Great news for the future of black bream in the Gippsland Lakes

The Victorian Fisheries Authority has just announced that It’s another spawning record, this time for the Gippsland Lakes!  Their latest scientific surveys have revealed a record number of baby black bream, more than twice the previous peak since surveys began in 2010. Annual surveys undertaken by their scientists each winter measure black bream between 5-8cm at 50 different locations throughout the Lakes and inflowing rivers. It’s a great sign for the future of this iconic fish, that’s further strengthened by the introduction of the 28-38cm slot limit last year and the end of commercial net fishing in the Lakes in 2020. Want to know more about VFA’s efforts to return the Gippsland Lakes back into a recreational fishing mecca? Check out the Gippsland Lakes Recreational Fishing Plan at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/gippslandlakes.

A few members travelled to Lakes Entrance recently to take part in the release of another 25,000 Dusky Flathead into the Gippsland Lakes. This is a further part of VFA's major re-stocking program that will see more than 6 million fish stocked into Victorian waterways, both fresh and salt water. The fish were bred in captivity in Narooma from brood stock captured in Lake Tyers and at Mallacoota. Great work Victorian Fisheries Authority.

The Black Bream Bash: The inaugural LSFA “Black Bream Bash” was held recently on the McLennan Straits on a beautiful sunny winter’s day. The fishing was extraordinary with over 50 top quality black bream caught (with most released). The biggest was a massive 46cm, well over the current slot limit that allows only fish between 28cm and 38cm to be kept. Locals who know about these things are saying that this is the best bream fishing they have experienced for many years. This will certainly become an annual event in July, probably the best time for targeting this species.