fisheries love it….” then Adam Martin who seems to run the beautiful township of Tomakin on one hours sleep a week, contacts the USFA and asks if they would be interested in “running” the spearing side of the event on the Tomakin Fishing Clubs behalf. How could you say no!
After a couple of months of brain storming back and forth between many spearos and fishos it was decided to run a true pairs event, that is, two divers spearfishing together that sees one spearfisher diving while his pair dive buddy remains on the surface, this is really putting into practice what the now well coined term “One Up One Down” is all about, it’s great spearfishing safety. TO explain a little further each pair partner can use one gun and has one rig cord connected to their gun, one of these cords is only 4m long, generally the partner on the surface has the short cord hence the diving partner in the pair has the longer rig cord, both cords are connected to one float only, thus ensuring the float is generally immediately in their dive zone, as east coast southern water spearos can attest to the huge boat traffic we can encounter a dive float and flag is the start of our safe diving checklist.
Protect Promote Preserve
South Coast Fishing Bonanza
NSW State Titles – 2017
This year the 2017 individual State Titles were held by the Central Coast Sealions.
The weekend started at the North end of the Central Coast at Norah Head.
Day 1 – Norah Head
Day 1, started with sign on from 7am which saw 33 divers including 5 female divers from all over including the Far South Coast, Sydney District, Newcastle, Central Coast Region and even Victoria sign on to compete.
Once all safety protocols were checked and species on/off were announced we gave recognition to the first Australians, service men and women & Day 1 commenced.
Divers ran off in all directions from South of Norah to pellows all the way to north of lakes reef… some even made the venture out to the bull!
We had reports from divers swimming back and forth, running from one end to the other of viz between 2 and 15m. Those who had the opportunity to enjoy the 15m had luckily made the right choice in to where to dive. With hours passing we had divers begin to return, some carrying kings over their backs with stories a plenty including the first king taken for Irene a female South Coast Diver.
The great team of the Central Coast Sealions who had chosen not to dive or return early began weigh in and prepare for lunch. Once the fish were weighed divers were given the opportunity to donate any fish which were then filleted, crumbed and put into a wok.
As sign off approached at 1 o’clock all divers had returned and the fish burgers station was in full swing. Fresh bread rolls, salads and fresh crumbed fish fillets were frying away.The burgers went down a treat and were a great hit with several divers returning for seconds and even thirds.
As the day closed and the scores where tallied the leaders and scores for day one were complete.
Day 2 – Bateu Bay
Bateau Bay was chosen as the location for Day 2 with conditions looking good and the final day set to excite.
Day 2 had 34 divers sign on and another beautiful day on the central coast was in store.
Bateau Bay set a challenge to the divers as it was a new adventure and new spot to dive for most. It offered plenty of ground to cover with multiple species to come accross.
All divers returned to the ring on time many with some great fish to show including a decent size king from a Sydney Junior.
Presentation
After a good BBQ feed with home made fried rice and pad thai kindly made by some lovely family members of the USFA and Central coast sealions all the scores where tallied and winners ready to be announced to the eagerly awaiting divers.
With a massive thank you to ADRENO SPEARFISHING, DIVER AUSTRALIA & ACE SPEARGUNS the central coast sealions had the opportunity to give away over $2500 worth of prizes awarded to promote participation along with the tropheys & prizes awarded to the rightful and well deserved winners of each category.
Please enjoy some pictures of the event and place holders throughout the day also attached final score sheets
Day 1 Photos
Day 2 Photos
Presentation Photos
Canada Cup 2017
Sunday the 12th Of February saw the 65th running of the Canada Cup. An amazing turnout of 67 divers signed on with an impressive turnout of 21 boats . After a quick briefing the divers hit the water and the boats slowly made their way out of the Haven ready for the start. The flag dropped and the boats were off racing. Almost all of the boats headed north to dive the 2 and 3 mile reefs with some venturing as far as Norah Head and the Bull. The weather gods were really in our favor today with almost glass out conditions for most of the day. The divers had plenty of time as the weigh in was not until 2:30 PM that afternoon. Was great to see every category filled including an amazing 13 juniors, 3 ladies and 3 sub Juniors. The predicted forecast for the day was for temperatures to reach upwards of 35 degrees with a late southerly change late in the afternoon. Continue reading Canada Cup 2017
Dept of Primary Industries Spear fishing flyer – Shark Beach, Nielsen Park, Sydney Harbor
Hi Executive, Delegates and Members,
Please find attached a flyer developed by the Department of Primary Industries, Recreational Fisheries Management Team following complaints about spearfishing at Shark Beach, Nielsen Park.
In an email to the USFA, Fisheries Manager, Jim Harnwell states,
“We are proposing to provide copies of the flier to National Parks rangers to distribute to spearfishers and members of the public.
The aim of the flier is to remind spearfishers about appropriate behaviour etc but also inform the public that spearfishing is a safe and legitimate sport which is allowed at this location.
This will hopefully help reduce conflict as it seems some members of the public are unaware that spearfishing is a legal activity at this location.”
Copies of the flyer will also be distributed to Sydney Compliance Officers as well as to the USFA.
This is a great initiative by DPI on behalf of Spearfishers. The USFA are very grateful for their efforts and have welcomed the opportunity to be part of this process to further advocate for the rights of NSW Spearfishers.
Please distribute to your members and other interested parties.
NSW DPI – Going spearfishing.pdf
Kind regards
Peter Walsh
USFA Secretary
2017 USFA Executive Committee
Underwater Skindivers & Fisherman’s Association office bearers:
| Office | Person |
|---|---|
| President | Peter Saunders |
| Vice President | Bob McComb |
| Secretary | Peter Walsh |
| Assistant Secretary | Mel Brown |
| Treasurer | Kevin Saw |
| Assistant Treasurer | Lee Dalli |
| Membership Officer | Lee Dalli |
| Accreditation, Insurance & Strategic Officer | Peter Walsh |
| Sports Secretary | Cohen Jones |
| Events Coordinator | Alby Cooke |
| Webmaster & Social Media | Sam Krywulycz |
| Information Officer | Simon Horvath |
| Fundraising Officer | Jason Montes De Oca |
| Grants Coordinator | Vacant |
| Online Solutions Officer | Nigel Sirisomphone |
| Historical Officer | Mel Brown |
| Strategic Planning Officer | Peter Walsh |
| Public Officer | Mel Brown |
| Public Affairs Officer | Peter Saunders |
| Safety & Education Officer | Simon Trippe |
| Recognised Training Officer | Simon Trippe |
| Spearfishing Records Officer | Simon Trippe |
| Data & Research Officer | Bob McComb |
| Endangered Species Officer | Matthew Poulton |
| Environment Officer | Matthew Poulton |
| Marine Advisory Councils Officer | Oliver Wady |
| Marine Parks Liaison (Far North – Coffs) | Ray Powell |
| Marine Parks Liaison (Far North – Byron Bay) | Ray Powell |
| Marine Parks Liaison (North) | Alby Cooke |
| Marine Parks Liaison (Central) | Matthew Poulton |
| Marine Parks Liaison (South – Jervis Bay) | Oliver Wady |
| Marine Parks Liaison (South – Batemans Bay) | Ric Cumming |
| Members Liaison Officer | Bob McComb |
| Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) Representative | Matthew Poulton |
2017 – Start of the year announcements
It is with much excitement that the USFA would like to announce that the NSW State Spearfishing titles will be held on the October long weekend in conjunction with the Tomakin Sporting Clubs Fishing Bonanza. The State Titles will be a one-day pairs event on the Sunday only and as with all USFA competitions full USFA membership will be required to fish. Pair’s events are becoming more popular in our region and this is the format favoured by our neighbouring countries and the format of our most esteemed competition with them. By incorporating this competition with the Tomakin Fishing Bonanza there is the opportunity to further promote this event, promote pairs competitions and spearfishing to the broader community. On the Saturday morning we also plan to run a spearfishing induction course and then encourage experienced divers to accompany the tyro’s on a dive. There will be incentives to participate in this.
It was decided at the USFA executive meeting last Thursday to keep the USFA membership fee at $90. This was achievable due to discounts on our insurance; the level of coverage still remains the same as when the premiums were higher. The executive have worked hard with our insurance provider to create this policy and although some feel it is too expensive, we believe it represents good value and is the best currently available to spearo’s in Australia. As spear fishers in other states and territories become aware of this policy, we expect to increase our membership footprint outside of NSW as a result.
The USFA is the peak spearfishing body in NSW and has always advocated for spearfishing access and rights to all spearo’s, be they a member of the Association or not, this is always our default position. In order to improve communication it has been agreed that we should offer a ‘social membership’ to the USFA at nil cost. This is in the hope of improving communication, inwards and outwards, and also that more people will then see the value in taking up full membership with the USFA. This social membership will not have the voting rights, insurance or other benefits of full members, however as we are the strongest voice for all spearo’s in NSW in the legislative and regulatory process, we feel improving our relationship with all of our extended tribe is very important.
Thursday evening also saw the AGM held and the re-election of the entire executive to their previous positions. Two new executives to previously unfilled positions were filled by Bob McComb as Deputy Chair and Simon Horvath as Information Officer, this new influx of experience and enthusiasm is a deliberate attempt to improve consultation with members and stakeholders. Changes to our constitution are also being discussed at the executive currently; these can only be made with the mandate of the membership. All members will be given notice well in advance and we ask that you consider these and the intent of any changes and vote accordingly.
“Where there is unity there is always victory” (Publilius Syrus).
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