THE artificial recreational fishing reefs being trialled at Aspendale, Seaford and Frankston have been rapidly colonised by snapper and other fish species including leatherjackets over the warmer months and are offering new opportunities for anglers.
Fisheries Minister Joe Helper said the first round of research involving anglers since the reefs were installed last May had been completed and snapper and flathead had dominated the catches.
"During November and the first week of December, which is the peak of the snapper season, 72 fishing trips were made by the research anglers," he said.
"Preliminary analysis of the research angler catches so far indicates that fishing for snapper on the new reefs is much better than at sites with sandy and muddy sediments."
The three reefs, two kilometres offshore in 11 metres of water, each comprise 96 specially made hollow domes called 'reef balls'.
Fisheries scientist Paul Hamer said the summer sampling indicated a significant increase in fish numbers over the winter survey and twice as many species in the reef areas.
"Large schools of young snapper were observed by divers on the recreational reefs and there was no noticeable change in abundance of snapper at the soft sediment comparison sites," Mr Hamer said.
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