Fish-e-Facts 363
01 February 2015
February 2015
Taking undersize snapper doesn't pay
A call to the 13FISH offence reporting line has helped Fisheries Officers detect two Melbourne men, aged 24 and 27, allegedly with 55 snapper at St Helens, near Geelong.
The Officers stopped their vehicle at approximately 8:30pm on 14 January.
They allegedly located 55 snapper in the boot, of which only one met the legal minimum size of 28 cm.
The fish were seized by Officers and the two men are expected to be charged on summons under the Fisheries Act.
They will be charged with four separate offences, including taking/possessing fish less than the minimum size and taking/possessing more than the catch limit.
Each offence can attract a fine of $443.
The minimum size for snapper is 28 cm and the daily bag limit is 10, of which only three snapper may be larger than 40 cm.
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence reporting line 13FISH (133 474).
100,000 estuary perch stocked across Victoria
Fishing licence fees have helped stock more than 100,000 estuary perch fingerlings into seven lakes and rivers across Victoria, including three new waterways never before stocked with the species. The new waterways are:
- Werribee River (pictured) - 32,000
- Melton Reservoir - 20,000
- Karkarook Lake - 5,000
The stockings into the Werribee River and Melton Reservoir are expected to improve angling opportunities for residents of these rapidly growing urban centres west of Melbourne.
Estuary perch are a popular native species in coastal estuaries so are ideal for developing new fisheries in waters south of the Great Dividing Range.
Other waters stocked with estuary perch this season were:
- Devilbend Reservoir – 25,000
- Hamilton Lake – 10,000
- Albert Park Lake – 10,000
- Struan Lake– 5,000.
The 1 cm fingerlings were bred at a private fish hatchery in Narooma using broodfish collected by anglers from the Glenelg and Hopkins rivers.
The estuary perch releases are consistent with the State Government's 'Target One Million' plan to boost fish stocking, invest in fishing and boating facilities, and increase the number of recreational anglers in Victoria to one million by 2020.
Learn more about estuary perch stocking.
Better fishing facilities at Lake Wendouree
Two new floating jetties have made it easier for freshwater anglers launching vessels at Lake Wendouree.
The jetties, which were installed last year, are alongside boat ramps at Durham Point and the southern end of the lake near the Yacht Club.
They enable boaters to tie up vessels while launching and provide a stable platform for boarding.
The works were managed by the City of Ballarat and supported by local angling groups including the Ballarat Fly Fishers and the Ballarat & District Anglers Association.
Lake Wendouree is stocked annually by Fisheries Victoria and the Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society with brown trout and rainbow trout.
Fishy Fact
Which common and highly sought after delicious treat from the deep is capable of the most love?
It's the humble Southern calamari which has not one or two but an amazing three hearts, full of love!
Calamari has one on each its two gills and another central heart.