‘Tis the season to remember yabby fishing rules

12 December 2016

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 house-style 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