From September 1, the annual closed season begins for much of Victoria and will remain in place for three months, until December 1.
While the native fish stop biting and start breeding, Lake Eildon and Rocklands Reservoir will continue to provide top-quality Murray cod fishing.
Eildon and Rocklands have been at the heart of the state’s record-breaking fish stocking program, funded through the reinvestment of recreational fishing licence fees and the state government’s Go Fishing Victoria plan.
Open year-round for cod fishing, Lake Eildon is regarded as the state’s cod mecca, while Rocklands is fast emerging as its western counterpart, with 2.75 million cod released since stockings began in 2017 — some of which are now legal size between 55 and 75 centimetres.
In 2021, the Murray cod closed season was removed from the Wimmera and Millicent basins, excluding the Wimmera River, opening up year-round fishing opportunities at locations such as Taylors Lake and Green Lake near Horsham.
At Eildon, a fixed marker remains in place at the Jamieson boat ramp to clearly define the lake area where the closed season does not apply.
Lake Eildon, waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins and waters south of the Great Dividing Range will not be affected by the Murray cod closed season, excluding the Wimmera River and Yarra River, where the closed season applies.
Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive Travis Dowling said warmer weather, longer days and upcoming school holidays offered many opportunities to wet a line with family and friends.
“Lake Eildon and Rocklands are fishing well for cod, and we’ve stocked millions of fish into both lakes to ensure that’s the case for years to come,” Mr Dowling said.
“Trout season reopens in rivers this weekend with our Goulburn and Ballarat fishing festivals (on September 2), stonker rainbow trout have been stocked into family-friendly waters across Melbourne, and spring always means redfin and golden perch schooling up in the state’s big lakes like Hume and Eppalock.”
Friday, September 1, also marks the closure of the fishing season for Murray crayfish (until June 1) and river blackfish (south of the Great Dividing Range until January 1).
For more information on closed seasons, anglers can download the Vic Fishing smartphone app or head to www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide
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