Native fish stocking record broken at Lake Eildon

18 March 2019

More than 714,000 native fish have been released into Lake Eildon this summer, setting a new stocking record for this iconic Victorian waterway which is so popular with freshwater anglers.

The new record consists of 300,500 golden perch fingerlings and 413,900 Murray cod, many of which were grown at the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery that grew record cod numbers this season.

This summer’s 714,000 stocking record dwarfs the previous best of 583,000 native fish, set during the three-year ‘Million Murray Cod’ stocking blitz.

Those million Murray cod fingerlings are now providing excellent fishing opportunities year-round for Murray cod, including fish in the 55 to 75cm slot limit.

With the fisheries reputation growing, the AYC fishing tournament circuit will host an Eildon Cod Classic in October 2019, which will attract some of the country’s best die-hard native fishers chasing big cod over the magic metre.

Although the native fish stocking season at Lake Eildon is done and dusted for this summer, other waters are still receiving fish through March.

Prominent lakes and rivers that also got big numbers of native fish this summer including Rocklands Reservoir, Lake Hume, Goulburn River and Lake Eppalock.

The stocking record was funded by recreational fishing licence fees and the State Government’s $27 million Target One Million plan, which aims to get more people fishing, more often.

Learn more about native fish stocking at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishstocking

Quotes attributable to Minister for Fishing and Boating Jaala Pulford

“Record stocking into Lake Eildon recognises that it’s one of Victoria’s best inland fisheries with great access, good boat ramps, plenty of water and an environment that grows big native fish.”

“We’re making freshwater fishing even better in Victoria better than ever with a new hatchery and massive boosts to fish stocking across the state.”