YOUNG angler Cooper Elliott could not believe his luck when he hauled in a 55cm trophy-sized Australian bass from the Ewen Maddock Dam last weekend.

And if the Ewen Maddock Fish Management group has its way, the Baroon Pocket Dam near Montville will be filled with similar-sized fish.

The volunteer group was formed a year ago to restock native fish back into the dam after about 10 years.

It placed almost 30,000 fish fingerlings into the dam, between Landsborough and Mooloolah, through its five-year management plan created with the assistance of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and SEQ Water.

Now it has set its sights on Baroon Pocket Dam, north of Maleny.

The group’s president, David Brace, said it had begun the process of modifying its plan and obtaining the appropriate permits in order to stock Australian bass and Mary River cod in Baroon Pocket.

The department last stocked the Baroon Pocket with the endangered cod in 2006.

“We are looking at securing this at the beginning of June,” Mr Brace said. “We should see the first influx of native fish for quite some time by the end of this year.”

Minister for Fisheries Craig Wallace said community fish stocking groups were essential to the future of recreational fishing.

“Recreational fisheries are becoming increasingly important, as they provide fishing opportunities for Queensland’s growing population,” he said.

The group wants new members and sponsors to assist it with taking on the new role.

It holds monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Mooloolah Country Club.

For more information, email president@ewenmaddock.com.au.