TroutFest, a celebration of trout stocking and freshwater fishing in Western Australia, has begun.
In 2017, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development announced changes to allow year-round access to freshwater fishing experiences for thousands of recreational fishers.
This year the Department’s trout-stocking program has adopted a responsive strategy, with multiple releases over winter and spring and in numerous suitable locations to improve stock levels.
In a statement, the Department said about 2,500 rainbow and 500 brown trophy sized ex-brood-stock trout would be released this year, in addition to 20,000 yearlings and 350,000 fry.
“Improvements are also being made to the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre to help ramp-up yearling grow-out and retain fry for longer to improve survival rates and boost the number of fish available for catching,” the Department said.
“Holding on to some of the trout fry means they can be grown-out over eight to 12 months in the Pemberton Hatchery for release as yearlings between 150-to-300mm in size next season.”
It said trout must be 300mm or larger to be a legal catch for fishers.
“Having legal size rainbow and brown trout in the right place at the right time recognises the important yearly economic contribution the 8,000 licensed anglers and their families make when they visit or stay in the South-West to enjoy freshwater fishing opportunities,” the Department said.
“We are also using mapping technology to review and plan releases when suitable stream conditions are identified in advance by looking at environmental water flows near release locations.”
