Salmonid Fish Releases 2003

Note Number: FN0161
Published: December 2003

Fisheries Victoria Salmonid Stocking Plan

Stocking Plans are developed annually as part of the management consultation process between Fisheries Victoria and Regional staff. The meetings consider in detail the performance of existing stocking programs, the results of stock assessment surveys, creel survey or angler diary data, and anything else that has or might impact on the ongoing fishery e.g. environmental conditions, water levels.

Requests by client groups for changes to current stocking programs and the implementation of new stocking pro-grams are considered. VRFish, the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body, represents recreational anglers at these meetings.

Stocking Plans are subject to 'last minute' variation due to natural factors e.g. flood, drought, or man-made impacts such as excessive algal blooms, major works on storages, etc. Explanatory notes are provided where a planned release has been amended. Regional staff and VRFish agree to amendments before implementation.

Continuing dry conditions experienced in parts of the State during 2003 meant some scheduled releases were cancelled and others modified.

While part of the overall Salmonid Stocking Plan, the 'Small Waters Stocking Program' is reported separately. This Fisheries Note includes details of the 'Ten Waters Trout Stocking Program' – see Notes (section 7.) for an explanation.

Brown trout and Rainbow trout

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Albert Park L., Albert Park (a)	10	6	-	1 000
Aringa Res., Port Fairy	7/9	3	1 500	-
Aringa Res., Port Fairy	7	3	-	1 000
Banimboola L., Dartmouth	10	3	1 500
Banimboola L., Dartmouth	10	4	-	3 000
Barwon R., Ceres-Inverleigh	(d)	-	-	-
Batyo Catyo L, Donald	U/S	-	-	-
Beaufort L, Beaufort	7	4	1 000	-
Beaufort L, Beaufort	7	3	-	1 000
Berwick Springs Estate L., Berwick	7/9	2-4	-	2 000
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove (See also 'Part 2 - Client Group Stocking Programs')	7-8	3	10 000	-
Bostock Res., Ballan	8	2	3 000	-
Bostock Res., Ballan	8	2	-	2 000
Bullarto Res., Bullarto	8	3	500	-
Bullarto Res., Bullarto	8	3	-	500
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	7	2	10 000^*	-
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	8	3	-	10 000
Cairn Curran Res., Maldon (T)	U/S	-	-	-
Cartcarrong L, Winslow	7/9	2-3	2 000	-
Colbrook Res., Ballan	7	4	200	-
Cosgrove Res., Creswick	7	4	1 000	-
Cosgrove Res., Creswick	7	2	-	1 000
Dean Res., Dean	6	4	500	-
Dean Res., Dean	6	2	-	500
Deep L., Derrinallum	U/S	-	-	-
Dock L., Horsham	U/S	-	-	-
Eildon Pondage, Eildon	4	7	2 500	-
	7-9	8	1 340	-
	8-11	8	-	1 750
	8-11	10	250	-
	8-11	10	-	250
	11/12	4-5	1 750	-
	11	5	-	500
Elingamite L., Cobden	8	3	3 000	-
Elingamite L., Cobden	8	3	-	500
Fyans L., Pomonal (T)	8	2	5 400^*	-
	8	3	-	5 400^*
	12	1	6 000	-
	12	1	-	6 000
Gillear L., Allansford	7/9	2-3	2 000	-
Gillear L., Allansford	7	2	-	1 000
Glenmaggie L., Heyfield	8	3	2 000^*	-
Goldfields Res., Maryborough	8	2	200	-
Gong Gong Res., Ballarat	U/S	-	-	-
Goulburn River, Thornton	9	5	250(e)	-
Goulburn River, Thornton	9	7	-	250(e)
Greenhill L., Ararat	U/S	-	-	-
Hamilton L., Hamilton	7/9	2-3	3 000	-
Hamilton L., Hamilton	7	2	-	2 000
Harcourt Res., Harcourt Nth. (T)	U/S	-	-	-
Hepburn Lagoon, Blampied (T)	U/S	-	-	-
Hollands Cr., Tatong	7	2	1 000^*	-
Hopkins R., Allansford	7	2	2 000^*	-
Hume Weir, Albury-Wodonga	11	4	10 000	-
Jil Jil L., Donald	U/S	-	-	-
Konongwootong Res., Coleraine	6/9	2	2 000	-
	6	2	-	1 000
Lauriston Res., Kyneton	10	3	7 500	-
Lillydale L., Lilydale	7/10	2-6	-	2 000
Macalister R., Heyfield:
- above Lake Glenmaggie	8/9	3	7 000^*	-
- below Lake Glenmaggie	8	3	-	7 000^*
Malmsbury Res., Malmsbury (T)	U/S
Merri R., Warrnambool:	6	3	7 300^*	-
Modewarre L., Mt. Moriac (T)	7	2	4 500^*	-
	8	3	-	4 500^*
	12	1	5 000	-
	12	1	-	5 000
Moorabool Res., Bolwarrah	U/S	-	-	-
Mount Beauty Pondage	11	6	1 000	-
Mount Beauty Pondage	11	6	-	1 500
Mount Emu Cr., Darlington	6	3	3 300^*	-
Murdeduke L., Winchelsea (T)	U/S	-	-	-
Narracan L., Yallourn	11	4	7 000	-
Narracan L., Yallourn	11	4	-	3 000
Natimuk L., Natimuk	U/S	-	-	-
Newlyn Res., Newlyn (T)	11	4	3 600^*	-
Newlyn Res., Newlyn (T)	12	1	4 000	-
Nursery Res., Macedon	8	2	1 000	-
Purrumbete L., Camperdown (T)	6	2	15 000	-
Purrumbete L., Camperdown (T)	6/7	2	-	15 000
Rocklands Res., Balmoral	7-10	3	22 000	-
Ryans Cr., Molyullah	7	2	500^*	-
St.Georges L., Creswick	7	4	500	-
St.Georges L., Creswick	7	2	-	500
Talbot Res., Talbot	10	3	1 000	-
Tarwin River East Branch	8	3	-	1 000^*
Teddington Res's., Stuart Mill:
- Top Res.	U/S	-	-	-
- Bottom Res.	8	-	1 500	-
Tooliorook L., Lismore	8-10	3	3 000	-
Tooliorook L., Lismore	8	2	-	4 000
Toolondo Res., Toolondo (T)	U/S	-	-	-
Trawool Reservoir, Trawool	9	3	2 000^*	-
Upper Coliban Res., Kyneton	U/S	-	-	-
Wallace L., Edenhope	U/S	-	-	-
Wartook L., Halls Gap	7-10	3	14 000	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	9	3	3 000	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	6-7	2	-	8 000
West Barwon Dam, Forrest	7	2	-	4 000
Wombat Res., Daylesford	8	3	1 000	-
Wombat Res., Daylesford	8	3	-	1 000
Wurdi Boluc Res., Wurdiboluc	7-10	2-3	6 000	-
Wurdi Boluc Res., Wurdiboluc	7	2	-	4 000
Sub-Total	-	-	194 590	101 150

Atlantic salmon

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Atlantic Salmon
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	7	2	2 500
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	7	2	2 500
Sub Total	-	-	5 000

Chinook salmon

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Chinook Salmon
Bullen Merri L., Camperdown	6	4	7 250
Purrumbete L., Camperdown	6	4	2 500
Sub Total	-	-	9 750

Small Waters Stocking Program

Fisheries Victoria undertakes an annual program of stocking ongrown or advanced yearling trout in small waters (normally less than 5 hectares surface area) in, or adjacent to, population centres, the waters being accessible and safe for both junior and disabled anglers.

School holiday periods are usually targeted for these re-leases, with the majority of the releases being made to coincide with the second and third semester holidays when water temperatures are best suited to trout. In most instances rainbow trout are stocked as they are normally bigger than the available brown trout at that time of year and are reputedly easier to catch by inexperienced anglers.

This reporting also includes several stockings made to 'Fishing Week 2003' events and other special one-off occasions.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Alexandra L., Ararat	6-9	5	-	400
Anderson L., Chiltern	10	5	-	300
Arboretum L., Euroa	6-9	5	-	400
Bartlett L., Tatura	6	5	-	200
Cato L., Stawell	9/10	5	-	500
Caulfield Racecourse L., Caulfield	7	5	-	200
Cummins Reserve L, Yea	U/S	-	-	-
Dawsons Dam, Snake Valley	9	3	100	-
Dawsons Dam, Snake Valley	9	5	-	200
Donald Caravan Park L., Donald	U/S
Dunmunkle Cr. L., Rupanyup	9	5	-	300
Emerald L., Emerald (a) (b)	6/9/10	5	-	2 061
Ess Lagoon,Casterton	6/9	2-5	-	800
Gate Lake, Mornington	9	3	100	-
Gate Lake, Mornington	9	5	-	300
Golf Course Dam, Longwood	9	5	-	200
Gutheridge L., Sale	10	5	-	250
Guyatt L., Sale	6	5	-	250
Hanging Rock L., Hanging Rock	10	5	-	500
Heyfield Racecourse L., Heyfield	9	5	-	200
Hyland L., Churchill	6/9	4-6	500	-
Hyland L., Churchill	6/9/11	4-6	-	1 800
Jack Roper Reserve L., Broadmeadows	6-10	5-6	-	750
Jubilee L., Daylesford	6/9	5	-	400
Jubilee L., Skipton	U/S	-	-	-
Kennington Res., Bendigo	6/9	5	-	600
Lismore Golf Club Dam, Lismore	U/S	-	-	-
Marysville Dam, Marysville	6/9	5	-	400
Morwell L., Morwell	6-10	5	-	2 000
Old Dunkeld Arboretum	6/9	5	-	1 000
Police Paddock Dam, Horsham	9	5	-	200
Rable Park L., Murtoa	9	5	-	300
Railway dam, Skipton	6	5	-	250
Rowville Lakes, Knox	6/9	5	-	1 250
Roxburgh Park Lakes	6/9	5-6	-	400
St. Augustines, Geelong	6/9	5-6	-	400
Sambell L., Beechworth	6-10	5	-	900
Seagull L., Corio	6-10	5-6	-	900
Taylors Lakes., Keilor	U/S	-	-	-
Tea Tree L., Mortlake	6/9	5	-	400
Tom Thumb L., Eaglehawk	6/9	5	-	200
Victoria L., Ballarat	9/10	5	-	400
Watonga Drive Dam, Horsham	U/S	-	-	-
Westlake Reserve, Melton	10	5	-	300
Whittlesea Botanical Gardens L., Whittlesea	U/S	-	-	-
Yarrambat L, Yarrambat	6-10	5-6	-	850
Sub Total	-	-	700	20 761

Client group stocking programs

Client group releases authorised by the department for which fish release details have been confirmed are listed below. Authorised stockings for which no stocking report has been received will be listed at some future date when the required information is available.

NOTE: It is an offence to stock fish into any Victorian water, both public and private, without the written per-mission of the Executive Director, Fisheries Division. Penalty: up to $2 000.

Water Stocked	Month	Fish Size	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout
Blue Rock L., Willow Grove	FF 11	1	-	50 000
Eildon L., Eildon	FF 11/12	1	-	250 000
Lilydale L, Lilydale	YVFF 10	5/6	-	300
Moyne R, Port Fairy (c)	WFF 8	2	2 000^*	-
Rowville L's., Rowville	RW 12	6/8	-	202
Tullaroop Res, Maryborough	BDAA	U/S	-	-
Wendouree L., Ballarat	BFAS	2	3 000	-
Sub Total	-	-	5 000	300 502

Total releases - Numbers

BT		RT	AS	CS	TOTAL
3.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Fingerling	15 000	11 000	-	-	26 000
Yearling	174 200	108 161	5 000	9 750	297 111
2YO	5 840	2 500	-	-	8 340
3YO	250	250	-	-	500
Sub-Total	195 290	121 911	5 000	9 750	331 951

BT		RT	AS	CS	TOTAL
3.2 Client Group Stockings (Part 2 above)
Fingerling	-	300 000	-	-	300 000
Yearling	5 000	500	-	-	5 500
2YO	-	2	-	-	2
3YO	-	-	-	-	-
Sub-Total	5 000	300 502	-	-	305 502
3.3 Total Stockings (3.1 & 3.2 above)
All Fish	200 290	422 413	5 000	9 750	637 453

Total releases - Weight (kg)

BT		RT	AS	CS	TOTAL
4.1 Fisheries Victoria (Parts 1.1 to 1.3 above)
Fingerling	30	39	-	-	69
Yearling	15 623	15 239	50	975	31 887
2YO	6 424	3 250	-	-	9 674
3YO	700	775	-	-	1 475
Sub Total	22 777	19 303	50	975	43 105
4.2 Client Groups (Part 2 above)
Fingerling	-	1 200	-	-	1 200
Yearling	400	105	-	-	505
2YO	-	3	-	-	3
Sub Total	400	1 308	-	-	1 708
4.3 All Fish (Parts 4.1 and 4.2 above)
All Fish	23 177	20 611	50	975	44 813

Fish release sizes

Size	Weight Range (g)
1	>10
2	10-49
3	50-99
4	100-199
5	200-299
6	300-499
7	500-999
8	1000-1999
9	2000-2999
10	3000-3999
10+	4000+

Fish weight ranges 2003 (Fisheries Victoria Programs):
Fingerlings	Brown trout:	2g
Fingerlings	Rainbow trout:	3.5g
Yearlings:	Brown trout	20 - 145g
	Rainbow trout	32 - 300g
	Atlantic salmon	30 - 35g
	Chinook salmon	110 - 120g

2YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 1.3 and 1.8kg for brown trout and 1.1 and 1.5kg for rainbow trout.
3YO	Ranged in individual fish weight between 3.1 and 4.5kg for brown trout and 3.0 and 4.2kg for rainbow trout.

Transport

Man Days	223
Liberation vehicles	91,869 km

Notes

*	Indicates fin-clipped fish were released. Where fin-clipped fish were only part of the stocking, the number of marked fish is shown in brackets. Adipose fin (AD) was the standard clip for 2003. The angler volunteer fin-clip program FINCLIP did not occur in 2003 because of warm water temperatures in the Goulburn River caused by drought conditions.
(a)	Albert Park Lake is stocked to provide fishing opportunities for junior anglers during the 'Kid's Come & Try' fishing days which are part of Fishing Week. Parks Victoria require the removal of the fish after the event. Recovered trout were subsequently released into Emerald Lake.
(b)	600 of these rainbow trout were purchased using funds from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund.
(c)	Purchased and transported by Fisheries Victoria on behalf of Warrnambool Fly Fishers using funds from the Recreational Fishing Licence
(d)	Stocking cancelled pending resolution of threatened species issues with DSE.
(e)	Dart tagged trout stocked as part of a PIRVIC (Snobs Creek) research project.
Month	The date of release in months (i.e. 4 = April, 10 = October). Where the total allocation was released over several months, the first and last months of releases are usually shown.
BDAA	Ballarat & District Angling Association
BFAS	Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society
FF	FutureFish Foundation
RCP	Rocklands Caravan Park
RW	Ray White Real Estate Pty. Ltd.
YVFF	Yarra Valley Flyfishers
T	Ten Waters Trout Stocking Program. A five-year trial program of stocking selected waters each year with both yearling fish (fin-clipped) and fingerling fish. The objective of the program is to assess the relative contributions to fish stock and anglers take from the release of two size classes of fish. Drought impacts, low water levels and maintenance works by water management authorities has meant that some these waters have not received fingerling fish in 2003 as anticipated.
U/S	Water conditions unsuitable for stocking due to low water level (drought impacts) or maintenance works.
BT	Brown Trout
RT	Rainbow Trout
AS	Atlantic salmon
2YO	Two-year-old fish
3YO	Three-year-old fish.

Acknowledgements

Published by Marc Ainsworth