Tuesday 21 January 2025

Victorian fishers are in for a bumper season, with more chances to hook line and sinker a Murray cod thanks to 10 years of record fish stocking by the Allan Labor Government.

Since 2014, more than 66 million fish have been released across Victoria including golden perch, Australian bass, estuary perch, trout, salmon and dusky flathead – that is more stocking than all other Australian states and territories combined, with another 10 million fish to be stocked by mid-2025.

The fingerlings released recently were produced at the Arcadia Native Fish hatchery, near Shepparton, which is being upgraded to triple its size and will see it produce up to six million native fish each year, part of a $15 million investment.

Since 2014, more than 22 million Murray cod have been stocked into Victorian waters at more than 60 locations across the state.

Several Victorian lakes are open year-round so fishers can wet a line and reel in a Murray cod including Lake Eppalock, Rocklands Reservoir and Lake Eildon. Since 2014, Lake Eppalock alone has scored 2.3 million cod, with locals and visitors now catching increasing numbers of fish – which are likely upward of 3-4 years old.

Near the Grampians, Rocklands Reservoir has been stocked with millions of Murray cod since 2017, some of which are now being caught by freshwater anglers.

Several other waterways are flourishing thanks to record stocking and delivering benefits for nearby communities like Melton Reservoir, Cairn Curran, Taylors Lake near Horsham, Eildon and Lake Nillahcootie.

To find out more about some of the state’s top fishing locations, head to vfa.vic.gov.au/fishing destinations.

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“There are 10 million reasons Victorian families should get out and drop a line this year – with dozens of lakes and rivers stocked across the northern Vic region.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos

“We want Victorians to get out and enjoy our great outdoors and there’s no better time to wet a line, with 66 million fish stocked in the last decade – more than all other Australian states and territories combined.”