TROUT’S APLENTY IN THE GOULBURN IN TIME FOR NEW SEASON Friday, 04 September 2009
The status of the Goulburn River as a world-class trout fishery has been boosted with the start of a three-year Brumby Labor Government trout stocking program of the iconic waterway.

Helping stock trout in the river today, the Minister Responsible for Fisheries Joe Helper said more than 2300 brown and rainbow trout, all of a catchable size, would be released during the next 12 months.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to enhance recreational fishing opportunities along the Goulburn River for locals and visitors to this stunning region,” Mr Helper said.

“Many of the fish have been released over the last two weeks in time for today’s opening of the trout season for rivers and streams.

“The stocking will enhance a great recreational fishery as well as providing a significant boost to regional economies trying to recover from the bushfires.”

The trout will move along the river after being stocked at eight key locations:
• The gates at Eildon Pondage;
• Thornton Beach;
• McMartins Lane;
• The Breakaway area;
• The bridge at Alexandra;
• Brookes Cutting area near Alexandra;
• Whanregarwen Rd between Alexandra and Molesworth; and
• Molesworth.

Mr Helper said not only would the trout stocking boost the chance of landing a catch, great prizes would be up for grabs for those who caught three ‘specially-tagged’ trout.

“Anyone catching a fish from one of these specially tagged trout will be able to claim some great new fishing gear,” he said.

“Details on the tagged fish and claiming the prize will be available on the DPI website and at tackleshops in Alexandra, Eildon and Thornton.”

Mr Helper said the stocking trial of the Goulburn would assess the benefits of stocking ‘ready to catch’ trout into rivers and the contribution they made to anglers’ catches.

“All the stocked fish will be fin-clipped so they can be easily distinguished from wild fish that spawn in the Goulburn River during the annual closed season,” he said.

“The trial will be carefully monitored using angler diarists who regularly fish the river for trout.

The Brumby Labor Government is investing $13.5 million to improve opportunities for recreational fishing in Victoria.