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Research & Education: Merri & Hopkins Rivers' Brown Trout Fisheries Provide Quality | FN0594 |
John Douglas, PIRVic, Snobs Creek
January 2007
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The upper Merri and Hopkins rivers provide important recreational fishing opportunities in Victoria’s south-west and reward the tenacious angler with quality brown trout, according the results of a new creel survey.
Located in south-west Victoria, the Merri and Hopkins rivers flow through farmland before entering the sea near Warrnambool (see map right) and have a reputation for being good brown trout fisheries.
Fisheries Victoria annually stocks yearling brown trout into the upper Merri River, the Hopkins River and its major tributary Mt Emu Creek to enhance these trout fisheries.
Scientists from DPI’s research arm, Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), funded by Fisheries Victoria, undertook a year-long investigation of the performance of the brown trout fisheries in the:
- upper Merri (extending from the weir to Grassmere);
- the Hopkins River (from Allansford to Ellerslie); and
- Mt Emu Creek (to Garvoc).
In the survey fisheries scientists, led by PIRVic’s John Douglas, spent around 800 hours interviewing 137 anglers to determine the:
- origin of the anglers;
- species targeted;
- method of fishing;
- number of fish caught, retained and returned to the water;
- contribution that stocked fish (fin-clipped) make to the catch;
- fishing method (boat or shore);
- time spent fishing; and
- level of angler experience.
The results indicated that more than 50% of anglers fishing the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers were locals from Warrnambool and the surrounding areas, though these fisheries do draw anglers from further afield including interstate, particularly South Australia.
Anglers fishing in the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers mainly targeted brown trout (74%) and eels (11%). Some anglers were happy to catch anything (8%).
Lure fishing (45% of anglers), bait fishing (37%) and fly fishing (12%) were the preferred methods of fishing. The majority used only one line, but 16% used two which is the maximum permissible in inland waters.
During the period of the salmonid open season, anglers fishing in the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers caught an estimated 263 brown trout, 228 eels and 1 yellow eye mullet.
The estimated retained catch was 180 brown trout (68% retained) and 195 eels (85% retained).
Anglers returned fish principally because they were undersize (33%) or excess to their needs (25%).
It is estimated that stocking contributes significantly to the fishery with 186 of the 263 brown trout being fin-clipped (70%).
When considered in the light of the annual stocking rate, 186 fish equates to a return of 3.5% which although low, is not particularly unusual in riverine brown trout fisheries. |
Brown trout caught in the Merri and Hopkins rivers (photos courtesy of Scott Gray) |
The ages of the brown trout caught over the survey period ranged from 1 year to 5 years old.
All anglers interviewed in the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers were shore based.
The total fishing effort in the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers was estimated at 3837 angling hours. Anglers caught 0.13 fish per hour, which means that, on average, it would take between 7 and 8 hours to catch a fish (brown trout, eel or mullet).
The catch rate for brown trout was calculated at 0.07 brown trout per angler hour in the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers. That equates to over 14 hours fishing for one trout.
“While this catch rate is on the low side,” John Douglas, the study’s Project Leader says, “they are comparable to other stocked brown trout fisheries. For example in Lake Bullen Merri, also in south-west Victoria, the catch rate for brown trout was 0.03 fish per angler hour.”
Most importantly, the survey showed that low catch rates do not deter anglers, who rate the overall performance of the fisheries ‘good’ and suggests that anglers appear to be targeting these waters as they produce high quality brown trout.
One third of the brown trout measured and weighed from the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers measured over 50cm and weighed more than 1.5kg.
Active and regular anglers were the most successful in capturing brown trout from upper Merri and Hopkins rivers, accounting for 59% of the brown trout caught during the survey period.
Overall, the upper Merri and Hopkins rivers support low yielding, but high quality stocked brown trout fisheries for experienced anglers.
Further Information
For more information about this project, please contact Mr John Douglas at, PIRVic Snobs Creek on (03) 5770 8000.
Fisheries Research and Education Notes are available on the DPI website. The notes are listed under the heading Research and Education.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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