Lake Eildon and Rocklands Reservoir will continue to provide top quality spring cod fishing as the annual three-month closed season begins in the remainder of Victoria from 1 September to give the treasured native fish a chance to breed.
Both lakes have been at the heart of Victoria's record-breaking fish stocking program, funded by recreational fishing licence fees and the Victorian Government's Go Fishing Victoria plan.
Lake Eildon has been open year-round for cod fishing since 2017 and is regarded as the state's cod mecca with more than 2.4 million fingerlings stocked in the past five years.
Rocklands is fast emerging as its western counterpart with a massive 2.75 million cod released since stockings began in 2017 – some of which are now reaching legal size (from 55 to 75 centimetres).
In 2021 the Murray cod closed season was removed from the Wimmera and Millicent basins, excluding the Wimmera River, opening up year-round fishing opportunities at locations like Taylors Lake and Green Lake near Horsham. At Eildon, a fixed marker remains in place at Jamieson boat ramp to clearly define the lake area, where the closed season does not apply.
The Murray cod closed season runs through until 1 December. It does not apply to Lake Eildon, waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins (except the Wimmera River) and waters south of the Great Dividing Range (except the Yarra River).
Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said warmer weather, longer days and upcoming school holidays offer loads of opportunities to get into the great outdoors and wet a line with family and friends.
"Lake Eildon and Rocklands are fishing well for cod and we've stocked millions of fish into both lakes to ensure that's the case for years to come," Mr Dowling said.
"Trout season re-opens in rivers this weekend with our Goulburn and Ballarat Fishing Festivals (on September 2), stonker rainbow trout have been stocked into family-friendly waters across Melbourne and spring always means redfin and golden perch schooling up in the state's big lakes like Hume and Eppalock."
