Anglers reel in election demands

A reminder to all the 2026 Victorian state election is not too far away from us.

VRFish has developed a list of priorities to make fishing better in Victoria.

They are:

1. $10m to establish Victoria’s first Estuarine Fish Hatchery, growing estuary perch, Australian bass, mulloway and flathead

2. $10m to modernise trout production facilities at Snobs Creek Hatchery

3. Mandate recreational fishing access to all urban waters throughout Victoria, including Edwards Park Lake and Newport Lakes

4. Develop new inland fisheries close to Melbourne by opening Yan Yean Reservoir, Merrimu Reservoir and Djerriwarrh Reservoir to recreational fishing

5. Provide additional funding to improve crown land access to public water by activating ‘unused road reserves’

6. Continue to deliver priorities from the Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy

7. $2.5m fish habitat fund for the delivery of marine and inland habitat restoration projects

8. Support carp control measures

9. Protect the recreational fishery on the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline by allocating recreational water for recreational fishing

10. Broaden the 10 in 10 endangered fish species recovery programs with additional funding for research and monitoring.

11. Make kingfish a recreational only species in Victoria

12. Review recreational abalone regulations with a view to provide more equitable access in Victorian central waters

13. Secure the future of VRFish as the peak body by extending the funding agreement to five-year terms.

14. Provide VRFish $100,000 to deliver two emerging leader courses in 2027 and 2029

15. Support fishing clubs through a $2,000 ‘Stronger Fishing Club Grants’ program.

16. Empower the next generation of fishers through continuing to deliver little angler kits.

I am led to believe this wishlist will be circulated to all political parties who have a stake in November’s state election.

I look forward to seeing the responses because across this state, thousands of people fish this great state of ours.

I believe they need answers to most of these questions

If you see or suspect any illegal fishing in Victoria, call the 24/7 reporting service, 13FISH (133474), to speak directly to a fisheries officer. You can remain anonymous.

FISHING REPORTS

Anglesea

Reports are a bit better this week.

* Some nice catches of pinkies

* Some good catches of Whiting

* A few boats still out chasing tuna

Reports compliments of the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea

Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove

* Reports of salmon off the beaches

Torquay

Reports are still few and far between with weather still not conducive to fishing.

* No reports

Reports courtesy of the Torquay Angling Club

St Leonards

Weather conditions are still not great.

* Reports of some nice whiting but not in numbers

Indented Head

* Still reports of some whiting

Grassy Point

* Reports of some good-sized whiting, but not in numbers

Reports courtesy of The Bellarine Pirates and St Leonards Angling Club

Queenscliff

Poor weather is affecting reports.

* The odd whiting reported

Portarlington

* No reports this week

Clifton Springs

Once again, poor weather is affecting reports

* No reports this week