This week we’re taking a slightly different tack.

Instead of just talking about what’s biting at Eildon or Nillahcootie, we’re looking at where your hard earned dollars actually go when you buy a Victorian recreational fishing licence.

It’s a fair question.

Every year, thousands of local anglers hand over their cash to the Victorian Fisheries Authority, so how is it spent and what do we get in return?

The short answer is a lot more than most people realise.

All licence money goes straight into the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account, which has pumped nearly 100 million dollars back into Victorian fishing since it began.

None of it disappears into general revenue, it’s ring fenced purely for improving our fisheries and facilities.

One of the biggest wins is fish stocking.

Those fat cod and yellow belly you’re catching at Eildon, Nillahcootie and Hovell?

Many started life in a VFA hatchery paid for by your licence.

Each year, millions of native fish and trout are released statewide a direct investment in better fishing for all of us.

Then there’s habitat work like re snagging rivers, planting trees along banks, and restoring spawning areas.

These projects make a world of difference, creating the structure and shade fish need to breed and thrive.

Access and infrastructure get a healthy slice too. Jetties, pontoons, and improved bank access points all come out of the trust account.

So next time you launch at a freshly graded ramp or stand on a new jetty, you’ve literally helped build it.

Another big area is education and enforcement.

Your licence dollars fund Fisheries Officers, school programs, and compliance patrols, keeping the system fair and sustainable.

Fishcare volunteers, kids’ Little Angler Kits, and community fishing days are all supported through licence revenue as well.

And finally, the system funds local clubs and grants, the backbone of grassroots fishing communities like ours.

That means better events, safer facilities, and more opportunities for families to get involved.

So next time someone grumbles about paying for a licence, remind them it’s not a tax, it’s an investment in our sport.

The more anglers we have buying licences, the more funds flow back into stocking, access, and protecting what we love.

Now with that off our chest, the water’s warming up, trout are still active early and late, and cod season isn’t far away.

Support the system, buy your licence, and get out there.

Every cast you make helps build a better future for Victorian fishing.