Fishing & Aquaculture

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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Fish Species Mentioned in this Guide

Atlantic Salmon Freshwater Catfish Australian Bass Golden Perch Black Bream Macquarie Perch Brown Trout Murray Cod Carp Rainbow Trout Chinook Salmon River Blackfish Eels Silver Perch English Perch Trout Cod Estuary Perch

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
Common Name:	Atlantic salmon
Other Name/s:	Salmon, grilse
Family:	Salmonidae
Scientific Name:	Salmo salar (Linnaeus, 1758)
Origin:	Introduced
The classification of "introduced" reflects its translocation to Australia and Victoria, and this category is noted in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (introduced to Australia after 1788 AD).

Description
Adult Atlantic salmon are a streamlined and graceful fish, with a slender caudal peduncle (the 'wrist' of the tail) which supports a slightly forked tail. They have small black spots scattered on the body (usually "x" shaped), the tail is usually unspotted and the adipose fin is not black bordered. Their mouth is moderately large, and extends only to a point below the rear of the eye.

Atlantic salmon are predominantly silver with a darkish blue-green back, but may be almost totally silver or a dark grey colouration in freshwater impoundments. Colour also varies with lifecycle stage and gender with maturing adults becoming darker as spawning time approaches.

Can be diagnosed as different from brown trout in having no large teeth in the mid-line of the roof of the mouth (brown trout do have such teeth).

Distribution
Principal populations in Victoria were stocked into Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri (near Camperdown in south-western Victoria) during 2000-2003 when Chinook salmon stocks were unavailable. Due to the previous success of Chinook salmon in both of these waters, stocking of Atlantic salmon is likely to be reduced as Chinook salmon stock become available once again. No self-supporting populations of either salmon species have established.

Habitat
As the name suggests, Atlantic salmon are native to the Northern hemisphere. Their natural freshwater habitat consists of relatively large cool rivers and interconnected water bodies with extensive gravel bottomed headwaters (some landlocked populations exist in Russia, Scandinavia and the U.S.).

In Victorian waters, Atlantic salmon have been stocked into two fertile western Victorian lakes (see distribution). In these landlocked conditions Atlantic salmon are easily confused with large brown trout.

Brief Biology
Atlantic salmon undergo a complex reproductive cycle. In their natural habitat, they are usually (see habitat) an anadromous species (ie. spend part of their life-cycle in both fresh and salt water), living in temperate coastal freshwater rivers fringing the north Atlantic Ocean for the first 1-6 years of their life. Then migrating to sea where they live for 1-4 years before returning to their river of origin to spawn.

Their life cycle climaxes as the female excavates a nest, called the "redd", by using her tail to create a depression for egg deposition, and subsequent fertilisation by a courted male. The eggs, roughly the size of a pea, are usually buried to a depth of 10-25cm.

Whilst some fish perish during the spawning period, most survive, and return to the sea; with a small proportion returning to spawn again in successive years. Wild fish average between 2-10kg (35.89kg is the world rod-caught record) and have been known to live for as long as 13 years.

Under hatchery conditions, naturally mature fish are stripped of their eggs and milt (sperm), and the offspring are then reared and released into suitable receiving waters as yearlings. Commercial aquaculture of this species is well developed.

Victoria's recreational Atlantic salmon fishery consists entirely of landlocked fish. Growth in freshwater is generally slow, and in western Victorian lakes, fish average between 1-3kg. These fish are opportunistic feeders and prey mainly on the small galaxias that are plentiful in Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri. Anglers report catching Atlantic salmon on gudgeon also.

Management
Atlantic salmon are purchased as yearlings from commercial fish farms and are stocked into selected waters.

Other Notes
The Atlantic salmon is regarded as the "king" of sportfish by many salmonid anglers. Unfortunately, the abundance of wild stock has declined rapidly over the past decades as a result of habitat degradation and overexploitation. Because of the strong market demand, an active aquaculture industry, has been developed worldwide.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and regulations affecting the taking of Atlantic salmon in Victoria are available in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Salmon at the Antipodes, John Clements

Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) Often confused with Estuary Perch; the body of Australian Bass is not as deep, is usually less glossy and has darker marking on the sides. The anal and pelvic fins have white tips, and the rear part of the pelvic fin has a white margin.
Common Name:	Australian bass
Other Name/s:	Freshwater perch, Perch, Freshwater perch, Perch, Eastern Freshwater Perch
Family:	Percichthyidae
Scientific Name:	Macquaria novemaculeata (Steindachner, 1866)
Origin:	Native

Description
Tapered snout. Moderately large eyes on the side of the head. A large, oblique mouth extending to below the middle of the eye in adult fish. Lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw. Dark olive-green or grey on the back and upper body, lighter on the sides, yellowish-white to silver on the belly. Upper and lower rear fins often have white edges. Fins are generally greyish to colourless, and translucent. Usually a very distinct lateral line, following the upper body profile. Often has a red eye colour when freshly caught, which fades quickly after removal from water.

Distribution
Coastal species, occurring in Victoria eastwards from Wilsons Promontory, but rarely reported west of the Promontory. Several fish taken from the Yarra River below Dights Falls. Not common as the Victorian populations are the southern limit of wider and more abundant distribution in New South Wales and Queensland. Populations tend to be small in number in Gippsland.

Australian bass have been located by departmental surveys in at least 21 rivers. Surveys from 1975-80 and in 1993/94 revealed some information on Australian bass but much is yet unknown. Adult Australian bass 55cm in length and 14years old have been captured in Gippsland. Surveys caught most Australian bass in areas of boulder and gravel pools. The species is readily caught with hook and line or by lures but the resource is probably under-utilized at present. Stocking of the species in inland lakes elsewhere in Victoria may result in more interest in angling for this species.

Habitat
Victorian coastal rivers and lakes, it appears to be much more tolerant of fresh water than Estuary Perch and moves far upstream.

Brief Biology
Known to reach 575 mm in length and 3.4 kg in weight, but most commonly taken in Victoria between 750g and 1 kg. Moves from fresh water to estuaries to breed, with a spawning season from June to September in water temperatures 14-20oC.

Successful breeding appears to require water salinity levels of between 12,000 and 15,000 p.p.m. Body colour may change with sexual maturity.

Males appear to mature at a smaller size than females. Eggs are transparent and non-adhesive. Young fish hatch within 5 days and soon begin feeding. The Australian Bass is carnivorous, feeding in estuaries mainly on shrimps, insects, worms and smaller fishes. In fresh water it will feed on insects falling onto the water surface and a variety of organisms living on or near the bottom such as insects, crustaceans, tadpoles and small fish. Stomachs of Australian bass taken in Gippsland were found to contain mostly (80-98%) shrimp and prawns, with fish remains (2-11%) and also various quantities of aquatic insects.

Other Notes
An excellent angling species, although much of the Victorian population is relatively inaccessible because of access to the streams. Specimens trapped in impoundments have been known to live for more than 15 years. Species can now be produced in hatcheries.

One of the best sport fish in south-eastern Australia, although it is not a major fishery in Victoria. Readily caught on artificial lures and a variety of baits. An aggressive feeder and a vigorous fighting fish on the line.

Dams on coastal streams are affecting seasonal movements and possibly survival of populations in some streams.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and the regulations affecting the taking of Australian Bass in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmid
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor.

Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)
Common Name:	Black bream
Other Name/s:	Southern Black Bream, Southern Bream
Family:	Sparidae
Scientific Name:	Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro, 1949)
Origin:	Native

Description
Robust, deep body. Single dorsal fin. Sharply rounded snout, moderate sized mouth which reaches back to level with the rear of the eye. Moderate sized eye situated high on the side of the head. Upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw, both jaws have well developed teeth. Large scales on the body. Prominent lateral line. Gold-brown to bronze, with greenish iridescence on the back and sides. Head is darker, often brown-blue to brown-purple. Underside, including chin, is usually creamy white. Fins are dusky brown.

Distribution
Common in all coastal drainages.

Habitat
Strictly an estuarine and freshwater fish, rarely found in the sea. Occurs in a variety of habitats: in estuaries over sand-gravel bottoms, soft mud flats and in weedy areas, the lower reaches of large rivers, and in coastal lakes.

Brief Biology
Can reach 60 cm and 4 kg, although commonly smaller. Black bream become sexually mature at 3-4 years of age.

Available data indicates that it takes approximately 9 years for bream to reach the legal minimum length of 26 cm. Spawning season is between August and January, occurring first in eastern Victoria then progressively to the west. Salinities of 11,000 to 18,000 p.p.m. are required for spawning to occur. Mature females can produce between 1-3 million eggs which are very small and hatch in about 2 days. Omnivorous, feeding on shellfish, worms, crustaceans, small fish and plant material including algae.

Other Notes
Rarely found at sea, although some limited movement between estuaries appears to occur. An important recreational and commercial species and a tasty food fish.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and the regulations affecting the taking of black bream in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
Common Name:	Brown trout
Other Name/s:	Sea trout
Family:	Salmonidae
Scientific Name:	Salmo trutta (Linnaeus, 1758)
Origin:	Introduced
The classification of "introduced" reflects its translocation to Australia and Victoria, and this category is noted in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (introduced to Australia after 1788 AD).

Description
Thick body with a large head, and a large mouth extending backwards to below the eye. A very distinct lateral line with 110-120 scales. Tail fin is slightly forked.
Colour varies considerably, reflecting age of fish, habitat and food, usually brown to olive on the upper body. Dark spots on the upper body, upper fins and gill covers. Below the lateral line body colour is lighter with some red spots.

Many brown trout have a red halo around the larger dark spots. Few if any spots on the tail.
Sea run fish such as occur in Port Phillip Bay may be olive-green on the back, with silvery sides and very few and indistinct spots on the sides.

Distribution
Widespread and common through much of Victoria. Self-maintaining populations exist in many waters.

Habitat
Cool, well-oxygenated waters, usually in gravel-bottomed streams with a moderate to swift
flow, but also in cool, clear lakes and impoundments. Optimum temperature range 4-19oC. Some brown trout in coastal streams move out to sea, and small numbers are taken in Port Phillip Bay.

Good quality brown trout can only be produced in rivers where habitat conditions are suitable. Extensive local and overseas research has identified the types of habitat preferred by trout and which give the best spawning success and survival, as well as fast growth rates, resulting in good numbers of larger fish. The ideal trout stream should have spawning areas of gravel, with water depths 20-100 cm deep and fast flowing water, 30-100 centimetres per second (cm/sec).

Water temperature during the spawning season (May/June) should be about 2-12oC. Adult brown trout prefer to rest against the bank, protected from overhead view, and in water more than 45cm deep but with water velocities between 5 and 30cm/sec. They prefer to move, feed and forage in water more than 45cm deep, although they can pass through barriers and riffles with shallower water. Extensive areas of water over 70cm deep will facilitate good growth rates resulting in numbers of large-sized fish. Extensive areas of coarse substrate (gravel and rubble) in water 20-100cm deep, and with water velocities of 30-100cm/sec, will produce good quantities of macroinvertebrates (eg mudeyes, mayfly, stonefly, snails and shrimp) to provide food for fish growth.

The optimum water temperature range for best metabolism of this food and therefore maximum growth is from 7-17oC. Juvenile trout seek cover and protection from larger predatory fish by living in riffles with coarse substrate and water depths of 15-45cm. The juvenile trout avoid the higher water velocities, which often occur in the riffles, by sheltering within the coarse substrate.

Any river in Victoria with such conditions will produce good numbers of large brown trout. The most significant limiting factors in the production of large brown trout in Victorian rivers are high water temperatures and a scarcity of water over 70cm deep. The reason why the Kiewa River produces good numbers and size of brown trout is that their preferred habitat conditions are present in this river. Closed seasons, bag limits or size limits help to share the catch; stocking is useful if spawning has failed but, in the absence of good habitat, regulations or stocking won't result in good numbers of large river trout in the anglers creel.

Brief Biology
Spawning occurs, usually at three years of age, during autumn-winter often following a flood, typically in small tributaries with gravel beds. Males may become sexually mature at 2 years of age.

Female fish excavates depressions in the stream bed with her tail. Females lay an average of 1,600 eggs for each kg of body weight. After spawning eggs are covered by dislodging gravel upstream of the spawning site. Mature males develop a curved bottom jaw that develops into a hook.
Eggs may take about 6 weeks to hatch, and require high levels of dissolved oxygen for successful hatching. Newly hatched fish have a prominent eggs sac and may remain in the gravel for 4-6 weeks as alevains before emerging and commencing to feed.

Brown trout are carnivorous and largely a sight feeder, young fish feeding throughout the water column, the more mature fish feeding mainly on the bottom. Diet includes insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms and small fish such as minnows (galaxiids).

Few brown trout in Victoria live beyond 5-6 years.

Management
The brown trout fishery in Victoria is roughly divided into two parts. The eastern half of Victoria has mainly self-supporting populations which exist where suitable habitat is available, which most suitable waters in the western half of the State depend on stocking with hatchery-produced fish.

Other Notes
Introduced to Australia via Tasmania in 1864 through the first successful importation of fertilised eggs after more than 20 years of efforts by various persons and groups.
May exceed 1 metre in length and 16 kg in weight in its native habitat of Europe and Western Asia, and is known to have reached 900 mm and 14 kg in Australia, but the species in Victoria is commonly much smaller, achieving weights of up to 8 kg.

Given good habitat and food, brown trout develop rapidly in the second and third years. Considered to be a "residential" fish as it is very territorial and mature fish are likely to stay in a limited area for their lifetime. Brown trout appears to dominate rainbow trout in waters where both species exist naturally or have been stocked.
Many naturally self-supporting populations of brown trout occur in Victoria, and quite a few of these populations have reached numbers of fish which over-tax the available food supply. This results in either populations of fish that continue to grow but the majority of fish are poor in condition (e.g. Lake Dartmouth, Lake Eildon), or stunted populations which may contain 2 and 3-year-old fish of 275-400g (e.g. Cobungra R., Jim Crow Creek)

Current Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and the regulations affecting the taking of brown trout in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Salmonids in the Antipodes, John Clements

Description
Stocky fish, with a moderate sized head and a triangular, scaleless, blunt snout. Moderate sized mouth, with no teeth on the jaws, the upper jaw protrudes slightly. Usually four barbels or whiskers present; two long, one at each corner of the mouth, two short, one at each end of the upper lip. Large, thick scales. Strong, saw-edged spine at the front of the dorsal fin. Olive-green to golden upper body, but there are many colour variations including black. Paler sides and usually a silvery-yellow belly. Fins are opaque, dark, usually with reddish edges.

Distribution
Widespread and common in south-eastern Victoria and waters of the Murray-Darling system. Occurs in other systems and waters in western and south-western Victoria. Extremely common in many localities, but absent east of the Snowy River.

Habitat
All types of water bodies, being able to survive a wide range of water temperatures (5-32oC), very low oxygen levels, and clear to very dirty water.

Usually most abundant in still or slow flowing water. Can survive in water quality situations too poor to support most other fish species, and can survive for several hours out of water in damp conditions.

Brief Biology
This species can grow to more than 1 m in length and exceed 60 kg in weight. In Victoria it has been recorded at 11 kg.

The carp is omnivorous and can adapt its feeding behaviour and diet to feed by a sucking action, straining bottom mud for insects and detritus, or taking insects and other food items, including small plants, from the water surface. Males mature at 2-4 years, females 3-5 years. Females produce large numbers of small eggs. There is no migration associated with spawning, which normally occurs in spring and early summer. Spawning takes place in shallow water with much surface action; this activity and splashing spreads the adhesive eggs. Young fish hatch about 5 days later. Large females may breed more than once in a season. Spawning success and growth of fish varies considerably, depending on water conditions.

Other Notes
The carp is native to Asia but it has been spread by man to all continents except Antarctica. A very active swimmer, it is able to negotiate flood flows in rivers and jump barriers up to 1 metre in height.

The majority of carp in Victorian waters are referred to as the "Boolara group", arising from introduction of fish to Victoria in 1960 and their subsequent distribution by man. Carp have subsequently been found to travel long distances, up to 1,000 km.

Carp have been blamed as a major contributor to the decline of native fish populations in northern stream systems through their explosive spread and abundance in the late 1960's-early 1970's, but it is fair to say that this rapid expansion of carp reflected its ability to colonise suitable waters. Native fish had already suffered declines in range and abundance before the introduction of carp, largely through the impact of man on the aquatic habitat.

A major Victorian research program during the 1970's assessed means of control, and made detailed studies of carp behaviour and impact on waterways and other fishes. In summary, no means of practical control was identified, and carp were assessed generally as being a nuisance which would have to be accepted.

Other varieties
Other varieties of carp occur in Victorian waters, including:

The declaration of "noxious" fish does not mean that the species cannot be fished for, or eaten. Carp are widely fished for, and the flesh is enjoyed by many people, with a variety of methods of preparation and cooking.

Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and regulations affecting the taking of carp are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading

A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Common Name:	Chinook salmon
Other Name/s:	Quinnat salmon, King salmon, Spring salmon
Family:	Salmonidae
Scientific Name:	Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum, 1792)
Origin:	Introduced
The classification of "introduced" reflects its translocation to Australia and Victoria, and this category is noted in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (introduced to Australia after 1788 AD).

Description
Streamlined body, with conical head. Snout rather more pointed than other salmonids (brown trout, rainbow trout). Small eye, slightly oblique mouth extending well back behind the eye in adult fish. Mouth greatly deformed in ripe adult males, turned up at the tip and unable to be closed. Well developed teeth on both jaws. Small scales. Broad tail fin with pointed tips.

Predominantly silver, upper body colour is usually bluish green to olive, with lighter sides and silvery belly, although the entire body can be silvery on a freshly caught fish.

At least a few, and sometimes many small black spots on the back, and the top and tail fins. Eyes are usually olive to gold. Readily distinguished from other Victorian salmonids by the dusky grey-black colour inside the mouth alongside the teeth in lower jaw.

Distribution
Principal populations in Victoria 1976-1995 were in Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri (near Camperdown in south-western Victoria) until the total failure of the salmonid fishery in Lake Bullen Merri. Trial releases 1936-1983 into other lakes were not successful but stocking of Lake Modewarre and Lake Murdeduke have produced good results, particularly in the latter lake. Some fish stocked into Lake Purrumbete escape into the Curdies River but are rarely caught in that stream or its estuary. Some escapees from fish farms have been found in other Victorian streams, but no self-supporting populations have established.

Habitat
Natural habitat is the cool, fast-flowing streams of western North America and the ocean. In Victoria, initially in the two deep, cool, volcanic lakes mentioned, but the shallower Lake Murdeduke has supported good populations.

Brief Biology
Natural migratory stocks in North America have recorded fish of 1.6 metres and nearly 60 kg. Land-locked stocks in Victoria have been known to produce fish of 89 cm and 11.4 kg (Lake Bullen merri, 1981), but fish in Victorian waters are generally smaller.

In natural circumstances, young and adult fish spend most of their life at sea, returning to their natal streams to spawn. Both males and females usually die after spawning. Mature, ripe males develop a very prominent hooked lower jaw, and colouring of both males and females darkens to black on some parts of the body. Body condition deteriorates markedly as spawning time nears.

Breeding in Victoria is by hatchery techniques of stripping eggs from ripe females and milt from ripe males, hatching and rearing the fish to a suitable size for release. Hatchery stock and released fish still retain the characteristic dying after spawning or attempted spawning.

Carnivorous, feeding on small fish such as Galaxiids, crustaceans, molluscs and insects. Galaxiids are still abundant in Lake Bullen Merri even though the salmonid fishery has collapsed due to water quality. Galaxiids are now less abundant in Lake Purrumbete due to declining productivity of that lake and the combined predation impact of that lake's rainbow trout, chinook salmon and redfin population.

Management
Produced at the Department's Snobs Creek Hatchery (now operated under commercial lease) and several commercial fish farms and stocked into selected waters.

Other Notes
Native to North America, chinook salmon were first introduced to Australia in the 1870's. Occasional importations of eyed eggs maintained some fishing in selected Victorian lakes until 1966, when ova importation was used to successfully establish a hatchery brood stock from which have come all subsequent releases in Victoria. This action was taken due to an impending ban (subsequently implemented) on the importation of live salmonid fish and eggs into Australia because of disease risks.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and regulations affecting the taking of chinook salmon in Victoria are available in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Salmon at the Antipodes, John Clements

Short-finned Eel (Anguilla australis)
Common Name:	Short-finned eel
Other Name/s:	Silver eel, yellow eel
Family:	Anguillidae
Scientific Name:	Anguilla australis
Origin:	Native

Description
Long, tubular body with dorsal, tail and anal fins forming one fin. Small gill opening on each side of the head. Large mouth extending to below the small eye. vertical gill openings. Dorsal fin begins just forward of the anal fin. Back and sides may be olive-green or vary from pale green to olive-brown, sometimes with coppery tints above and silvery sides. Belly is greyish to silvery-white. Fin colour is dark like the back.

Distribution
Common and widespread in Victoria south of the Great Dividing Range, occurring occasionally in northern streams draining into the Murray River.

Habitat
Prefers low-lying swampy streams and lagoons. Although it occurs in a wide variety of habitats it is essentially a still-water species. Common in many southern Victorian lakes. Studies of tagged eels indicate that maturing adults in fresh water establish home ranges of about 400 m.

Brief Biology
Known to occur in Victoria to 1.1 m and 6.8 kg, but is usually smaller. Appears to go into hibernation if water temperature falls below 10oC. Hibernating or otherwise there are records of eels going without food for up to 10 months. Opportunistic omnivore although it is primarily carnivorous.

Adult eels are known to take fish of various types, worms, insects, small crustaceans, molluscs and water plants. Feeding appears to follow a seasonal pattern, being most intense at night in shoreline shallows during spring and summer. Mature migrating adults vary from 6 to 24 years of age, spending up to 14 years in fresh water. Spends most of its life cycle in fresh water and migrates downstream to spawn at sea when sexually mature.

General information for Victorian freshwater eel species
One of the most interesting features of Victorian freshwater eels, is the huge migration they make to a spot somewhere south east of New Guinea in the Coral Sea. This is the sole spawning site for all Australian and New Zealand freshwater eels, with some eels having to travel in excess of 3,000 kilometres to get there.
They begin their lives at this spawning site, at a depth of 200m, as tiny transparent larvae. They are carried southwards by the ocean currents that parallel the east coast of Australia, and swing east past Tasmania and then north to New Zealand. Along the way, they feed on microscopic organisms and develop into transparent, leaf-shaped larvae or leptocephali and eventually metamorphose into 'glass eels' which are eel-shaped, but extremely small and still transparent. At this stage, they move closer to land and commence migrating towards estuaries.

The ability of eels to reach Victorian waters is believed to be dependent on the formation of relatively erratic eddy currents, which split off from the main east Australian current and transport the developing larvae through Bass Strait. These currents break down before they reach the mouth of the Murray River and this is the reason for the natural absence of eels in the Murray River and its tributaries north of the Great Dividing Range. In years when these currents are strong, there is a massive arrival of glass eels along the Victorian coast, but in some years the currents are weak and very few glass eels arrive. Their attraction to an estuary depends on the ability of glass eels to detect freshwater flows from rivers. In years when river flows are low and estuaries may even be closed, recruitment of glass eels is correspondingly reduced or may be zero.

Short-finned glass eels enter estuaries mainly during mid winter to late spring, while long-finned glass eels enter estuaries from mid summer to late autumn. Short-finned eels spread along the entire Victoria coastline, while long finned eels are only found east of Wilsons Promontory. Some glass eels will quickly pass through the estuary and migrate upstream and others will remain in the estuaries for some time. They all gradually take on the dark pigmentation of freshwater eels and at this time they are known as elvers. Some elvers remain in the estuary until they mature, but most will migrate upstream in secondary migrations, known as 'eel fares', which involve glass eels and elvers of several age groups moving inland into rivers, creeks, lakes and swamps.

Male short-finned eels generally mature when eight to twelve years of age, whilst females mature in ten to twenty years and long-finned eels can take double this time to mature. At maturity, eels undergo a number of changes in preparation for the spawning migration. After a period of voracious feeding, and significant growth, their eyes become larger and their skin takes on a silvery appearance. Internally, their gonads begin to develop and their digestive system closes down and starts to degenerate, Now known as 'silver' eels, they migrate back to the sea during late summer and autumn. They quickly move into deeper water and in total darkness swim north against the current to reach the Coral Sea. By the time they arrive, they have basically used up all their energy resources and are little more than a skeleton with gonads. They spawn and die and their young commence the cycle over again.

The commercial fishery for eels utilises both species, in coastal waters from Mallacoota to Portland. However, the bulk of the activity is based on short-finned eels and takes place in the lakes and wetlands of the Western District. Much of the production depends on the eel fishers translocating large numbers of small eels from waters where conditions for growth are poor, to more favourable areas where they can grow to reach commercial size and condition over a number of years.
With a fishery that involves such a slow growth rate, a long life cycle, and where recruitment is so erratic and variable, it would be very easy for the stock to be overfished and for the fishery to collapse for long periods. This has not happened because entry to the fishery is tightly controlled, and the best waters have been exclusively allocated to individual fishers.

This encourages each operator to fish their water conservatively and ensures that, if they exercise restraint, they will be the one getting the benefit of it. In addition to this, there are many coastal streams that are totally closed to commercial eel fishing. Although this was done initially to ensure that platypus in these waters were not caught in nets, it also ensures that there is always an unexploited area to provide spawning stock to return to the sea. Another measure has been to ban all commercial and recreational exploitation of eels less than 30cm. There is a huge unsatisfied world demand for glass eels for aquaculture, and without tight control, the Australian resource could be quickly stripped to satisfy European and Asian requirements.

While the average angler may have little regard for the common eel, it certainly has a fascinating life cycle, and supports a significant and productive commercial fishery. When it is also considered how intensively anglers use many of the waters important to the commercial eel fishery, there has been a commendable lack of conflict between the two groups.

Long-finned Eel (Anguilla reinhardtii)
Common Name:	Long-finned eel
Other Name/s:	Spotted eel, "Conger eel" (wrongly)
Family:	Anguillidae
Scientific Name:	Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner, 1867
Origin:	Native

Description
Long, tubular body with dorsal, tail and anal fins forming one fin. Small gill opening on each side of the head. Broad head with thick fleshy lips. Large mouth extending back behind the eye. Dorsal fin starts well ahead of the anal fin. Colour of sides and back varies from olive-green to brownish with distinct blotching or mottling. Sides and belly are paler. When migrating seaward adults lose their spots and become bright silver.

Distribution
Common and widespread in eastern Victoria, south of the Great Dividing Range, east from Wilsons Promontory. Very rarely seen in other areas of Victoria.

Habitat
Although known to occur in a variety of habitats, it is reported to occur more often in rivers than in still waters.

Brief Biology
Reported to attain 2 m in length and more than 16 kg in weight. Generally individuals are much smaller, although lengths to 1 m are common. Principally carnivorous although some plant material is eaten. Large adults take a variety of prey ranging from insects to fish, although fish appear to be the main component of the diet.
Individual food items may be quite large, including one observation of a freshwater catfish of 1 kg being attacked. Feeding patterns follow the seasons, feeding is most intense at night during spring and summer. Upstream migrations of glass eels occur from January to May. Spends most of its life cycle in fresh water and migrates downstream to spawn at sea when sexually mature.

Other Notes
Good angling fish because of its size, the long-finned eel is taken easily at night on baited hooks. Less commercially important than the short-finned eel.

Further Notes (Both Species):
Full details of the life cycle of Australian eels are still not fully understood. Both eels are believed to spawn in the Coral Sea near New Caledonia. The transparent larvae (known as leptocephali) may spend 2 to 3 years at sea being transported southwards by the East Australian Current. They then change into glass eels (no pigmentation), lose their teeth, cease feeding for a period and move into estuarine areas.

Movement into fresh water is accompanied by increased size and rapid colouring, and they are now known as elvers. Upstream migration appears to be in response to a number of factors including falling salinity and rising water temperatures. Upstream migrations in Victoria occur from May in the east to October in the west. Migration usually occurs at night, the young eels remaining close to the banks and avoiding fast flowing water.

Groups of elvers frequently attract attention when they congregate at stream barriers such as weirs, dams or waterfalls. Many individuals overcome major barriers such as high, vertical, concrete, dam walls by climbing, adhering to the damp surfaces by friction and surface tension and undulating their bodies to move forward. Eels can travel across damp ground.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and regulations affecting the taking of Eels in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor

English Perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Common Name:	English perch
Other Name/s:	European perch, Redfin perch, Redfin
Family:	Percidae
Scientific Name:	Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758
Origin:	Introduced
The classification of "introduced" reflects its translocation to Australia and Victoria, and this category is noted in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (introduced to Australia after 1788 AD).

Description
Deep body with a large head. Large mouth reaching back to below the eye. Large body scales. Two dorsal fins, but no adipose fin. Tail is slightly forked. Upper body usually grey to olive-green, greenish to silvery sides, white belly. Six or more vertical dark bands across the back and sides, more prominent in younger fish. Dorsal (top) and tail fins are grey to green with a distinct black blotch of the front dorsal fin. Other fins and lower tail fin are usually bright orange or red.

Distribution
Widespread and common in many Victorian lakes and streams. Distribution appears to be limited by an upper water temperature of about 31oC. Can be very abundant locally.

Habitat
Occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including lakes, dams, billabongs, swamps and the slower-flowing reaches of rivers and streams. Prefers areas with abundant weed, vegetation or other cover such as rocks and fallen timber. Does not occur in fast waters and is usually absent from high altitude areas.

Brief Biology
Known to reach 50 cm in length and 10 kg in weight in Australia, most fish in Victoria are smaller, rarely exceeding 2.5 kg. Redfin are usually 2-3 years old before reaching sexual maturity, but some individuals have been found to be reproductively mature at 12 months of age and 20 cm in length. A female fish can produce up to 200,000 eggs. It is not hard to see how they have successfully colonised nearly all suitable waters in Victoria. An attempt has been made to exclude them from waters in Gippsland and even now they are restricted to only a few localities. Please assist by not using them as bait or stocking them into waters or dams. Adult fish spend most of their time on the substrate and close to cover such as rocks, debris and weed beds in rivers, so these are good places to drop your line.

Spawning occurs at night in late winter and spring (mid August to late October) when water temperatures reach 12oC, in quiet areas away from fast currents and often amongst aquatic vegetation and debris. Hatching occurs 7-8 days later, with juvenile fish schooling for some time before becoming solitary.

Other Notes
Native to temperate areas of Europe. Introduced to Australia by fish acclimatisation societies via Tasmania (1862) and Victoria (1868). A popular angling species, with good flesh.

Competes for food and space with native and introduced angling species. Redfin have impacted on native fish stocks by competition, and smaller native fish species through predation.

Redfin breed readily in still waters and tend to over-populate smaller bodies of water resulting in large populations of stunted fish. Redfin are now known to carry a lethal virus which in certain conditions can be transferred to other introduced fish, such as trout, and to native fish. For this reason the transfer of live redfin is discouraged Some native fish can also be affected at times.

They are carnivorous, taking a wide range of aquatic foods but the larger fish prefer yabbies and other fish. Baits are best presented on a running sinker or paternoster rig.
Redfin are also taken by spinning and trolling using a wide range of spinners and lures. Spinners with vibration and revolving flashing blades are always popular. Recommended trolling lures are McLaughlin's Galaxia Minnows, Flat Fish, Wonder Wobblers but many others work well. Jigging (moving a special lure up and down in the water) such as a Baltic Bobber or Demon Jig, near snags and submerged trees, can also be very productive. They can also be caught on wet flies

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and regulations affecting the taking of English perch in Victoria are available in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from Recreational Fishing Licence sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Salmon at the Antipodes, John Clements

Estuary Perch (Macquarie colonrum) Often confused with Australian Bass, but the body is deeper and less cylindrical, the snout is longer and more pointed, the body colour is usually paler and the tips of most fins are darker. Mouth is smaller.
Common Name:	Estuary perch
Other Name/s:	Perch, Gippsland Perch
Family:	Percichthyidae
Scientific Name:	Macquaria colonorum (Gunther, 1863)
Origin:	Native

Description
Forked tail. Concave (hollow) head profile. Fairly long, tapered snout. Eye is moderately large. Large, oblique mouth, with the gape reaching to below the middle of the eye. Lower jaw protrudes. Moderate scales which are also on the cheeks and gill covers. Prominent lateral line. Black to dark grey or olive-green, silvery on the back, becoming lighter on the sides. Whitish or silvery belly. Sometimes has purplish or reddish tints on the head. All fins are dark coloured, often with a greenish tinge.

Distribution
Coastal stream systems along the entire Victorian coast. Less common in Western Port and Port Phillip Bay though historically abundant. Abundant in most streams and estuaries where it occurs.

Habitat
Rivers and lakes, most common in estuaries and lower freshwater reaches of coastal streams. Most abundant in estuaries and tidal reaches. Seems to prefer deeper and more saline waters than Australian Bass, but regularly found in areas with less than 1,000 p.p.m. salinity.

Brief Biology
This species can grow up to 10 kg, but is commonly much smaller, usual weight range being 400g - 2 kg. Appears to prefer more saline and deeper water than Australian bass, but moves regularly into fresh waters.

Spawning occurs in the mouths of estuaries in salt water during July and August when water temperatures are be-tween 14 and 19oC. Carnivorous, eating small crustaceans and fish, bivalve molluscs and worms. Feeds closer to the bottom than Australian Bass.

This species of large estuarine fish is widely distributed (78% of waters) in coastal rivers and estuaries in eastern and western Victoria. Fish have been found to be up to 8-9 years old by which time they have reached 45cm in length and up to 1.8kg in weight. They are most abundant, grow fastest and live longest in deep-channeled rivers such as the Glenelg, Hopkins and Curdies in western Victoria and in the Tambo, Mueller, Bemm, Genoa and Wallagaraugh Rivers in Gippsland.

Adults spend all their life in brackish water although young fish (1-3 year old) have been found in fresh water on occasions. Adults usually live in low salinity waters in the upper reaches of estuaries but move into higher saline water (19,000EC) during July to December to spawn. Spawning starts earlier in Gippsland in July but not until mid October to early November in western Victoria. Eggs are laid on submerged rocks and beds of aquatic plants.

The later sites are important 'nursery areas' and carry an abundance of fingerling estuary perch. Their food supply is of particular importance to anglers as it gives a clue as to best baits. Fish remains formed 50% of the contents of stomachs examined during a major study by the Department between 1975 and 1980. Other food items were prawns and shrimps, which were found in 41% of all stomachs. It was concluded that estuary perch are mainly surface and mid-water feeders during winter and bottom feeders during summer.

Identified fish remains included 52% yellow-eye mullet and 22% gudgeon, with the remainder being tupong, pygmy perch, common galaxias, brown trout and short-finned eel. The conclusion from a second departmental study, completed in 1986, was that harvesting of this species by anglers was negligible and usually accidental.
Few anglers are adept at fishing for and catching estuary perch. Stocks are greatly under-exploited and provide opportunities for a very rewarding fishing experience. There are good numbers of large fish with mean length of fish captured by the Department being 32cm and averaging 500g in weight. Their eating quality (flavour and texture) are superb. They can be confused with Australian bass but there are several differences. Estuary perch have a deeper body, a dished head and protruding lower jaw.
The location where they are caught will also assist in their identification, as adult estuary perch do not occur in fresh water whereas Australian bass do. Currently the minimum legal size is 25cm and there is a bag and possession limit of 10 fish. Because of the confusion between Australian bass and estuary perch in areas where both species can be caught there is a combined bag limit of 10 fish which can include a maximum of 2 Australian bass.

The following waters in Basins 21 & 22 have significant populations of estuary perch ranked in order of largest mean length of fish caught: Mallacoota Inlet, Brodribb River, Little River (Mallacoota), Snowy River, Bemm River, Wingan Inlet, Swan Lake, Tamboon Inlet, Cann River, Betka River and Mueller River.

Other Notes
A good sporting and eating fish, it is not heavily exploited in some parts of its range (eastern Victoria) because of difficulty of access to streams and estuaries, and a general lack of knowledge of the abundance and distribution of the species and its sport fish qualities. Good fighting fish and is readily taken on artificial lures and baits such as worms and prawns. Distribution and abundance appears to have been affected by instream structures, flood mitigation work and pollution. The seasonal closure by sand bars of some estuaries, which prevents tidal inflows, may have marked effects on breeding success of the species.

Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and the regulations affecting the taking of Estuary perch in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices and Information Centres.

Further Reading
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor

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