Fishing & Aquaculture

		Angling Waters of the East Gippsland Basin
			EAST GIPPSLAND BASIN MAP (PDF 141Kb)
			BARRACOUTA LAKE
			BEMM RIVER
			BETKA RIVER
			CANN RIVER
			COMBIENBAR RIVER
			ERRINUNDRA RIVER
			GENOA RIVER
			GOOLENGOOK RIVER
			LITTLE RIVER Sydenham Inlet
			MALLACOOTA INLET
			MARAMINGO CREEK
			MUELLER RIVER
			SWAN LAKE
			SYDENHAM INLET
			TAMBOON INLET
			THURRA RIVER
			TONGHI CREEK
			WALLAGARAUGH RIVER
			WAU WAUKA LAKE
			WINGAN INLET
			WINGAN RIVER
			ESTUARY PERCH

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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East Gippsland Basin 21
MANAGEMENT | DIVERSIONS | HERITAGE | FISH STOCKING | BEST FISHING WATERS | FISH SPECIES | THREATENED FISH | ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | ESTUARY PERCH

Genoa River

The area is isolated and fishing trips to some rivers require 4WD vehicles and maps. Angling in the freshwater is generally poor because of a lack of larger-sized angling species. Australian bass are abundant only in the Genoa and Bemm Rivers. Most fishing is carried out in the estuaries of which Mallacoota Inlet is the most productive.

Management

Fisheries Victoria, DPI, manages stocking and fisheries policy. Gippsland Fisheries, DPI, manages compliance with fisheries regulations and angler contact. The Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy has listed Bemm, Cann, Genoa and Wallagaraugh Rivers as native fish waters. Catchment Management is the responsibility of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. East Gippsland Region Water Authority handles urban water. Gippsland & Southern Rural Water Authority manage irrigation and rural water. Streamflow Management Plans: No plans are currently being prepared for any waters in the Basin.

Diversions

Water is pumped from the Bemm River to Bemm River township, from the Cann River to Cann River township and from the Betka River to Mallacoota township.

Heritage River Areas, Natural Catchment Areas and Representative Rivers

The Genoa River, Bemm River, Goolengook River (from its headwaters), Arte River (from Glen Arte Road) and Errinundra River (from headwaters of east branch; upper reaches to the sea), have been listed as Heritage River Areas. The Thurra River is a Representative River of East Victorian dissected uplands and riverine plains. Natural Catchment Areas are Red and Benedore Rivers and Shipwreck, Seal and Easby Creeks in the Croajingalong National Park, an area on Double Creek, an un-named tributary of Genoa River and an area of Winnot Creek.

Ramsar Sites

There are none in this Basin

Fish Stocking

The Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) fish stocking program is designed to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for:

• Desirable introduced species such as brown trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and Atlantic salmon, and
• Desirable native fish species such as golden perch, Murray cod, Australian bass and silver perch.

Stocking Plans for desirable species are developed annually as part of the regional consultation process involving VRFish representatives and various arms of DPI including Fisheries Victoria and Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic).

Up to date information can be found on the Fish Stocking section in Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Best Fishing Waters

Fish Species in the Basin

The large spiny crayfish is the Gippsland spiny crayfish, Euastacus kershawi. A smaller species is present, the East Gippsland spiny crayfish, Euastacus bidawalus, but it is restricted to a few small tributaries in this Basin. The freshwater fish communities in each river are usually native fish, with the smaller species most abundant. There are usually 9-12 native species present which is higher than the average for Victorian streams. Only three species (river blackfish, mountain galaxias and southern pygmy perch) spend their entire lives in freshwater. The other species either move into the estuary to spawn, or spawn in freshwater and their larvae are washed downstream into the estuary. Juvenile fish then migrate back into the rivers.

Threatened Fish Species

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has listed the Australian grayling and striped gudgeon as Vulnerable and Cox's gudgeon as Endangered. Australian grayling, freshwater herring and Cox's gudgeon are listed under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Environmental Condition of Waterways

This Basin contains some of the last substantial blocks of natural habitat in Victoria, particularly in Croajingolong National Park. Nearly 97% of the Basin is forested and 98% of the length of rivers are in good or excellent condition. The most serious areas of degradation are in the Cann River upstream and downstream of Cann River township and in the Genoa River downstream of the Princess Highway.

At these sites there is extensive build-up of sediment, resulting in shallowing of the river and loss of aquatic habitat. Waterways in the Basin are in near pristine condition and provide an excellent environment for various recreational activities. Although there are limited angling opportunities in the rivers, the estuaries compensate by providing good boat fishing in pleasant natural surroundings.

© The State of Victoria