Victorian first to create six new native fisheries

21 March 2019

In a Victorian first, 120,000 golden perch have been stocked into the Malmsbury, Coliban, Lauriston, Tullaroop and Barkers Creek Reservoirs and Lake Bellfield to improve native fishing opportunities thanks to the State Government.

Lauriston Reservoir has also been stocked with 25,000 large Murray cod fingerlings weighing 5 grams each.

This stocking plan is a brand-new venture recently developed by the Victorian Fisheries Authority together with local angling clubs and peak angling body VR Fish at a special Vic Fish Stock meeting in Bendigo in early March.

Stocking more native fish into Victorian waterways is a major part of the State Government’s Target One Million plan to get more Victorians fishing, more often.

The waters are now stocked with golden perch and Murray cod with further plans to stock more natives, including silver perch, next month.

Brown trout stockings will also be increased this winter to create exciting new trout and native ‘mixed fisheries,’ which provide year-round fishing opportunities for anglers of all abilities.

The newly stocked fish will take a few years to reach catchable size, so anglers can look forward to some phenomenal fishing in years to come.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Fishing and Boating Jaala Pulford

“We’re not slowing down on our plan to stock 10 million fish per year by 2022, making this an exciting time for fishing in Victoria.”

“We’re confident these stockings will be a game changer for these waters, creating better fishing all year round.”