VICTORIAN fishers are in for a bumper season with more chances to catch a Murray cod thanks to 10 years of record fish stocking by the Victorian Government.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos visited Karkarook Lake on Friday, 17 January to release 6000 Murray cod fingerlings as part of the government’s continued investment in fishing.

Mr Dimopoulos said there was no better time to ‘wet a line’.

“We want Victorians to get out and enjoy our great outdoors,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“There are millions of reasons Victorian families should get out and drop a line this year – with dozens of lakes and rivers stocked across the state.”

More than 66 million fish have been released across Victoria since 2014, including golden perch, Australian bass, estuary perch, trout, salmon, and dusky flathead, and which is more stocking than all other Australian states and territories combined.

During that time, more than 22 million Murray cod have been released at more than 60 locations across the state.

The fingerlings released on Friday were produced at the Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery near Shepparton, which is being upgraded to triple its size as part of a $15 million investment.

The hatchery is expected to produce up to six million native fish each year.

Several Victorian lakes are open year-round so fishers can hunt for Murray cod, including Lake Eppalock, Rocklands Reservoir and Lake Eildon.

Lake Eppalock alone has had 2.4 million cod released, resulting in locals and visitors now catching increasing numbers of the species.