Freshwater Recreational Fishing Guide - Dpi.nsw.gov.au

NSW RecreationalFreshwaterFishing Guide2016–17www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

ContentsNSW Recreational Fishing Fee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Where do my fishing fees go?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Community programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Fish hatcheries and fish stocking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Responsible fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Angler access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Converting fish lengths to weights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Fishing safely/Safe boating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Food safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Knots and rigs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Fish identification and measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Fish bag limits, size limits and closed seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Fishing methods and activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Dams where Silver Perch / Catfish may be taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Trout waters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Threatened and protected species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Conserving our biodiversity – aquatic habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Pests and diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Major fishing closures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Fisheries officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Contact details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71A diary for your catch records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guidennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnni

iiThis NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide is produced by theNSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) LMB 3020 Nowra NSW2541, for and on behalf of the state of New South Wales. It is funded fromthe Freshwater Recreational Fishing Trust as part of our commitmentto providing recreational fishers with comprehensive, user-friendlyinformation.A saltwater recreational fishing guide is also available.ISNB print 978-1-74256-844-7ISBN web 978-1-74256-845-4JTN 13626 October 2015 State of New South Wales through the Department of Industry, Skills andRegional Development, 2015.DisclaimersThis publication may provide assistance or information but NSW DPI andits employees do not guarantee the publication is without flaw or is whollyappropriate for any particular purpose and therefore disclaims all liability for anyerror, loss or other consequences which may arise from relying on any informationin this publication.This publication is a guide only, it does not replace the Fisheries Management Act1994 or other acts and statutory rules applying to, or affecting recreational fishing.It is a summary of laws and regulations at the time of publication and cannot beused as a defence in a court of law.NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideRecreational fishing regulations may change during the life of this publication.It is the responsibility of fishers to ensure they are acting within the lawat all times. Check regulations with your local NSW DPI fisheries office orwww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries.No material matter in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form by electronic or mechanical means,photocopying or recording without the written permission of NSW DPI.Cover imageGolden perch. Ian Osterlohwww.dpi.nsw.gov.au

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NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideNSW Recreational Fishing Fee2NSW Recreational Fishing FeeNSW Fishing Fee ReceiptALL FEES ARE USED TOIMPROVE RECREATIONAL FISHINGWhen do I need to pay?When you are fishing in NSW waters, bothfresh and saltwater, you are required by lawto carry a receipt showing the payment of theNSW Recreational Fishing Fee. This applieswhen line fishing (rod or hand line); spearfishing; bait collecting or when collectinginvertebrates using methods such as handgathering, digging, pumping, trapping andprawn netting.In freshwater it applies when fishing ininland (non-tidal) waters of NSW. This alsoapplies when in possession of fishing gearin, on or adjacent to waters. It does not applywhen fishing in a dam on private land ifthe surface area of the body of water at fullcapacity does not exceed 2 hectares. NSWinland waters boundaries include the wholeof the Murray River to the South Australianborder (excluding the waters of Lake Hume),all parts of Lake Mulwala from YarrawongaWeir wall upstream to the point wherethe Ovens River enters the Murray River atBundalong boat ramp and when fishing onthe NSW side of the Dumaresq, MacIntyre andBarwon Rivers (a midstream border applies tothese rivers).Note: Hume Weir is managed by the Victorian Departmentof Environment and Primary Industries. A Victorian fishinglicence is required and Victorian fishing laws apply whenfishing in Lake Hume on the Murray River arm upstream tothe junction with Seven Mile Creek and on the Mitta MittaRiver arm upstream to its source.How much is the fee? 7 for 3 days 14 for 1 month 35 for 1 year 85 for 3 years

3Where do I pay the fee?You can pay at many outlets throughout NSW,such as most fishing tackle shops, caravanparks, service stations, many Kmart stores, viathe website www.onegov.nsw.gov.au or call1300 369 365.How do I obtain a plastic receipt?If you pay for a one year or three year periodonline, over the phone, at a Touch agent orif you renew your licence using your renewalletter, you will receive a plastic receipt in thepost. For all other payment methods you willreceive a paper receipt.Exemptions: Persons under the age of 18. An adult assisting persons under the ageof 18 to take fish using a single rod perchild or to take Prawns using a single dip orscoop net per child.The holder of: A current Pensioner Concession Card issuedby Centrelink. A current Pensioner Concession Card issuedby the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. A Department of Veterans’ Affairs GoldTreatment Card endorsed “Totally andPermanently Incapacitated”. A Department of Veterans’ Affairs GoldTreatment Card endorsed “ExtremeDisablement Adjustment”. A letter from the Department of Veterans’Affairs stating that you receive a disabilitypension of 70 percent or higher, or anintermediate pension.These exemptions only apply to the primarycard holder.Recreational fishers must have these cardsin their possession to be exempt. Please notethat seniors cards, health care cards andrepatriation health cards do not exempt youfrom paying the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee.This information is current at time ofprinting but fisheries regulations may change.It is the responsibility of fishers to ensure theyare acting within the law at all times.If unsure whether you need to pay the NSWRecreational Fishing Fee, check our website atwww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheriesReplacement fee receiptCost for a replacement fee receipt is 7.00.Call 02 4424 7499 to obtain a replacement ordownload a form from our websitewww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheriesNSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideInterstate and overseas visitorsRecreational fishing licences issued by otherstates, territories or countries are not valid forfishing in NSW waters. All visitors must pay theNSW Recreational Fishing Fee. A person fishing in a private dam with asurface area of two hectares or less. An Indigenous Australian.NSW Recreational Fishing FeeIf you go fishing aboard a charter vesselor with a fishing guide, you may find thatyour skipper or guide holds an exemptioncertificate which covers you as well. Alwayscheck whether you need to have paid the feebefore going fishing.A fifty per cent concession applies to peoplewho only fish in the tidal waters of the TweedRiver and prescribed adjacent beach areas.

Where do my fishing fees go?4Where do my fishing fees go?Recreational fishing trustsAll funds raised from the NSW RecreationalFishing Fee are placed into recreationalfishing trusts – one for saltwater and onefor freshwater – and can only be spent onimproving recreational fishing. Committees ofexpert anglers provide advice on how funds inthe trusts should be spent.There is a lot more information on thewebsite at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries.Anyone can apply for funding from the truststo improve recreational fishing. Details can befound at the above website. Examples of sometrust funded projects are provided as follows.NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideFishcare volunteer programThis dynamic program involves around 300volunteers across the state providing face toface awareness and advising fishers about therules and values of sustainable recreationalfishing (see community programs sectionon page 8).

5Where do my fishing fees go?Fish stockingTrust funds boost production of native fish andTrout in NSW DPI fish hatcheries at Narrandera,Port Stephens, Jindabyne and Ebor for publicstocking. Approximately two million GoldenPerch, Murray Cod, Silver Perch and AustralianBass plus approximately three million Troutand Salmon are stocked by the hatcheries intoinland rivers or dams each year. The Dollar-forDollar native fish stocking program matchesthe monies raised by community groups tostock their local waterways with native fish.NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideFisheries officersAdditional fisheries officers are employedacross regional NSW to maintain optimallevels of compliance in the freshwaterfishery and provide advisory services torecreational fishers.

Where do my fishing fees go?6More facilities for fishersThe small grants program provides funding forfishing clubs, local councils and communitygroups to improve recreational fishing andfacilities including stiles, fish cleaning tables,fish measuring stations, fishing platforms andother infrastructure.Essential recreational research Improving effectiveness offreshwater stocking. Research on Murray Cod, Macquarie Perchand Murray Crayfish. Fishing tournament monitoring andangler surveys.NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing GuideGet Hooked: It’s Fun to Fisheducation programA primary school education program isteaching children in schools across NSW aboutsafe, responsible and sustainable fishing.This includes running fishing workshopsenabling students to put into practiceskills learned during their Get Hooked classlessons (see community programs sectionon page 8).