DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL 2008 / 2007 FISHING GUIDE 5 Message from the Minister Going Fishing Inland? 6 About the Guide Visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/angling for your free 3 6 Changes made since last edition online Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of 9 Go Fishing in Victoria Victoria. 10 Recreational Fishing Licence 10 Licence Information Information for Hearing Impaired 12 Your Fishing Licence Fees at Work Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a 17 Regulation Enforcement speech/communication impairment may call the CONTENTS 17 Fisheries Officers DPI Customer Service Centre through the National 17 Fines and Penalties 17 Reporting Offences Relay Service using a modem or textphone/ 17 Offence Reporting Service teletypewriter (TTY) by dialling 1800 555 677. 20 Restricted Areas or Closed Waters • To report a fisheries offence, request 20 Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries 13 3474 (13 FISH). 20 Boundary Markers 22 Aquaculture Fisheries Reserves • For general fisheries inquiries, request 136 186. 23 Intertidal Restrictions 24 Scallops – Port Phillip Restrictions 24 Freshwater Restrictions ������� 27 General Fishing – Rules and Tips 27 Bait and Berley 27 Measuring Your Catch ��������� 28 Cleaning/Filleting Your Fish 28 Definitions 29 Responsible Fishing Behaviours ��������� 30 Protected Fish 32 Limits and Closed Seasons 32 Total Scale Fish Bag/Possession Limit �������� 33 Marine and Estuarine Scale Fish 39 Sharks, Skates and Rays ����� 40 Freshwater Scale Fish (native) 44 Freshwater Scale Fish (introduced) 44 Trout and Salmon Regulations 53 Crustaceans ������� 58 Molluscs 62 Other Invertebrates 63 Equipment 63 Permitted Use of Recreational Equipment ������� 63 Recreational Equipment Not Permitted 63 Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries 63 Equipment Marine Waters �������� 66 Equipment Inland Waters 67 Spearfishing ���������� Australia’s No. 1 provider of boat insurance 68 Aquatic Pests 69 Fish Habitat and Fishcare 1300 00 CLUB (2582) 70 Fishing Safety 71 Victorian State Government 2006 Election Commitments clubmarine.com.au 73 Contacts Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) AFSL No. 234708 ABN 15 000 122 850. Club Marine Limited (Club Marine) AFSL No. 236916 ABN 12 007 588 347 is a related body corporate and an agent of Allianz. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available by phoning 1300 00 2582 before deciding if this product is right for you. Vic Recreational Fishing Guide 2008.indd 1 26/6/07 1:12:14 PM Welcome to the Joe Helper MP Victorian Recreational 5 Fishing Guide 2007-2008 More than 500,000 Victorians wet a line at least once a year. Some are chasing a feed for the table, while others are just sharing time by the water with friends and family in the great outdoors, away from the stresses of everyday life. While the drought and bushfires have adversely affected many of our inland fishery destinations, there remains a long list of waters that are well worth a visit. Many of them are annually stocked with trout by Fisheries Victoria. Others receive native fish such as Murray cod and golden perch. MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER If you’re going on a fi shing trip that means you’ll be behind the wheel for this long, Last year saw better times for saltwater fishing. Another terrific snapper season in Port Phillip Bay entertained thousands of anglers last spring. The terrific run of gummy sharks has continued right along our coast and the big bluefin tuna returned to Portland, attracting sporting anglers from right across Australia. This year’s Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide is the biggest yet. We have expanded the section on Your Licence Fees at Work so you can get a better understanding about how your licence fees are funding projects that improve fishing opportunities. We have also added a page to the abalone section to simplify the layout for divers. As the Minister Responsible for Fisheries I am very proud of the Victorian Government’s track used it in the preceding 12 months and 87 per cent record with recreational fishing. At the 2006 were very satisfied with it in its current format. election, the government committed $42 million With positive feedback like that it is little wonder to improve facilities and services for boaters the Guide finds a home in most anglers’ tackle and anglers and to get more Victorians outdoors. boxes. I hope it finds a home in yours. For more information about these election commitments, to be rolled out over the next four years, refer to page 71 of the Guide. take a break this long. The Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide remains the primary means by which Fisheries Victoria communicates regulations to anglers. A survey The Hon. Joe Helper, MP of 350 licensed anglers last year revealed that 85 Minister for Agriculture per cent were aware of the Guide, 73 per cent had Minister Responsible for Fisheries A 15 minute powernap could save your life. TAC 6211 Fatigue_Fishing A5 Ad.i1 1 17/7/07 9:38:36 AM MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER This fishing guide is produced by the Department of Primary CHANGES TO REGULATIONS 6 Industries (DPI). Please contact DPI if you wish to make comments about the guide or to obtain further copies. For more information about DPI, visit the website at Changes Made Since www.dpi.vic.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre Last Edition on 136 186. ISSN 1442-7494 • New snapper regulations (see page 36). Copyright © The State of Victoria, Department of Primary • 2008 riverine trout closed season dates Industries, 2007. This publication is copyright. No part may (see page 44). be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. • Lillydale Lake, Kennington Reservoir, Hyland Lake and Jubilee Lake catch limit (see page 45). ABOUT THE GUIDE All requests and inquiries should be directed to the DPI Customer Service Centre (telephone 136 186) or email [email protected] • Bass yabby limit (see page 53). Authorised by Joe Helper, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne • Interim closure of the Glenelg spiny Design, production, print management & advertising sales: freshwater crayfish fishery (see page 56). Geoff Slattery Publishing (03) 9627 2600 Ground Floor, 140 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands. • 2007/08 recreational abalone open days for Photographs: Red Shore Crab – Museum of Victoria, Dale central waters (see page 58). Goodall, Michael Marmach, Rudi Kuiter, Rawdon Sthradher, Scott Gray, Martin Auldist, Jeremy Hindell, John Douglas, Marc Changes Ahead Ainsworth, Peter Lawson, Ewan McLean, Ben Bowman, Troy Duthie, Heath Cameron, Stewart McGlashan, Eain McRae and • All regulations expire after 10 years. Richard Rogala. New Fisheries regulations are under Cartography: page 22, Griffin Graphics development for 2008. Illustrations: Alexis Beckett, Krystii Melaine, NSW Department Temporary Closures and of Primary Industries, Roger Swainston Printing: Blue Star Print Group Ltd – 300,000 copies Interim Restrictions 3 Nursery Avenue, Clayton Business Park, Clayton, Occasionally, it may be necessary to make a VIC 3168 (03) 8514 6000 short-term or interim change to regulations, General disclaimer such as the catch or size limit of a species. For the latest information: This publication may be of assistance to you, but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your • Contact the DPI Customer Service Centre on particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any 136 186. error, loss or other consequences which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. • Visit the website: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing This publication is a guide only, it does not replace the • Subscribe online to DPI's fortnightly two-page With RACVBoat Insurance, this is Fisheries Act 1995, the Fisheries Regulations 1998 or other Acts electronic newsletter for recreational fishers and subordinate legislation applying to, or affecting recreational fishing. Copies of the Act and Regulations are available from Fish-e-Fax. Visit the DPI website for details. the point where your cover ends. Information Victoria located at 356 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000 (telephone 1300 366 356 or at www.information.vic.gov.au). It is a summary of the law at the time of publication and cannot RACV Boat Insurance is a comprehensive policy that covers be used as a defence in court. Fishing laws change from time everything from fire, theft and flood to emergency towing. to time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are acting For more information and a quote call 13 RACV and ask about within the law. our 10% multi-policy discount.* Advertising disclaimer Insurance: call 13 RACV DPI acknowledges contributions made by private enterprise. Acceptance of these contributions does not, however, endorse or imply endorsement by the Department of any product or service offered by the contributors. *Discounts are calculated off the base amount before any other applicable discounts or any government charges are applied. RACV Boat Insurance is issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Limited ABN 93 004 208 084 AFSLicence No. 227678. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement before buying. For a copy call 13 RACV (13 7228). RIN1654 REAP THE REWARDS OF Family Fishing Events are being held in the winter 8 RECREATIONAL FISHING – and spring of 2007 at Lillydale Lake, Eildon Pondage 9 GO FISHING IN VICTORIA and Kennington Reservoir. All five Premier Lakes will hold events in 2008. In 2006 the Victorian State Government committed Premier Rivers $3.2 million over four years to the Go Fishing in To cater for more experienced anglers, sections Victoria initiative, which aims to improve recreational of three Victorian rivers will be developed and fishing facilities and infrastructure, as well as promoted as Premier Rivers. The Premier Rivers promote opportunities for fishing as a family activity.