Just over 69,000 trout have been released into the Hume Weir this year alone as the Victorian Fisheries Authority gears up for a record in 2018.
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Snobs Creek Hatchery program manager Stephen Vidler and his team member Rick McIntosh made the trip from Eildon to Wodonga to release 8500 rainbow trout and 9350 brown trout at Kookaburra Point on Monday.
Mr Vidler said 60,000 Murray cod and 170,000 golden perch were released during last summer, and there would be a “major increase” in the number of native fish released this season too.
“The money people spend on their fishing licenses goes to us breeding and growing the fish to stock for them to catch,” he said.
The aim is to get one million recreational fishermen in Victoria
- Stephen Vidler
“There’s been a steady increase over the last three years from three million to three point five – this year we’ve done four.”
Mr Vidler said there was a state government goal to release five million in 2018, a record.
“We’ve put some new infrastructure in to meet the commitment,” he said.
“With the native fish, they’ll live up to forty years, so the impact we have now will go on for generations.
“The aim is to get one million recreational fishermen in Victoria – get the kids way from the games and behind the fishing rods.”