Fishing & Aquaculture

		Angling Waters of the Mitchell River Basin
			MITCHELL RIVER BASIN MAP (PDF 126Kb)
			CLIFTON CREEK
			CROOKED RIVER
			DARGO RIVER
			HUMFFRAY RIVER
			MITCHELL RIVER
			MOROKA RIVER
			PROSPECT CREEK
			VICTORIA LAKE
			WENTWORTH RIVER
			WONGUNGARRA RIVER
			WONNANGATTA RIVER
			SPOTTED TREE FROG

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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Mitchell River Basin 24
MANAGEMENT | DIVERSIONS | HERITAGE | FISH STOCKING | BEST FISHING WATERS | THREATENED FISH | ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | SPOTTED TREE FROG

Wonnangatta River

The headwater tributaries such as the Wonnangatta and Wongungarra Rivers are large waterways with usually a reliable and high annual flow. The forests vary from tall mixed species in the far north to mixed species of predominantly low forest in the south. There is conventional vehicle access to the Lower Mitchell River, and the lower Wonnangatta and Dargo Rivers from the Bairnsdale/Dargo Road.

There are gravel roads to the Crooked and Wentworth Rivers and most other waters can only be reached by 4WD vehicles. Brown trout are the main angling species with occasional fish to 2.5kg. Eels and river blackfish are the other freshwater angling species. Australian bass are an important angling species in the mid- lower reaches.

Management

Fisheries Victoria, DPI, manages stocking and fisheries policy, and the Gippsland Fisheries, DPI, manages compliance with fisheries regulations and angler contact. The Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy has identified the Dargo, Wonnangatta and Mitchell Rivers as mixed species waters, and the Wentworth River for salmonids. East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is responsible for catchment management. Gippsland & Southern Rural Water Authority manages irrigation and rural diversion. East Gippsland Region Water Authority manages urban water diversion. Streamflow Management Plans are being prepared for the Mitchell River and could be operating by June 2003.

Diversions

Water is pumped from the Mitchell River at Glenaladale for use in Bairnsdale and Lindenow.

Heritage River Areas, Natural Catchment Areas and Representative Rivers

The Wonnangatta River and the Mitchell River (Wonnangatta headwaters to Lake King) have been listed as Heritage River Areas. Small areas of Pinnacle Creek, Blue Rag Creek, Punchen Creek and the Wongungarra River headwaters have been listed as Natural Catchment Areas.

Ramsar Sites

The Gippsland Lakes, which are the receiving body for all water flowing out of this Basin, are listed as wetlands of international significance under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971).

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

There are no outstanding waters in this basin but under the right conditions, (cooler, wet summers which provide good growth rates) most rivers can provide good fishing.

Freshwater Fish in the Basin

Rivers in this Basin are generally noted for the predominance of native fish species. Usually brown trout is the only introduced fish present. Carp are restricted to the lower Mitchell River. There is a very large population of Australian grayling in the Mitchell River, which has a very high conservation value. Australian grayling occur in most of the tributary rivers.

Threatened Fish Species

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has listed the Australian grayling as Vulnerable. It is also listed under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Environmental Condition of Waterways

The rivers flow mostly through forest and consequently are in good to excellent environmental condition. They have a riffle/pool structure with a stable substrate and banks, native riparian vegetation and little sedimentation. However smaller streams in cleared land around Dargo and particularly in the south of the Basin are in poor or very poor condition, with no riparian trees, some bank erosion and resulting sedimentation of the channel.

© The State of Victoria