These are programs where anglers collaborate with DPI scientists to collect information on recreational fishing catch and effort for Murray cod and Australian bass.
By reporting catch anglers act as custodians of the fishery and help monitor populations and managment
Catch numbers – the total number of fish caught across species.
Fishing effort – hours spent fishing, providing crucial context for catch rates.
Fish lengths – measured to assess size
distributions and population health.
The programs rely on anglers to provide detailed catch reports, which include:
Basscatch has been around for over 30 years and spans 15 locations. It’s a vital part of understanding fishery trends for Australian bass, providing long-term data for both rivers and dams that benefits fishers and managers alike
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Over the past 30 years Basscatch has shown a slight increase in the bass caught per hour (top), but fish size has varied and is smaller at some locations (bottom).
This is a new program designed in the same format as Basscatch. Codcatch competitions use SMS or app based reporting (catch-photo-release) and provide data on other species such as golden perch and trout cod.
The data collected helps track catch composition year by year. For example, data from the Leeton Bidgee Classic in 2019 and 2020 provided insights into the numbers and lengths of fish caught, supporting real-time management decisions.
With growing angler involvement, Basscatch and Codcatch will provide even deeper insights into fish populations and habitat dynamics ensuring adaptive, science-based management of recreational fisheries. Keep an eye out for a Basscatch or Codcactch event near you!