August 31, 2022
With the school holidays only a few weeks away, it’s the perfect time to start planning activities to get involved in with your family. Below we’ve listed some upcoming events that will be held over the coming months, including family friendly and all abilities events, across Victoria.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COME & TRY FISHING CLINICS | FISHCARE
Fishcare Victoria is a community based not-for-profit organisation promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices. Fishcare typically run kids fishing clinics across the state throughout the school holidays and have regional groups across Victoria.
Fishcare aim to promote and educate young upcoming anglers around responsible angling practices and get them hooked on fishing. At the clinics, anglers are taught about the rules and regulations, how to rig a fishing rod and hopefully reel in a fish!
Fishcare will be running come and try fishing clinics at St Helens boat ramp through the school holidays. Clinics will be held on Wednesday 21 September and Wednesday 28 September with three time slots available between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Each clinic lasts for one hour and equipment including rods, tackle and bait is provided.
For more information and to register, visit the Fishcare Victoria website below.
VICFISH KIDS | VICTORIAN FISHERIES AUTHORITY
The Victorian Fisheries Authority will be hosting a range of VicFishKids fishing clinics across Victoria throughout spring. Currently, they have VicFishKids clinics planned for Lilydale, Seymour and Casey Fields through September and October.
The VicFishKids clinics are designed for children aged 6-12 years and are led by Lee Rayner.
ALL ABILITIES FISHING CLINICS | FISHABILITY BY FISHCARE
FishAbility by Fishcare Victoria is increasing the involvement of people living with disabilities into recreational fishing through coordinated and regular volunteer supported fishing events.
FishAbility clinics are planned for the rest of the year and will be held at Kerferd Road Pier (Albert Park), Maribyrnong River and Mornington Pier.
FISHING FOR ALL | FISHCARE & VICTORIAN FISHERIES AUTHORITY
Fishing for All is an initiative by the Victorian Fisheries Authority, in conjunction with Fishcare, to increase the active participation of women, people with disabilities, children and CALD communities in recreational fishing.
Upcoming fishing for all clinics will be held in Bendigo and Shepparton in October.
GONE FISHING DAY | AUSTRALIAN RECREATIONAL FISHING FOUNDATION
Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is encouraging the Australian public to change up their fishing this Gone Fishing Day, Sunday 9th October 2022.
TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR KIDS FISHING OVER THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Below we’ve listed some tips to take your family fishing over the school holidays.
VRFISH CODE OF CONDUCT
VRFish have developed a Code of Conduct for recreational fishers in Victoria. We as recfishers have a responsibility to look after our fisheries resources for the benefit of the environment and future generations of recfishers and show respect for other users of the aquatic environment. We love fishing and encourage all fishers to adopt the guidelines.
WHAT’S BITING?
If you are travelling around Victoria and aren’t familiar with what’s biting in the area, local tackle stores are a fantastic resource for tips and advice to make your fishing a success.
NATURALLY VIC
An initiative by VRFish, Naturally Vic aims to promote responsible recreation and educate recreational users, such as campers, fishers, and hikers, on best-practice guidelines to leave our great outdoors how they found it.
FAMILY FISHING LAKES
If you are looking for somewhere to go fishing with the family, there are a number of family fishing lakes across Victoria. Prior to the school holidays, these lakes are stocked with ready-to-catch rainbow trout and provide families with an opportunity to easily hook a fish as rainbow trout respond to a variety of baits and lures.
Ahead of the spring school holidays, a range of metro lakes have been stocked with large ‘stonker’ rainbow trout, weighing up to 5kg each! To find out if your local lake has been stocked with stonker trout visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s metro stonker stocking webpage.
For more information on family fishing lakes, including a list of lakes, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s school holiday trout stocking webpage.
FIND A STOCKED FISHERY
The Victorian Fisheries Authority have stocked over 250 waterways across the state which means there are are ample opportunities to reel in a fish. Over the summer, native fish are stocked across the state. Natives are now also stocked into metro-lakes so you can reel in a mighty Murray Cod close to home. You can check out their Fish Stocking Database to see which fish have been stocked into your favourite waterway.
FISH BY THE RULES
Most fish species in Victoria have restrictions regarding their capture. This may include size limits, bag and possession limits as well as closed seasons. The Victorian Fisheries Authority have created a handy guide with all Victorian rules for recreational fishers called the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide.
If you suspect illegal fishing activity, contact the Victorian Fisheries Authority on 13FISH (13 3474).
LET’S MAKE FISHING BETTER
While you’re out fishing, if you have any ideas on how we can make your fishing even better, get in contact with us! You can send us an email via [email protected] – let us know how your fishing is going, what the fishing is like at your favourite waterway, any stocking you’d like to see, and any other suggestions that can make your fishing better.
