By Romy Stephens
Numerous lakes in the Yarra Ranges are among those currently being stocked with stonker rainbow trout to bolster recreational fishing.
Emerald Lake, Lillydale Lake and Ferntree Gully Quarry are among 18 metropolitan family fishing lakes to be stocked with 500 stonker trout.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said stocking had already begun in Lilydale.
“Victorian Fisheries Authority has started stocking local lakes with stonker four kilogram rainbow trout. The first lake in the area to be stocked was Lillydale Lake with 45 of the big fish complementing the already catchable size fish stocked,” he said.
“Stocking is taking place this week and next and will help bolster the fishing fun for people getting back into the recreational activity.
“The stockings are funded by fishing licence fees and the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan for recreational fishing.”
Lillydale Lake received 45 fish on 7 October along with Emerald Lake, which got 15. The VFA expected Ferntree Gully Quarry to receive 20 fish on 7 October and another 20 on 13th October.
The stockings are funded by fishing licence fees and the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan for recreational fishing.
Stonker releases will be completed by 14 October. Other lakes involved include Pakenham Lake, Casey Fields Lake, Berwick Springs Estate Lake and more.
Under the Second Step of Metropolitan Melbourne’s roadmap to easing restrictions, fishing is a permitted activity within five kilometres of home or permitted work.
Restrictions include up to five people from a maximum of two households and for up to two hours per day, split into a maximum of two sessions. A distance of 1.5m from others is required, a fitted mask must be worn and equipment can’t be shared.
A daily bag limit of five trout applies to family fishing lakes, of which only two trout can exceed 35cm.
For the metropolitan list of stonker stocked waters, dates and release schedule, visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/metrostonkers.
