The bass just keeps getting bigger and better in Gippsland
by Tom Whitty 4 Jan 2018 15:42 AEDT
Australian Bass © DPI
Recreational anglers in Gippsland have welcomed in the New Year with a record stocking of more than 454,000 Australian bass fingerlings into 19 rivers and lakes.
Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford was in Orbost today and said the new record would deliver long-lasting benefits for freshwater fishers, nearly tripling the previous record of 162,000 bass fingerlings released in 2016. Australian bass are an iconic sportfish and through the Andrews Labor Government's Target One Million plan we are accelerating the development of these fisheries which will deliver direct benefits to anglers and regional businesses that depend on tourism.
Bass stockings in Gippsland have gone from strength to strength since its commencement in 2002 and there are now several supreme fisheries including Blue Rock Lake and Lake Glenmaggie. The 454,000 bass, which were grown at a private hatchery in Narooma using wild brood stock collected in Gippsland, have been released into:
- Snowy River - 90,000
- Tambo River - 27,500
- Timbarra River - 20,000
- Mitchell River - 110,000
- Wonnangatta River - 40,000
- Avon River - 9,000
- Blue Rock Lake - 30,000
- Lake Glenmaggie - 35,000
- Macalister River - 43,500
- Thomson River - 15,000
- Lake Narracan - 5,000
- Tyers River - 5,000
- Cowwarr Weir - 4,000
- Freestone Creek - 3,000
- Lake Hyland - 3,000
- Rainbow Creek - 3,000
- Lake Guthridge - 7,500
- Traralgon Creek - 2,000
- Valencia Creek - 2,000
Anglers can expect to hear more in coming months about the release of four million native fish this summer including Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, alongside species of conservation significance such as Macquarie perch and trout cod.
For more information about Australian bass stocking visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/bassstocking
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
"Right across the state, fish stocking records continue to be broken. We're proud to lead the charge right here in East Gippsland, helping more anglers reel in a catch of the day more often."
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
"There's never been a better time to get into the great outdoors and experience the very best that our Gippsland lakes, rivers and freshwater creeks have to offer."