Werribee River Anglers Caught With 28 Bream

Two Fisheries Victoria officers caught a Deer Park man and woman allegedly exceeding the bream catch limit on the Werribee River last weekend, with one of the pair allegedly concealing extra fish down their pants.

The inspection took place near K Road in Werribee South at about 11.30pm, when officers stopped the pair as they were leaving the riverbank.

The man and woman produced a white bucket containing 20 legal-size bream. The daily bag limit for bream in the Werribee River is 10 per person, meaning the pair’s catch was already double what two anglers are permitted to take home.

According to Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), officers then discovered one of the pair was allegedly concealing a further eight bream inside their clothing, in what VFA described as an attempt to use a bulky winter jacket to hide the fish from view.

In total, officers seized 28 bream and the pair’s fishing equipment on the spot.

“The Werribee River is famous for its fantastic bream fishing, and we want to keep it that way for future generations of Victorian anglers,” a VFA spokesperson said.

The man and woman will be summonsed to appear in court, facing charges of exceeding the catch limit and concealing their catch. Both charges remain before the court and are yet to be determined.

It is the latest in a string of concealment cases on Wyndham waterways. Wyndham TV previously reported on two men caught allegedly hiding calamari in thermoses and a jacket at the Werribee boat ramp, where officers seized a 4.6-metre boat after finding the men allegedly carrying well over their legal limit.

VFA is reminding anglers that anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing can report it anytime by calling 13FISH (133474) or online at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/13FISH. Reports can be made anonymously.