April 1, 2021
We’re encouraging recfishers to get outdoors and wet a line over the Easter long weekend and school holidays! There has never been a better time to be a Victorian recfisher with plenty of great fishing opportunities across the state.
Over the long weekend, it may be difficult to secure accommodation, so day trips, travelling to areas with free camping or keeping an eye on last minute vacancies may be a good option if planning to stay overnight. We’ve previously shared some great places where you can catch a cracking fish and camp nearby.
If you are travelling around Victoria and aren’t familiar with what’s biting in the area, local tackle stores are a fantastic resource for tips and advice to make your fishing a success.
LAND-BASED FISHING ON PIERS AND JETTIES
Piers and jetties along our beaches and estuaries provide fishers with some of the best land-based fishing opportunities in Victoria. Depending on the location, piers and jetties offer fishers access to a wide variety of fish species as the structure provides habitat for marine life.
Across Port Phillip Bay and Westernport, fishers can reel in flathead, whiting, snapper, calamari (squid), silver trivially, wrasse and amongst other species while fishing from a pier.
FRESHWATER FISHING FROM KAYAKS
The use of kayaks by recfishers has significantly grown in popularity over the past few years. Fishing from a kayak gives fishers the opportunity to cast into deeper water without the need for a boat. Kayaks can also be used on a number of inland reservoirs where boats are not allowed.
Inland reservoirs such as Barkers Creek, Tullaroop, Lauriston, Upper Coliban, Malmsbury and Hepburn Lagoon were opened to on-water access for kayaks and canoes. These waters have also been stocked by the Victorian Fisheries Authority with some popular species such as golden perch, Murray Cod, brown trout and rainbow trout (note: not all species are stocked in all waters).
FISHCARE COME AND TRY FISHING CLINICS
Fishcare Victoria regularly host a number of Come and Try Fishing Clinic’s for families to get hooked on fishing. Clinic’s are often hosted at locations including Altona Pier, Maribyrnong River, St Kilda Pier, Mornington Pier and Lakes Entrance. Check out Fishcare Victoria’s Facebook page for a list of upcoming events.
GOLDEN TAG COMPETITION
The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Golden Tag competition gives fishers the opportunity to reel in a fish worth either $2,000 or $10,000. The tagged fish have been stocked in waters across the state and a range of species are included. To check out the included waterways, visit their website here.
FIND A STOCKED FISHERY
The Victorian Fisheries Authority have stocked over 250 waterways across the state which means there are are ample opportunities to reel in a fish. Over the summer, native fish are stocked across the state. Natives are now also stocked into metro-lakes so you can reel in a mighty Murray Cod close to home. You can check out their Fish Stocking Database to see which fish have been stocked into your favourite waterway.
LET’S MAKE FISHING BETTER
While you’re out fishing, if you have any ideas on how we can make your fishing even better, get in contact with us! You can send us an email via [email protected] – let us know how your fishing is going, what the fishing is like at your favourite waterway, any stocking you’d like to see, and any other suggestions that can make your fishing better.
When you are sharing your photos online, don’t forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram! Use #VRFish so we can see your photos – we just love to see where the fish are biting.
