Fishing Victoria Forum

Media Release
Thursday 15 June 2017 | Media contact: Nick Foster 03 8392 6254
www.vic.gov.au/fisheries

Better trout fishing on the way for Victoria

Fisheries Victoria is now consulting recreational anglers about proposed changes to trout fishing regulations in lakes and rivers to make even better trout fishing in Victoria. .
The proposed changes compliment record trout stocking now underway across the state.
Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria, Travis Dowling, said the proposed changes were developed with the help of the Victorian Trout Fishery Reference Group, which consists of 26 members from right across the broad spectrum of trout fishing interests.
“The proposed changes include a minimum size for trout in several waters, which delivers on the State Government’s Target One Million commitment,” Mr Dowling said.
The proposed changes are:
 Introduce a 25cm minimum size and reduced bag limit (from 5 to 3 trout per day) on four iconic streams; the Goulburn River below Lake Eildon, Mitta Mitta River above Lake Dartmouth, Ovens River upstream of the Porepunkah Bridge and the Nariel Creek upstream of the Colac Colac Bridge.
 Introduce a 45cm minimum size and reduced bag limit (from 5 to 3 fish per day) for Hepburn Lagoon and Lake Toolondo.
 Remove the trout closed season in the Hopkins and Merri rivers in southwest Victoria because these waters are solely reliant on annual stocking of trout, not natural breeding.
Mr Dowling said the proposed changes recognise the importance of our trout fisheries and the iconic nature of many waters that are highly prized by bait fishers, lure casters and fly fishers.
“We know trout anglers are passionate about their fisheries and only want the very best for them.
“That’s why this suite of changes stretches right across the state and includes both lakes and rivers along with stocked andunstocked waters.
“We are confident the proposed changes will improve the quality of fishing in two of our premier trout lakes, promote our iconic trout streams and create new and exciting winter fisheries in southwest Victoria.”
For more information, or to learn more about making a written submission by 13 July 2017, visit www.vic.gov.au/fisheries

Thats some good ideas

The bag limit from 3 to 5 is a good idea.

Even 2 nice is enough for a meal

A step in the right direction. I do however believe there should be a 45cm size limit imposed on all lakes/impoundments, (excluding the family lakes). Fisheries should also open their eyes to the fish they are releasing too. Genetics, and the size of the fish released, need to be researched and the issues addressed. Our trout fishery needs attention. Not as far as numbers are concerned, but the average small size of them. 20lb was once the milestone, and nowadays it is 10lb. A 6lber is a large pan-sized fish, yet fisheries seem to think it's a trophy. Problem is too many brainwashed anglers think the same and not enough pressure applied to improve things. Places such as bullen merri are renowned for rainbows turning into "footballs", then disappearing soon after. Why? Once released the yearlings get stuck into the massive food supply of minnows and gudgeon and simply gorge themselves to death. Their body grows down and out, but not in length. Their bodies can't handle it and they die soon after. All this because they are released as stunted yearlings. If released as fingerlings/fry, their body would grow in proportion to their diet, and therefore grow much bigger and evenly, before dying of old age. Just my two bobs worth...

barra mick wrote:Thats some good ideas

The bag limit from 3 to 5 is a good idea.

Even 2 nice is enough for a meal

Typo I assume.

You get up that way a bit - have you fished the upper Mitta Mitta?

Queasy wrote:

barra mick wrote:Thats some good ideas

The bag limit from 3 to 5 is a good idea.

Even 2 nice is enough for a meal

Typo I assume.

You get up that way a bit - have you fished the upper Mitta Mitta?

yes a few times a year..wish it was more but cant fish everywhere

Iive fished the upper mitta mitta a bit

it should be c and r or one fish minium.

Here's a part on the rivers that the IFS have in store down here in Tasmania.... you can check the site below for the full report:

cheers
Adrian

http://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/about-us/issu ... an-2018-28

Proposals
**Fishery types
To assist in developing regulations and stocking plans the fishery has been defined by three management
classes. Uniform regulations and policies will be applied to an entire management class where possible.
There will be some exceptions where specific regulations are needed to manage an individual water to
ensure its sustainability and performance.
 ** Assisted
* fishery may be subject to variable or no natural recruitment
* a daily bag limit of zero (0) to five (5) fish
* Wild and naturally recruiting (e.g. Arthurs Lake and Lake St. Clair) a daily bag limit of 12 fish
* Wild and over-populated (e.g. Lake Pedder and Huntsman Lake) a daily bag limit of 20 fish

**Proposed changes River fisheries
River fisheries continue to be affected by a range of climatic and environmental factors (i.e. drought,floods, and cormorant predation). The frequency and severity of these events, and their negative influence on the trout population appears to be increasing. While many of these events are outside of our control, we think it is important to address the health of trout populations in rivers. Regulation change is the best way we can respond quickly to these factors and assist the sustainability of these fisheries.
The current 2008-18 Plan reduced the bag limit from 12 to five (5) fish per day for rivers identified as being under stress, namely the Break O’Day, Coal, Flowerdale, Little Swanport, Macquarie, Rubicon, and South Esk rivers and the River Clyde.

It has been identified that the effectiveness of the open-all year section of the River Leven is limited by
poor access. It is proposed to open a more accessible river in the same region.
In the new Tasmanian Inland Recreational Fishery Management Plan 2018-28 we are proposing:
** A bag limit of five (5) fish per day for all rivers.
** The “all year” river section in the north west region to be changed from the lower section of the
River Leven to the lower section of the Mersey River.