Fisheries Officers seize trophy fish - Eildon Pondage
16 October 2015
A 25 year old Geelong man will be summonsed to appear in Court after a routine inspection of his vehicle allegedly revealed more than five times the legal daily bag limit of trout at the Eildon Pondage this week.
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) Fisheries Officers discovered thirteen large trout all exceeding 35cm in length, contained within the man's esky.
The Eildon Pondage is a designated Family Fishing Lake where the daily bag limit is 5 trout, of which no more than 2 can exceed 35cm.
Fisheries Northern Region Supervising Fisheries Officer Murray Burns said the fish are stocked into the Eildon Pondage to be shared by all Victorians not just a small number of people who are willing to take a risk.
"The trophy sized fish seized in this matter would have made a number of anglers; including young children extremely happy – a fish of a life time for some," Mr Burns said.
"It's disappointing when Officers discover such a large quantity of illegally taken fish and that some anglers still need to be reminded of bag limits and the implications of exceeding them."
Mr Burns said; Fisheries Victoria stocked the Eildon Pondage on Wednesday of this week with 460 large ex-brood fish in addition to 1000 advanced yearling rainbows in support of the many expected visitors attending this weekend's Big Fish event held at the Eildon Pondage.
These stockings are funded in part by all Victorian anglers recreational fishing licence fees in conjunction with the State Government's Target One Million plan which aims to get more people fishing more often – www.vic.gov.au/targetonemillion.
Anglers are reminded Fisheries Officers will continue to inspect licences, fish, bags and eskies to ensure the sustainable and equitable harvest of fish resources for all Victorian's.
Information pertaining to bag limits is readily available via the Recreational Fishing Guide available at most tackle outlets, the mobile Victorian Fishing App and social media.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected illegal fishing activities to the 24 hour Fisheries offence reporting line, 13 FISH (13 3474).