The bag limit for yellowtail kingfish has been changed from 5 to 2 ahead of this Summer thanks to strong support for the proposal from recreational fishers. Yellowtail kingfish are a highly sought after and valued recreational fish species in Victoria, typically averaging 5-10kg each. Over the past five years recreational fishers have raised concerns [...]
Over the last thirteen years, the VFA has stocked around 2.5 million estuary perch fingerlings into 30 Victorian waterways including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and impoundments. Prior to this, estuary perch breeding was experimental in nature with limited breeding and stocking success. This all changed in 2012 as we worked with recreational fishers to collect broodfish [...]
Snapper season is well and truly underway and the snapper have been firing everywhere across Port Phillip and Westernport. Although this comes as no surprise to our fisheries scientists who undertook modelling that predicted the snapper boom prior to the season commencing. Last year was one of the best snapper seasons recorded for both boat [...]
By Nigel Webster As the winter cold sets in, many Queensland offshore anglers get excited about the prospects of some great reef fishing. Species such as snapper, pearl perch and red emperor are often at the forefront of these thoughts. The cold starts are often worth the exciting fishing and succulent table fare when winter [...]
By Alistair McGlashan When it comes to catching marlin there are four main techniques, the key is to know when which technique works best. The hardest part of marlin fishing is finding them. In the open ocean, riding the currents finding marlin can be akin to locating a needle in a haystack. To make matters [...]
It’s been more than fifty years since carp exploded into our waterways following widespread flooding across the Murray Darling Basin in the 1970’s. With each subsequent flood, they push further upstream, take more territory, increase turbidity, destroy aquatic vegetation, erode riverbanks, displace native fish, and ruin our fishing and camping experience. Despite half a century [...]
In 2024-25, 26 Large RFL Grant applications were received and assessed by the RFL Trust Advisory Committee and recommendations for funding have been made to the Minister, the Hon. Steve Dimopoulos. Applications for the 2025-26 round of the Large Grants program close 28th February 2026 - now is the time to think about how fishing [...]
We have successfully bred tapered and Yalmy galaxias for the first time ever in captivity and West Gippsland galaxias for the first time in the Conservation Hatchery. Larvae of tapered and West Gippsland galaxias are now feeding and growing fast, while the Yalmy galaxias eggs are expected to hatch shortly. We now have several batches [...]
Native breeding season began mid-October 2025 with both Murray cod and trout cod producing quality eggs. There’s a long-held belief that a storm today means a busy time tomorrow collecting nest boxes full of eggs - it may sound superstitious, but this proved true again for us with the first spawning events of the season. [...]
The Victorian Government has committed $96 million as part of its ‘More piers, jetties and opportunities for little anglers’ election policy which includes $15 million to expand the Arcadia and Snobs Creek fish hatcheries. The Arcadia native fish hatchery and Snobs Creek hatchery expansion projects will significantly increase the production capacity of the hatcheries to [...]
