AS PART of Victoria’s bushfire response plan, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has established a tag-recapture competition that will encourage recreational fishers to return to East Gippsland and North East Victoria.
According to the VFA, recreational fishing in Gippsland and the north east is worth more than $600 million annually, supports over 3,800 jobs and is a major contributor to regional communities that depend on tourism.
Due to the devastating bushfire season Victoria’s experiences, these communities have been doing it tough through January with visitor numbers down substantially during what is normally their busiest time of the year.
Victorian Minister for Fishing and Boating, Jaala Pulford MP, announced last Friday that the Golden Tag competition would kick off on Sunday, 1 March.
As part of the Golden Tag competition, the VFA tagged black bream, dusky flathead and King George whiting in East Gippsland, and in the north east, Murray cod, brown trout and rainbow trout.
The first 10 tagged fish to be reported caught by fishers after the competition begins will earn the lucky fisher a $10,000 cheque, with tagged fish beyond the first 10 to be awarded a $2,000 cash prize.
The competition aims to boost tourism at Mallacoota, Cann River, Bemm River, Orbost, Marlo, Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers, Omeo, Dartmouth, Mitta Mitta, Corryong, Tallangatta and Bright.
These places are well known for their inland and estuarine fishing, boasting terrific opportunities for shore-based and boat-based fishers of all skill levels.
For more information: vfa.vic.gov.au
