The release was a joint effort between the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association and Fisheries NSW. 

Anglers of all ages helped during the release, including four year old Robbie Caves, his dad James and his grandfather Bob. 

James Caves said his father Bob brought him fishing at Brogo Dam as a child, so it was a special moment for the three of them to be together at the inaugural estuary perch stocking. 

Estuary perch are found along the eastern seaboard through NSW, into Victoria and South Australia and including Tasmania. 

NSW Department of Primary Industries Recreational Fisheries Manager, Craig Watson, said the release will enhance recreational fishing amenity and opportunity.     

“There is no better place than Brogo Dam to release these estuary perch, as the area is known for its great fishing,” he said.

“This is a Recreational Fishing Trust project initiative and is just one of the ways anglers are benefiting from their licensing fees.”

The estuary perch stocking at Brogo Dam was funded by fishing licence fees and covered in full by Fisheries NSW. 

“This is great news for anglers who can look forward to catching these fish in a couple of years,” Mr Watson said. 

The Caves family said they were all looking forward to the day they hooked and reeled in an estuary perch at Brogo Dam.

Fishing is a very popular pastime in NSW with about 850,000 anglers throwing in a line each year.

The Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association and Fisheries NSW intend to release another 10,000 estuary perch into the Brogo Dam next year.