Fishing Victoria Forum

Media Release
Monday 12 December 2016 | Media contact: Leah Heinrich – 0417 529 775
www.agriculture.vic.gov.au

‘Tis the season to remember yabby fishing rules

If you’re planning on catching a feed of yabbies for Christmas lunch or your summer barbie, Fisheries
Victoria is reminding you catch limits and equipment restrictions apply when fishing for the tasty
freshwater crustaceans.
Senior Fisheries Officer Jason Peters said daily yabby catch limits applied to all Victorian waterways
and reminded anglers there are severe penalties for unlicensed activity, exceeding daily catch limits
and using banned equipment, with penalties ranging from $1550 to $15,500.
“Catch limits, and the requirement to return all berried females to the water, are in place to help share
the catch between anglers and ensure yabby fisheries remain sustainable,” Mr Peters said.
“The daily catch limit for yabbies in, on or next to Victorian inland waters is 20 litres of whole yabbies
comprised of no more than 150 individual yabbies, or five litres of yabby meat not exceeding 150
tails.”
Mr Peters said anglers must not possess more than 60 litres of whole yabbies (or more than 400
individual yabbies) or more than 10 litres of yabby meat not exceeding 400 tails anywhere in Victoria.
“Recreational anglers are reminded equipment restrictions also apply to the harvest of yabbies,
including limits on the type and number of nets that can be used in certain waters,” he said.
“Anglers can use a maximum of 10 nets, which can be a combination of hoop nets or open-top lift
nets in most inland waters. These waters include Rocklands Reservoir, Lake Eildon and Lake
Dartmouth.”
A maximum of five hoop nets can be used in “specified waters”, which are: the Glenelg, Goulburn,
Ovens, Latrobe, Tarra, Mitta Mitta and Kiewa river systems; the Waranga Basin; Wodonga, Ryans
and Carrol’s Creeks; or in any tributary of these listed specified waters.
“All nets used must have a tag attached on which is clearly written the fisher’s full name and address,
and this must remain above the water’s surface when the net is set,” Mr Peters said.
“And we are also reminding anglers the use and possession of yabby pots, including opera housestyle
nets, is prohibited in, on or next to Victorian public waters.”
Mr Peters said a recreational fishing licence is required if you are fishing for yabbies or you use or
possess recreational fishing equipment in, on or next to Victorian waters unless you are exempt.
Anglers can stay informed of fishing regulations by downloading the free Vic Fishing app for
smartphones, and people are encouraged to call 13 FISH (13 3474) to report illegal fishing anywhere
in Victoria, anytime.
For more information about yabby fishing restrictions, visit http://go.vic.gov.au/5JkK8N. Information
about Victorian fishing licences, including exemption rules, can be found here:
www.vic.gov.au/fishinglicence

So do these limits include private dams?

Could they make it more confusing ? so what is it 150 or 400 whole yabbies ?

“The daily catch limit for yabbies in, on or next to Victorian inland waters is 20 litres of whole yabbies
comprised of no more than 150 individual yabbies, or five litres of yabby meat not exceeding 150
tails.”
Mr Peters said anglers must not possess more than 60 litres of whole yabbies (or more than 400
individual yabbies) or more than 10 litres of yabby meat not exceeding 400 tails anywhere in Victoria.

Daily limit of 150, possession limit of 400 at any one time. So if you go out 3 days, the maximum you can have in your possession is 400, not 3 times 150 which is 450.

Is that easier to understand? Or still confusing

Brett wrote:Daily limit of 150, possession limit of 400 at any one time. So if you go out 3 days, the maximum you can have in your possession is 400, not 3 times 150 which is 450.

Is that easier to understand? Or still confusing

Thx brett You explained it perfectly, why can't the guy's making these regs make it easier to understand for us simple folk, or is it just me that's simple ? :oops:

Do you need a license to sell them ?

Anything caught under a recreational licence, is illegal to sell to anyone, anywhere, anytime.