Three men have been charged for taking trout from the Tarago River during the closed season.
The men, all in their late twenties and from the Drouin area, faced the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 November where they faced charges of illegally taking trout from the Tarago River using a firearm and a multi-pronged spear.
All men pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay fines of $1400 each.
Firearms and equipment were also forfeited.
The closed trout season in Victoria runs from early June until September. During this time, anglers must not take or possess trout in rivers and streams.
Acting Eastern Regional Supervising Fisheries Officer Bill McCarthy said the closed season was there to protect spawning trout.
“This is a strong message that this type of activity is not tolerated by the court,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Regular patrols and targeted operations of this nature will continue into the future.”
