A SOUTH-WEST Victorian angler has reeled in the catch of a lifetime, winning the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Rocklands Metery competition and a $1000 tackle voucher.

Just over a year since the competition began, Warrnambool fisher, Luke Smith landed a 101.5-centimetre Murray cod at Rocklands Reservoir, cementing its reputation as a drawcard fishery following the Victorian Government’s record-breaking fish stocking program.

Mr Smith said he had been fishing at Rocklands regularly for about 18 months with good results, but this new personal best Murray cod was completely unexpected.

“A mate and I started fishing a fair bit there in about April last year and we’d been getting plenty of fish up to about 80 centimetres, but nothing like this,” he said.

“We’d caught a few cod that day and when I hooked up I thought it had a bit of timber or something on it because it was so heavy compared to the others.

“We knew about the comp so when we netted it we made sure we got a few guys in a nearby boat to help measure it.

“It’s definitely one we’ll be talking about for a long time.”

VFA chief executive, Travis Dowling said the catch had illustrated the potential of Rocklands to become one of state’s premier native fisheries following nearly 10 years of record fish stocking.

“The metre-mark is the holy grail for Murray cod anglers, so a massive congratulations to Luke on taking out this competition and the $1000 voucher,” he said.

“We first stocked Murray cod fingerlings into Rocklands in 2017.

“It’s since scored more than 5 million cod, golden perch and estuary perch and there’s another million fish to be released in early 2025 to keep the good times rolling.

“It’s the most aggressively stocked water in the country and shows that our stocking program – which is releasing more fish than all other Australian states and territories combined – is delivering brilliant results.

“There’s very few native fisheries that have exploded like this, so this gem of the west is only going to shine even brighter in years to come.”

There’s still prizes on offer at Rocklands as part of the VFA’s Golden Tag competition.

Five tagged fish are swimming in the reservoir – three Murray cod with tags worth $2000, a golden perch with a $2000 tag and one cod that will net a lucky fisher a huge $10,000.

“With free camping along the shore, improving native fishing and the chance to win up to $10,000 by wetting a line, now’s as good a time as any to plan a summer holiday to Rocklands,” Mr Dowling said.

Balmoral and District Angling Club president, Neil Vaughan said the Rocklands Reservoir has been “a real mecca” for many a fishing club.

“It’s just exciting,” he said.

“Fishing clubs from Koroit, Port Fairy … clubs from everywhere are visiting the Rocklands.”

Mr Vaughan said there used to be trout and mainly redfin in the reservoir, but since 2017, numerous Murray Cod and yellowbelly (Golden perch) have been added.

“We’ve got quite a few target fish to go for now,” he said.

When speaking with The Spectator about Luke Smith’s recent 101.5-cm catch, Mr Vaughan said the cod was “a fish of a lifetime that one – a real beauty!”