Fishing trip turns out to be a costly affair for two Melbourne anglers

by Department of Primary Industries on 29 Jun 2010 Two Melbourne men are hundreds of dollars out of pocket after exceeding the bag limit for trout and using illegal bait near Buxton, earlier this year.

In March the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries Officers inspected the two men whilst fishing the Little Steavenson River, one of the men had in his possession 22 trout and other man had eleven – over three times the daily bag/possession limit. Both men were also using trout ova as bait.

DPI Prosecutor Sofia Jankovic told the court it was essential to abide by these regulations as the Little Steavenson River had been devastated by the 2009 bush fires and fish populations within such small streams will take time to rehabilitate.

She said it was small stream not readily accessible to the public, which mainly contained rainbow and brown trout.

In the Broadmeadows Court a 53 year old man from Epping was fined $800 and ordered to pay $63 costs, his companion a 51 year old from Mill Park, was fined $400 with $57 costs.

The court heard neither man had any explanation for exceeding the bag limit or using ova as bait. Magistrate Collins told the two men that they need to know what the catch limits are, that fish are a community resource and that their actions impact on us all. They apologised and said they had learned from their mistakes.

Anglers are reminded that the Goulburn River and all inflowing tributary streams between Eildon Pondage and the Trawool Bridge near Seymour are now seasonally closed to all hook and line fishing due to the salmonid closed season, they re-open midnight on Friday, September 3, 2010.

A state-wide closed season also applies for the taking or possession of salmonids in rivers and streams from midnight June 14, to midnight on Friday September 3, with the exception of some sea run trout rivers.

The salmonid closed season does not apply for Victorian Lakes and impoundments however bag and in some cases size limits, do apply. Anglers are encouraged to check the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide which is available from most retail tackle outlets.

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24-hour reporting line 13-FISH (13 3474).

For more information, please go to: www.dpi.vic.gov.au