Just thought I would share this information for those that dive around PPB in shallow.

PORT OF PORT PHILLIP
PORTARLINGTON, ALTONA AND FRANKSTON
PORT PHILIP BAY – TRIAL OF NEAR-SHORE RECREATIONAL FISHING REEFS
Date: Immediate to 15 September 2012
Details: Mariners are advised of the deployment of three new artificial reefs located
within casting distance of Portarlington Pier, Altona Pier and Frankston Pier.
Each reef consists of 99 dome shaped reef modules of different sizes
arranged in three reef complexes of 33 reef modules each.
The three new reefs will be in a water depth of between 3-4.5 m
approximately 50 m seaward of the rock wall section of Portarlington Pier,
and the end sections of Altona and Frankston Piers.
Approximate positions of the corner points surrounding the artificial reefs
zones are located as hereafter:
Artificial Reef
Zone Site
Corner of
Zone
Latitude (WGS84) Longitude (WGS84)
Portarlington NW 38°06.608’ S 144°39.166’ E
NE 38°06.618’ S 144°39.239’ E
SE 38°06.634’ S 144°39.236’ E
SW 38°06.625’ S 144°39.163’ E
Frankston NW 38°08.697’ S 145°06.764’ E
NE 38°08.705’ S 145°06.785’ E
SE 38°08.750’ S 145°06.756’ E
SW 38°08.742’ S 145°06.736’ E
Altona NW 37°52.412’ S 144°49.780’ E
NE 37°52.411’ S 144°49.848’ E
SE 37°52.530’ S 144°49.848’ E
SW 37°52.530’ S 144°49.780’ E

Cheers
Herman

im pumped!

_________________
See You In The Water

altona snapper slapping this summer!!

Anyone dove the other artificials?

Would there be any issue with spearing around a man-made structure like there is with a pier I wonder?

A keen fisherman could find it fun to cast 50 metres towards a guy with a speargun catching "their" fish.
Legally, I'm guessing there is no problem with spearing around these man-made reefs, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I would be interested to know if anyone has had a look around the dome reefs in 11m of water on the east side of PPB.

I know last year they produced Snapper to 8kg off the Aspendale reef (Rec Reef).

Tedesco Reef out of Carrum produced snapper in pick below. (Burley is the key)

There was 4 of us on the boat for this trip!

A fair point Ray; if I recall correctly, the Vic Recreational Fishing guides lists spearing as being prohibited withing 25 or 30 metres (can't remember which) of a pier, so the reefs 50m off the piers ought (legally) to be fair game for spearo's.

In the same vein though, as far as I know (rule-wise), a pier-based fisho has just as much right to cast out onto those reefs as we have to spear on it.

To cast that far, they'd probably need to be using something fairly heavy (e.g. a decent-size pyramid sinker) cast by a seriously powerful rod (e.g. a full-size surf-rod). To me, something that heavy, with that much power behind it, all focused behind the point of a pyramid sinker represents a real threat (e.g. serious injury, maybe even death?) to a diver on the surface should it hit them in just the right spot (e.g. the temple)?

Perhaps however, generic laws may hold a pier-based fisho liable for any injuries caused to a spearo they might hit, or come close to hitting with their gear (perhaps they could be charged with "reckless endangerment"?).

I just don't know.

I'm guessing this kind of thing would have happened before though - anyone know of such an incident and what the outcome was?

Cheers.

Me visiting the fisherman and beating him to death, as by his own admission, he was doing it on purpose. Wasn't spearing, but teaching SCUBA at Rye pier.