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The Bass Just Keeps Getting Bigger And Better In Gippsland

03 January 2018

Recreational anglers in Gippsland have welcomed in the New Year with a record stocking of more than 454,000 Australian bass fingerlings into 19 rivers and lakes.

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford was in Orbost today and said the new record would deliver long-lasting benefits for freshwater fishers, nearly tripling the previous record of 162,000 bass fingerlings released in 2016.

Australian bass are an iconic sportfish and through the Andrews Labor Government’s Target One Million plan we are accelerating the development of these fisheries which will deliver direct benefits to anglers and regional businesses that depend on tourism.

Bass stockings in Gippsland have gone from strength to strength since its commencement in 2002 and there are now several supreme fisheries including Blue Rock Lake and Lake Glenmaggie.

The 454,000 bass, which were grown at a private hatchery in Narooma using wild brood stock collected in Gippsland, have been released into:

Snowy River 90,000

Tambo River 27,500

Timbarra River 20,000

Mitchell River 110,000

Wonnangatta River 40,000

Avon River 9,000

Blue Rock Lake 30,000

Lake Glenmaggie 35,000

Macalister River 43,500

Thomson River 15,000

Lake Narracan 5,000

Tyers River 5,000

Cowwarr Weir 4,000

Freestone Creek 3,000

Lake Hyland 3,000

Rainbow Creek 3,000

Lake Guthridge 7,500

Traralgon Creek 2,000

Valencia Creek 2,000

Anglers can expect to hear more in coming months about the release of four million native fish this summer including Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, alongside species of conservation significance such as Macquarie perch and trout cod.

For more information about Australian bass stocking visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/bassstockingExternal Link

Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford

“Right across the state, fish stocking records continue to be broken. We’re proud to lead the charge right here in East Gippsland, helping more anglers reel in a catch of the day more often.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“There’s never been a better time to get into the great outdoors and experience the very best that our Gippsland lakes, rivers and freshwater creeks have to offer.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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