My Big Catch – new Gippsland Lakes plan to safeguard fishery’s future

THE Victorian Government is delivering on its commitment to invest in science and habitat restoration in the Gippsland Lakes, with the release of a plan to safeguard the future of one of the state’s key fisheries.

Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne unveiled the draft Gippsland Lakes Recreational Fishery Plan and called on local residents and businesses to have their say on the proposal, which will help return the lakes to a recreational fishing mecca.

Earlier this year commercial netting was removed from the Gippsland Lakes, paving the way for the plan and delivering a key commitment of the Government’s $35 million Target One Million project.

The last of the 10 commercial licences finished in April, handing back the fishery to recreational users. By improving habitat, installing artificial reefs, increasing stocks and consulting on bag and size limits, the plan will help accelerate the recovery of key species such as black bream and dusky flathead.

Recreational fishing contributes $380 million to the Gippsland economy each year and the plan will improve catch rates and fish stocks, leading to better fisher satisfaction and more tourism.

A steering committee will also be established once the plan is finalised, to oversee its implementation and a subsequent review after five years.
The draft plan will be released for public comment for a period of six weeks and is available at vfa.vic.gov.au/gippslandlakes.

“We’ve made the first steps in revitalising the Gippsland Lakes by removing commercial netting, and this plan will build on that work to get more
people fishing, more often,” Fishing and Boating MP Melissa Horne said.

“The lakes are an iconic destination for fishers around the state and with improved habitat and more stocking there will be better fishing on offer
and more fish to catch.”

My Comment

In writing this column, I notice some funny things at times.  I receive a lot of media releases from the state government about the improvements they are doing for fishing and those improvements are noteworthy and fisherman do need to know about them.

But in these media releases they have always referred to themselves as the state government, or the Daniel Andrews Government. My policy has always been to write this though as the Victorian State Government.

But it seems things have now changed, with their own press releases, now referring to themselves as the Victorian State Government. The referral to the Daniel Andrews state government has ceased.

FISHING REPORTS

Weather conditions and water temperatures have still not been favourable, and this is still making it hard for fishermen in getting out on the water and to have any success in catching fish. The below reports are based on previous reports and what have been received.

ANGLESEA
• Only a few boats have been out and about

• Reports of whiting catches but only a few

• The occasional pinkie are being caught but they
are still small

• Flathead had been reported but nothing of any
real account

• Salmon reports are few and far between

• A few schools of bait are also being reported.

Thanks to the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea.

BARWON HEADS
• Reports had been of a few snapper and pinkies

• Flathead had also been reported

• Whiting reports are few

• Salmon reports off local beaches are not in any
great numbers

• The River report is of a few whiting and some small trevally.

Reports compliments of the Ocean Grove Angling.

TORQUAY
• Reports still consist of a few whiting catches close inshore

• Reports of small pinkies and the occasional snapper

• Flathead reports are not in large numbers

• Local beaches are seeing some small salmon

• Spring Creek, small bream are reported.

Reports compliments of the Torquay Angling club

QUEENSCLIFF

• St Leonards reports King George Whiting, flathead, squid, and the occasional snapper

• Clifton Springs is still seeing some nice snapper, whiting, calamari, flathead and squid and the occasional Gummy Shark

• Queenscliff still reports a few whiting, trevally as well as flathead and some nice squid

• The Creek the odd trevally and salmon

• Swan Bay reports has been seeing a few odd squid, whiting and flathead

• Point Lonsdale reports salmon, trevally, whiting, squid and a few snapper

• The White Lady, reports whiting, calamari, and snapper

• Indented heads is also reporting some flathead, King George Whiting, snapper and calamari.

PHOTOS

Please forward them to the email address below, with Type of fish, weight, length, location, and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big catch.

Email Photos to: [email protected]