Trout and salmon specific regulations
Waters with seasonal closures
The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024.
The following regulations apply to rivers and streams in general. They do not apply to rivers, river sections and streams with specific regulations listed here.
| Name of waterway/specific section | Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and streams (general) | No minimum | 5 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in, or next to Victorian rivers, river sections and streams. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. |
Waters with varying bag and size limits
The following rivers have specific regulations that apply to certain sections along their course
| Name of waterway/specific section | Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nariel Creek (upstream of Colac Colac Bridge) | 25cm | 3 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
| Nariel Creek (all other sections) | No minimum | 5 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
| Mitta Mitta River (upstream of Lake Dartmouth) | 25cm | 3 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
| Mitta Mitta River (downstream of Peter's Bridge) | No minimum | 5 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
| Ovens River (upstream of Porepunkah) | 25cm | 3 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
| Ovens River (all other sections) | No minimum | 5 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | Yes. During the closed season, anglers must not take or possess salmonids in these rivers and streams. |
Rivers with total fishing bans during the trout and salmon closed season
Sections of the Goulburn, Mitta Mitta, Tanjil and Kiewa rivers are closed to all hook and line fishing during the trout and salmon closed season, regardless of the fish species being targeted.
Please refer to the information and maps below to see the areas that are closed to all hook and line fishing during the trout and salmon closed season.
Goulburn tailrace
The section of the Goulburn River below Lake Eildon Pondage to Trawool Bridge and its tributaries are classified as a tailrace river and subject to the following regulations.
| Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|
| No minimum | 5 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes – there is a total ban on hook and line fishing during the closed season. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. During the closed season:
|
Rubicon River
The Rubicon River is part of the Goulburn River tailrace. However, it's subjected to slightly different size and possession regulations.
| Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|
| 25cm | 3 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes – there is a total ban on hook and line fishing during the closed season. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. |
The Kiewa River and tributaries
The section of the Kiewa River below Rocky Valley Dam to Keegans Bridge and its tributaries are classified as a tailrace river and subject to the following regulations.
| Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|
| No minimum | 5 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes – there is a total ban on hook and line fishing during the closed season. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. During the closed season:
|
Mitta Mitta tailrace
| Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|
| No minimum | 5 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes – there is a total ban on hook and line fishing during the closed season. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. During the closed season:
|
Tanjil tailrace
The section of the Tanjil River upstream from Lake Narracan to below Blue Rock Dam and its tributaries are classified as a tailrace river and subject to the following regulations.
| Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|
| No minimum | 5 salmonids per day, of which no more than 2 fish can exceed 35cm | Yes – there is a total ban on hook and line fishing during the closed season. The 2024 closed season in rivers and streams is from 11 June to 6 September. The first open day is Saturday, 7 September 2024. During the closed season:
|
Year-round trout and salmon fisheries
The following waters do not have a closed season and can be fished for trout and salmon all year
| Name of waterway/specific section | Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Merri, Hopkins, Moyne rivers and Mt Emu Creek | No minimum | 5 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | No closed season. |
| Sea-run trout rivers | No minimum | 5 salmonids of which no more than 2 fish may exceed 35 cm. | The specified sections of the following waters contain populations of sea-run brown trout that provide angling opportunities for trout and salmon all year:
|
| Lakes and impoundments | No minimum | 5 salmonids per day. | No closed season. |
The following year-round trout and salmon fishing lakes have specific regulations that apply only to them.
| Name of waterway/specific section | Minimum legal size for trout and salmonids | Bag limit | Closed season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Toolondo | 45cm for brown trout and 30cm for rainbow trout. | 3 salmonids per day. | No closed season. |
| Hepburn Lagoon | 45cm for brown trout and rainbow trout. | 3 salmonids per day. | No closed season. |
| Lake Wendouree | No minimum size. | 5 salmonids per day. | Temporary closure to all recreational fishing from 1 June - 31 July inclusive applies to a small area of the lake near Windmill Drive. View coordinates here. |