Fish-e-Facts 361

01 January 2015

January 2015

Valid Recreational fishing licence

Fisheries officers are warning anglers they risk large fines if they don't have a valid recreational fishing licence. The $24.50 annual recreational fishing licence is required when attempting to take any species of fish by any method unless you are exempt.

The revenue raised from licences help improve recreational fishing opportunities in Victoria by investing in projects such as fish stocking, facilities, research and education.

People who fish without a licence can face fines of up to $500.

For more information, anglers should check the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide or download the free 'Vic Fishing' app for smartphones.

Summer reminder about yabby fishing rules

Recreational anglers are reminded that catch limits and equipment restrictions need to be heeded when fishing for freshwater yabbies in Victorian waterways. Daily catch limits apply to all Victorian waterways.

The daily catch limit for recreational anglers in, on or next to Victorian waters is 20 litres of whole yabbies, 150 individual yabbies, or five litres of yabby meat not exceeding 150 tails. These catch limits, and a requirement to return all berried females to the water, help share the catch between anglers and ensure the yabby fishery remains sustainable.

Additionally anglers must not possess more than 60 litres of whole yabbies, more than 400 individual yabbies, or more than 10 litres of yabby meat not exceeding 400 tails anywhere in Victoria.

Recreational anglers are reminded that equipment restrictions also apply to the harvest of yabbies, including limits on how many nets may be used in certain waters.

Yabby pots, which include opera house nets, can't be used in public waters, but can be used in private waters, such as farm dams. Anglers can use or possess a total of 10 nets, whether recreational hoop nets or open-top lift nets in inland waters.

No more than five recreational hoop nets can be used in the Goulburn, Ovens, Glenelg, Latrobe, Tarra, Mitta Mitta and Kiewa river systems. The same limit applies to Wodonga Creek, Ryans Creek, Waranga Basin, Carrol's Creek or in any tributary of those waters or any of their impounded waters. However Lake Eildon, Rocklands Reservoir or Lake Dartmouth have a limit of ten hoop nets.

Nets, including bait nets, must be tagged with the user's full name and address, and must remain on or above the water's surface at all times.

For more information, including yabby net dimension rules, anglers should check the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide or download the free 'Vic Fishing' app for smartphones.

Man caught with ten times pipi limit at Venus Bay

A Melbourne man was allegedly found last week with more than ten times the daily pipi catch limit at Venus Bay Number One Beach.

Fisheries Officers allegedly found the man in possession of 21 litres of pipis, 19 litres more than the daily catch limit of two litres. The 19 litres of pipis were seized and returned to the water.

This is an offence under the Fisheries Act 1995 which attracts a maximum penalty of more than $2,500.

The daily catch limit for pipis within the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park between Point Smyth and Arch Rock, including Venus Bay, is two litres.

People are reminded they are only permitted to use their hands and feet – no tools of any type are permitted for digging. A recreational fishing licence is also required to take pipis, unless exempt.

Fisheries Officers are maintaining a strong presence at Venus Bay throughout the summer period and persons found offending will be dealt with accordingly. Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour fisheries offence reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).