2011 Whitebait fishing season

A new management plan has been developed for the whitebait fishery. The new plan is focussed on the regulatory aspects of the fishery for the next 5 years. It continues the fishery’s management principles established in the previous plan because much of this information and the over-arching principles remain relevant and unchanged.

The only regulatory changes in the plan is a continuation of a new schedule of open and closed rivers (see below for 2011), an increase of the daily catch limit from 1 kg per day to 2 kg per day, and some minor changes to fishing restrictions near selected weirs.

These positive changes should support those keen whitebaiters wanting to catch a feed.

The 2011 whitebait season

A licence is required to take whitebait and the cost is $28. The season starts on the Saturday 1 October and lasts for 6 weeks, closing on Friday 11 November.

The new season will open with the daily catch limit increased from 1 kg per day to 2 kg per day. The overall season possession limit remains unchanged at 10 kg.

The rivers open for fishing this season are the Little Forester River, Brid River, Tamar River, Derwent River, Huon River, Rubicon River, Don River, Forth River, Leven River, Black River, Duck River, Pieman River and Henty River.

Fishing is prohibited 50 m below and 50 m above water gauging weirs on the Rubicon and Duck rivers.  Fishing in the vicinity of the Forth River Weir is now permitted following modifications to the weir which has facilitated the passage of whitebait.

The fishing regulations pertaining to whitebait fishing equipment remain unchanged.