Cyclones aren't all bad.
Fishing on the south coast of NSW, is really effected by the strength of the East Australia Current. This current starts up in north Queensland & heads south dividing in Bass Straight to Tasmania and then the Southern Ocean, round the Bight towards the Indian Ocean (and an arm also heads over towards New Zealand. )
It is important for fishing particularly in Southern NSW how far out it is and how strong it is.
Apparently what has the most effect on the current is the number, timing & strength of the tropical Cyclones that cross the barrier reef (& cross land as well).
In low pressure systems (cyclones) the sea level can rise by a couple of meters (why you get "surging" tides) and behind them, hot water flows outwards over the reef and then heads south. In high cyclone years the hot water can reach a long way south with wahoo , spanish mackerel and other hot water pelagic being caught as far south as the Victorian border and occasionally in bass straight.
The water in the barrier reef is replenished with cooler water with the normal the tides. Cooler water contains a lot more oxygen so is really good for the health of the eco system generally.
So even though the cyclones are hard on the reef, (and us
) they also do some good.
