January 30, 2025
It’s a cracking time to get outdoors and enjoy the final weeks of summer with your family. For those keen on spending time in the great outdoors, fishing is a fantastic activity to get involved in with your family and offers a multitude of benefits beyond simply catching fish.
To help get you started, we’ve put together some of our top fishing tips for beginners.
BUY A LICENCE
A recreational fishing licence is required to go fishing in Victoria and allows you to go fishing in all waterways including marine, estuarine and inland waters. While your kids won’t need a licence if they’re under 18 years of age, you will need one unless you’re classed as exempt.
You can buy your recreational fishing licence online through Service Victoria or in person at selected tackle stores and authorised retailers across the state.
If you’re fishing on the Murray River or Lake Mulwala, you’ll need a New South Wales fishing licence. A reciprocal licence is in place at Lake Hume, meaning NSW licence holders do not need a Victorian licence to fish Lake Hume.
SAFETY FIRST
Before setting off on the water, it’s crucial to establish a plan to ensure a safe return. Always let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return, just in case something does go wrong.
With the hot weather we’ve been experiencing this summer, it’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast via the Bureau of Meteorology before heading out on the water so you can be prepared for the elements. This also allows you to check the water conditions, such as tidal and swell conditions, if fishing along the coast. You can also check the VicEmergency website or app to be aware of any other warnings such as total fire bans, incidents in the local area, and bushfire warnings.
Lifejackets are always recommended. When fishing from a boat, ensure all children under 12 wear a lifejacket at all times. Regulations are in effect where lifejackets must be worn at 10 high risk rock fishing locations across the state.
It’s always smart to pack a first aid kit, some extra sunscreen, insect repellent, and a torch, just in case you need them.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Don’t make the mistake of going in unprepared as you may come home disappointed after a donut day. Take the time to research the area you want to go fishing in as well as the species you’d like to target. Where you plan to go fishing will impact the type of fish you can target. On the other hand, if you’re keen on reeling in a specific species, that will impact where you can go fishing.
Visit your local fishing club or fishing tackle shop to get the latest on what’s biting and some handy tips. These days, there are also plenty of TikTok, Instagram and Facebook accounts devoted to sharing catches and fishing information in different areas across the state.
If you’re planning to take your boat out, check out the Boating Vic website or download the app. They have a comprehensive list of Victorian boat ramps, including some with boat ramp cameras so you can see how busy the ramp is in real time. This is great to use with some of our busier ramps – like Patterson River.
FISH BY THE RULES
In Victoria, the Victorian Fisheries Authority manage our fisheries. Most 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. It allows you to check the rules and regulations regarding all species across Victoria.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s VicFishing app also includes the recreational fishing guide so you can easily check any rules while you are out fishing.
If you suspect illegal fishing activity, contact the Victorian Fisheries Authority on 13FISH (13 3474).
CATCH AND RELEASE
Many fishers choose to release their catch back into the water as opposed to keeping it for a feed. Undersized, protected, out-of-season and unwanted fish also need to be released back to the water.
If you are planning to release any fish you catch, some key tips to help the post-release survival of the fish include:
- Minimise the time the fish spends out of the water and use wet hands or gloves when handling the fish.
- Use circle hooks and artificial lures to reduce deep hooking.
- Unhook the fish quickly and if the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line close to the mouth of the fish.
- Use fish-friendly landing nets made from knotless mesh.
- If measuring your catch, ensure your brag mat is wet.
- Have a camera ready to take a photo of your catch before release.
- Allow the fish to recover, especially if it has put up a big fight. If the fish seems tired, try to revive the fish by moving it forward through the water as though it was swimming, so it can get enough oxygen to recover.
For more information, visit our catch and release education page.
EQUIPMENT AND BAIT
The right equipment for your fishing trip will greatly depend on where you plan to go fishing and what you want to target. Some basic equipment that will be handy to have in your tackle box include: a rod and reel, fishing line, hooks, floaters and sinkers, lures and soft plastics, pliers and a filleting knife. Every fish will respond to different equipment and baits so it is best to do a bit of research into the area and fish you plan to target.
If you’re new to fishing, it’s a good idea to head to your local fishing tackle store to ask for advice on the best tackle, equipment and bait for the local area and the fish you plan to target. Others who can be a wealth of knowledge include your local fishing club and even someone who is fishing nearby, most local fishers will be happy to share their local knowledge with you.
When it comes to bait, there are options like worms, bardi grubs, mudeyes, yabbies, maggots and shrimp. However, there are also some things you can grab from your fridge and use as bait such as canned corn, cheese, chicken and red meat.
FAMILY FISHING LAKES
For a family-friendly day out, you cannot go wrong with a family fishing lake. These lakes are located throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria and the Victorian Fisheries Authority stock the lakes prior to the school holidays with ready-to-catch rainbow trout. The lakes have good access and provide families with an opportunity to easily reel in a fish as rainbow trout typically respond to a variety of baits and lures.
For more information on family fishing lakes, including where they are and what’s been stocked, visit school holiday trout stocking. The Victorian Fisheries Authority have also developed a handy Family Fishing Guide with further tips and tricks for fishing in Family Fishing Lakes.
We’ve also compiled a list of some great beginner and family-friendly fishing spots to try this summer.
Fishing can be a memorable family experience filled with laughter and learning. With these beginner tips in mind, you’re well on your way to creating lasting memories on the water.
LET’S MAKE FISHING BETTER
As the peak body for recreational fishing, we’re here to represent the interests of Victorian recfishers. Whether it’s fish habitat, water security and quality, fishing access and infrastructure or best practice, we aim to work in partnership to make sure Victoria’s fishing experiences continue to improve, be sustainable and more enjoyable for all generations of Victorians.
If you have any ideas on how we can make your fishing even better, get in contact with us! 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. You can send us an email via [email protected]
When you are sharing your photos online, don’t forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram! Use @VRFish and #VRFish so we can see your photos – we just love to see where the fish are biting.