June 1, 2026
The King’s Birthday long weekend is our last chance to cast a line for wild trout in our rivers and streams before the annual closed season.
Tuesday 9 June marks the start of the trout and salmonid closed season to allow wild trout to breed and applies to most Victorian rivers and streams.
During the closed season, there is a total ban on all hook and line fishing in sections of the Goulburn, Mitta Mitta, Tanjil and Kiewa rivers, regardless of the target species.
There are a number of year-round trout fisheries in Victoria so recfishers can still get their trout fix over the next few months. Trout can still be targeted in the Merri, Hopkins, Moyne rivers, Mt Emu Creek, lakes and impoundments and sea-run trout rivers during the closed season.
The closed season is used to provide some protection for spawning fish in self-sustaining trout populations.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The 2026 trout and salmon closed season on rivers and streams runs from Tuesday 9 June until Friday 4 September (inclusive). The first day of open season is Saturday 5 September 2026.
For all Victorian trout and salmon regulations, including where you can continue to fish for trout year-round, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s trout and salmonid regulations webpage.
VRFish Election Priorities
As the peak body for recreational fishing in Victoria, VRFish advocate for recreational fishing interests.
To ensure recreational fishers priorities are strongly represented ahead of the upcoming Victorian State Election, VRFish launched our Election Priorities to advocate for better recreational fishing outcomes.
At the heart of the plan, VRFish will be advocating for better fishing experiences through five core areas – better fish, better access, better environment, better regulations and better future.
To grow new recreational fishing opportunities, VRFish is advocating for:
- $10m to establish Victoria’s first Estuarine Fish Hatchery, growing Estuary Perch, Australian Bass, Mulloway and Flathead.
- $10m to modernise trout production facilities at Snobs Creek Hatchery.
Please acknowledge VRFish, the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body, and link to our website if distributing or re-using this article. Keep up-to-date on the latest Victorian recreational fishing news on our website.
