Goulburn Fish Tagging 2001-2002

There are hundreds of tagged trout now swimming in the Goulburn thanks to the efforts of Paul Brown and his colleagues. These past winter months and during recent weeks of low water they have been tagging as many fish as they can in an effort to gather valuable data on this popular fishery. Read on so that you know what to do when you catch one.

As you may have read on our Electrofishing page there are efforts underway to work out the composition and size of local trout populations. One of the ways in which this is done is to tag fish and see how many of them turn up in the following months, how much they have grown (measured in weight and length), as well as where they were caught in relation to where they were tagged.

How often tagged fish are caught and indeed individual fish are caught allow managers to use formulas to extrapolate fish population estimates. This is very important when trying to assess the state of a fishery. The time between when a fish is tagged and when it is caught and the change in weight/length during this time gives us fairly good data as to how much food is available for each fish. A lot of small fish with slow growth tells us we could have too many fish in the system as well as great recruitment facilities (spawning). That is, plenty of fish and not enough food to sustain good growth rates. On the opposite end of the spectrum good fish growth may in fact tell us that there are not enough fish in the system and that they have great access to food and the fishery could well do with more fish in it. It also allows managers to make estimates of fish populations.

Finally the migratory patterns so evident when fish are caught somewhere different to where they are tagged also gives managers vital data about trout movement within the system. Already one fish tagged near the Pondage has shown up in the Rubicon which those of you who know the area will agree is quite some distance.

We are at a point where the management of our trout fisheries is undertaking monumental changes. The Goulburn is the state's most popular trout river and is very complex with often changing water levels as well as fish escapes from the Pondage and local fish farms (rainbows and salmon). We would ask that if you catch a tagged trout that you please record the Tag Number and estimate the weight as well as quickly measuring it with a measuring tape or against your rod which you can measure back later for an accurate length. If you cannot estimate the weight accurately just record whether it was in poor, good, excellent condition along with the length which should give enough detail for the database.

Click on the photo above and print the larger version of the details. Please keep this print out in your vest and mark the details on the reverse side before contacting either us on Free Call 1800 458 111 or email info@theflyshop.com.au . Or you can call MAFRI direct with your tagged fish details on the number provided on the print out. And one more thing. Please practice catch and release!

To read the lastest on the Rubicon River Click Here.