With Murray cod season in full swing, campers and anglers are encouraged to make themselves aware of fishing regulations and bag limits these holidays.
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Murray cod have a minimum legal size of 55cm, a maximum size of 75cm, a daily bag limit of one per person in rivers and a daily bag limit of two per person in lakes.
Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive Travis Dowling said fishing for Murray cod, which can grow to more than a metre, continued to gain popularity given the species' sportfishing traits and its eating quality.
"Murray cod have made a huge comeback over the past decade thanks to habitat restoration, tighter catch limits, more responsible fishing practices and stocking programs funded by fishing licence fees and the State government's Target One Million plan, which aims to get more people fishing, more often," Mr Dowling said.
"Last summer, more than 1.1 million Murray cod fingerlings were stocked, weighing nearly two tonnes, most of which were grown at the VFA's Snobs Creek fish hatchery, near Eildon.”
Golden perch (yellowbelly) have a minimum size of 30cm with a daily bag limit of five while trout restrictions vary at different locations.
Murray cod have made a huge comeback over the past decade
- Victorian Fisheries Authority chief Travis Dowling
The VFA’s 2018 Recreational Fishing Guide is available from most bait and tackle shops and other outlets such as Tourist Information Centres. The guide included changes to trout fishing rules, which were introduced this year.
“The updated guide and app include rule changes for trout, stingrays, skates, banjo sharks and rock lobster that commenced in 2017,” Mr Dowling said.
Mr Dowling said the guide was available in app form for smartphones and tablets to provide the latest information.
It can also be viewed on the VFA’s website vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide.
“The smartphone app is updated more regularly as rule changes occur through the course of a year,” he said.
“The guide and app are pivotal in helping recreational anglers understand bag limits, minimum sizes, closed seasons and equipment rules, which all contribute to sustainable fisheries.”
Other tools, such as stick-on boat rulers and plastic measures, were freely available.
