… from Taylor Hunt VFA
(While catfish are not a target for us fly fishers, they are an important species in our Victorian rivers, and as concerned anglers we of course are always interested in the health of our rivers and the species of fish living in them.)
Endangered native freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) populations have expanded through the release of over 10,000 catfish into 19 locations across northern Victoria. The initiative was a collaboration between recreational fishers, Traditional Owner groups and fisheries and catchment management authorities to help recover catfish by re-establishing more populations of the species.
For eight weeks the VFA Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery team have diligently cared for and fed the thousands of catfish that were saved from Lake Lascelles near Hopetoun after an incredible breeding event.
Geneticist Dr Peter Unmack assessed the genetics of the catfish and found that they originated from the Wimmera, Mallee, Gunbower strain and were suitable for release – perfect!
The VFA swiftly developed a translocation plan with partners including the four Northern Catchment Management Authorities (CMA’s), recreational fishers and Traditional Owner groups and the catfish were released in mid-May 2025.
At each release site, the team were greeted by locals, recreational fishers and CMA staff who were equally excited to return these native fish back to where they once were. Catfish were released into:
• Ovens River (3 sites) – 2,106
• Loddon River – 895
• Campaspe River – 872
• Goulburn River – 828
• Broken Creek Upper – 605
• Broken Creek Lower – 603
• Loch Garry – 544
• Lake Sambell (Beechworth) – 544
• Horseshoe Lagoon (Gunbower) – 544
• Lake Victoria (Maryborough) – 504
• Gunbower Creek – 480
• Winton Wetlands – 315
• Wooroonook Lake – 305
• Arcadia Pondage – 273
• Walkers Lake (St Arnaud) – 284
• Arcadia Pondage – 273
• Foletti Lake (Donald) – 206
• Watchem Lake – 200
To re-establish 19 populations of an endangered native fish is a huge step towards recovery and downlisting of the species. For more information – check out the reels on VFA’s Facebook page or contact Taylor Hunt, Manager Recreational Fisheries on 0418 478 028.
Isabelle Staples (right) and local Hopetoun recreational fishers and community who helped us rescue the catfish from Lake Lascelles after an incredible recruitment event
Jarryd McGowan with some of the thousands of catfish at Arcadia before release
Kate Norman helping release catfish into the Ovens River in Wangaratta
James Milne releasing some catfish into the Loddon River – Pyramid Creek junction at Kerang.
Perfect habitat to release catfish into at Safes Lagoon off the Gunbower Creek
Andrew Colston, avid local rec fisher, was pumped to see catfish being returned to the Ovens River