LAST year was a great year for the Oberon Branch of the Central Acclimatisation Society (CAS).
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Fish releases for the year included 11,000 rainbow fingerlings in the Fish River, 10,000 rainbow fingerlings in Lake Oberon, 1000 tagged rainbows 250 millimetres long in Lake Oberon, 18,000 brown trout fry and 22,000 rainbow fry into local streams. And 20,000 golden perch into Lake Oberon.
And Christmas came early for Lake Oberon with 10,000 Murray cod released into the lake in December.
They were released at strategic spots around the lake to maximise their chances of survival.
This is the first release of Murray cod for Lake Oberon.
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Oberon CAS branch treasurer Peter Byrom said thanks once again goes to DPI Fisheries and the team at Narrandera.
“Anglers look forward to seeing how the Murray cod grow in Lake Oberon,” he said. “I know we will never return the lake to the old pre-redfin days, because no lake in NSW has completely eradicated the species.”
Also in 2018, CAS secured a grant from DPI Fisheries for just over $10,000 for Kelly's Bay angler access improvements.
Work is also continuing with the now endangered Macquarie perch in the Abercrombie River with DPI Fisheries.
Mr Byrom said stocking these large fish is, he believes, the answer, and DPI has to be commended for going that extra mile to help.
"Without their help, we would just have a lake full of stunted redfin,” he said.
Proposed 2019 projects include continuing with strategic fish stockings in Lake Oberon and surrounding streams as well as working towards extending the boat ramp at the Reef Reserve for better passive boating access.
The tagged rainbow trout in Lake Oberon are showing great success with 78 tagged captures recorded so far. Two of the tagged fish have been caught and released twice.
“We know of fish that have been caught and not recorded. Please record your tagged fish as the information is used to make future fish stocking decisions,” Mr Byrom said.
Visit the DPI website and fill out the recapture form.
“It's valuable feedback and research,” Mr Byrom said.