The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development says winter rains will ensure some big trout in popular fishing spots in the Peel, the South-West and Great Southern this spring.
Minister for Fisheries, Don Punch visited Drakesbrook Weir for Troutfest, an annual celebration of freshwater fishing, organised by Recfishwest.
Mr Punch said the Department’s annual trout-stocking program had the aim of getting the right trout in the right place at the right time.
“A selection of the biggest and fastest growing fingerlings is set aside each year for release the following season after eight to 12 months of growth in the Pemberton Hatchery,” Mr Punch said.
“These are on show during Troutfest, alongside several hundred jumbo-sized fish and thousands of the traditional smaller fry.”
The Minister said around 9,500 anglers were licensed for freshwater fishing and trout fishing getaways to the Peel, South-West and the Great Southern provided a combined annual stimulus to these regional economies of more than $20 million.
“The trout-stocking program is vital to the success of freshwater fishing every year, with 75 dam and river locations benefiting from this year’s planned release of up to 450,000 rainbow and brown trout fingerlings, yearlings and ex-brood stock jumbo trout,” he said.
“Trout fishing plays an important role in supporting regional tourism and jobs, and having legal-sized trout in the right place at the right time ensures the important economic contribution made by our freshwater fishers continues into the future,” Mr Punch said.
