Fisheries Victoria says there are an extra 400-500 tonnes of fish in the bay since the state government announced it would phase out commercial net fishing 18 months ago.

Most of the 43 commercial fisheries that once operated nets in the bay have moved on to other waters, with the remaining 10 to close down or change method by 2022.

Underwater life is now teeming, and a boon for recreational fishing enthusiasts.

President of the Pines Seaford Fishing Club Phillip O'Reilly said fishing in the bay is more popular than ever.

"You go out Patterson River at Carrum and it's like Bourke Street it's so busy," Mr O'Reilly said. "There are certainly a lot more boats out on the bay fishing, people have money to spend."

Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria Travis Dowling said squid fishing in the bay is particularly good.

"If you're a little tacker or a mum and dad out there ... go down to any jetty or pier in Port Phillip Bay, throw a line in and you'll get a really lovely head of squid," he said.

The state government has committed $46 million to growing recreational fishing, hoping to encourage participation to one million anglers by 2020.

About $27 million went to buying out commercial netting licences in Port Philip Bay.

Next year, all netting will cease in Corio Bay as well.

A the same time, more than 844,000 trout and salmon bred at Fisheries Victoria's Snobs Creek hatchery, were now in Victorian waterways. The fish were put into waterways including Moorabool Reservoir near Ballan and Lake Eppalock near Bendigo.

Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said fishing was a great family pastime.

"We'd like more kids to be out with their families wetting a line rather than on the couch at home with their devices," she said. "I'd like to think that Port Phillip Bay is now the kind of fishery that anyone can have success in with no skill or experience required."

However, the ban on commercial netting has upset long-established businesses such as that of Dugga Beazley, 76, who has been fishing the bay for six decades.

Asked how he felt about leaving commercial fishing, he offered a blunt response to Fairfax Media last year: "Depressed, it was a very hard decision" .

"I feel like my legs have been cut off. There was absolutely no need for it. I would say there is more fish now coming into the bay than what there was when I was young."

Seafood Industry Victoria had warned the government policy would reduce supplies of locally caught seafood for sale such as King George whiting, flathead and calamari.

However, Fisheries Victoria said that had not eventuated, with fresh fish still coming into markets from Victoria's coastline.