The Victorian Fisheries Authority has stoked lakes around Melbourne with 500 ‘stonker’ rainbow trout.
Minister for Boating and Fishing, Melissa Horne said the project followed the success of the first round of trout stocked in 18 metropolitan lakes earlier this month.
“The rainbow trout weigh at least four kilograms each, with some up to seven kilograms, and add to the 500 catchable-size trout recently stocked into metropolitan lakes,” Ms Horne said.
“As restrictions safely and gradually ease, visiting these lakes for family-friendly activities like fishing makes for an ideal way to enjoy the outdoors,” she said.
“It’s great to see fishers safely wet a line again and this stocking program will give more people that opportunity in lakes close to their homes.”
Ms Horne said that under current COVID-19 restrictions, fishing and boating was permitted within 25 kilometres of a persons’ residence or permitted workplace.
“You must be able to keep 1.5m distance from others, including while on a boat, and you must wear a fitted face mask at all times unless a lawful exemption applies,” she said.
“A daily bag limit of five trout applies to family fishing lakes, of which only two trout can exceed 35 centimetres.”
Ms Horne said the trout had been stocked at Albert Park Lake, Karkarook Lake, Yarrambat Lake, Lilydale Lake, Pakenham Lake, Navan Park Lake, Spavin Lake, Berwick Lake, Emerald Lake, Casey Fields Lake, Rowville Lakes, Roxburgh Park Lake, Caulfield Lake, and Ferntree Gully Quarry.
Further information on the trout stockings, including an interactive map of locations, can be accessed at this PS News link.
