Victorian anglers enjoy a close proximity to diverse recreational fishing opportunities ranging from freshwater fishing in our lakes and rivers to estuarine and saltwater fishing in our bays, inlets and oceans.
Inland Victoria sustains a range of freshwater recreational fisheries. The most popular are introduced species such as trout and redfin, although anglers are increasingly targeting native species such as golden perch, Murray cod and Australian bass. All of these fish species, other than redfin, are stocked regularly by Fisheries Victoria to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for anglers. Yabbies and spiny freshwater crayfish are also popular but are not stocked by Fisheries Victoria.
In addition, Victoria's bays, inlets and oceans provide some of the State's most productive recreational fisheries for species such as snapper, King George whiting, flathead, bream, calamari and Australian salmon. These species are most often caught by hook and line. Other popular species such as scallops, abalone and rock lobster are also taken by recreational divers.
Important current topics in Victorian recreational fishing
Creating an enhanced Macquarie perch fishery
Outcomes of a cross-jurisdiction workshop to create a Victorian stock-enhanced Macquarie perch fishery.
New Recreational Fishing Grants Working Group
Nominate to join this Working Group and have a greater say in how fishing licence fees are spent.
Illegal take for sale
Anglers selling their recreational catch to restaurants, the markets and other sectors of the food service industry is a major problem.
Lead sinkers and your health (PDF 97KB)
Making lead sinkers could be harmful to you and you family's health
Bushfire Recovery Project Interim Report (PDF 96KB)
A summary of research completed as part of a Fisheries Victoria bushfire recovery project has been released via an interim report.
Murray cod Management Arrangements
Information about the recent listing of Murray cod as a Priority Species and read a paper that outlines challenges, opportunities and future management direction for the Murray cod fishery.
Stream Classification Model
View a model that has been developed to classify streams as ‘native’, ‘salmonid’ or ‘mixed fisheries’.
Fisheries Notes
From time to time, information about fisheries management, fish species and research projects are summarised into these handy, downloadable Fisheries Notes. One recent Fisheries Note is listed below.
| Brown trout - inland recreational species
Snapper - marine recreational species |
