Peel recreational fishing guide

November 2014 Primefact 989 Second edition Recreational and Indigenous Fisheries Unit Recreational Fishing Fee Introduction When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the Our State's fisheries are a community-owned NSW recreational fishing fee and carry a receipt resource. We all have a responsibility to protect showing the payment of the fee. This applies and safeguard this natural asset for present and when spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, future generations. trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or Fishing regulations are in place to protect and when in possession of fishing gear in, on or conserve our fish stocks and aquatic habitats to adjacent to waters. ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable. All money raised by the NSW recreational fishing The Peel District boasts a tremendous variety of fee is spent on improving recreational fishing in waterways from which to choose. Situated mostly NSW. Some projects include: on a sub-alpine plateau, typically over 600 m in • Angler facilities such as fish cleaning tables elevation, the waterways range from large dams and fishing platforms. and fast running mountain streams to slower lowland in the valleys. • Stocking of freshwater fish in dams and rivers. Situated in the district are the large dams of Keepit, Chaffey, Splitrock and Glenbawn. These • Essential research on popular recreational dams provide excellent fishing and are regularly fish species. stocked with Murray cod, and golden and silver • Enhancing compliance with fishing rules. perch. • Restoring important fish habitat. Fisheries Officers from NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI) routinely patrol • Research stocking of mulloway and prawns waterways, boat ramps and impoundments in estuaries. advising anglers about responsible fishing • The installation of fish aggregating devices practices and ensuring compliance with NSW (FADs) to enhance fishing opportunities for fishing regulations. dolphin fish or even tuna and marlin. Information on bag and size limits, fishing • Creation of Recreational Fishing Havens. closures and legal fishing gear can be obtained free of charge from the NSW DPI website • Angler education and advisory programs www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, by calling 1300 such as the Fishcare Volunteer Program, 550 474, or by visiting your local NSW DPI fishing workshops and fishing guides. fisheries office. • Building artificial reefs in Lake Macquarie, To report illegal fishing activity, call your local Botany Bay, St Georges Basin and Lake fisheries office or the Fishers Watch Phoneline Conjola. More reefs in other estuaries are on 1800 043 536. All calls will be treated as planned. confidential and you can remain anonymous. • Investigating the building of artificial reefs in offshore areas.

Peel recreational fishing guide

You can pay the NSW recreational fishing fee at The following methods are permitted during the hundreds of agents throughout NSW, such as fishing season: a) one attended rod and line with over the counter at most fishing tackle shops. not more than 2 hooks attached and with not You can also pay the fee at some caravan parks, more than 3 treble hooks, or 3 double hooks, local shops and service stations, many Kmart attached to any lure; and b) a landing net used as stores, online at www.licence.nsw.gov.au or by an ancillary for retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Bait calling 1300 369 365. fishing is permitted. If you pay for a one year or three year period When taking Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown online, over the phone or at a Touch agent, or if trout and rainbow trout in general trout streams you renew your licence using your renewal letter, the maximum quantity that a person may take on you will receive a plastic receipt in the post. any one day is 5 and the maximum quantity that Evidence of payment is your receipt number a person may have in their possession is 10, which you must be able to produce if requested consisting of any single species or a combination by an authorised officer (until you receive your of species. receipt in the post). Apsley . The following waters are general Note: If you pay for a 3 day or 1 month period, no trout waters: the whole of the waters of the additional receipt will be posted. Apsley River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, the Tia Some exemptions apply to paying the fishing fee, River. including people under the age of 18 and holders of pensioner concession cards. For further . The following waters are general information on exemptions visit the NSW DPI trout waters: the whole of the waters of the website or your local fisheries office. Barnard River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, You may not need to pay the NSW recreational Gulf Creek. fishing fee if you are fishing on a charter boat under the supervision of a fishing guide. Please Barrington River. The following waters are check with the charter operator, or guide, before general trout waters: the whole of the waters of you go fishing. If they do not hold a Recreational the Barrington River, its creeks and tributaries Fishing Fee Exemption Certificate you will need upstream from its junction with, and including, the to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee. Moppy River. . The following waters are general Recreational Fishing Closures trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Cobark River, its creeks and tributaries upstream Weir closures from its junction with, and including, the Dilgry Manilla Weir. The following waters are closed to River. the taking of all species of fish by all methods of Cooplacurripa River. The following waters are fishing: the within 50 m upstream general trout waters: the whole of the waters of and 50 m downstream of the weir face of the the Cooplacurripa River, its creeks and tributaries upper Manilla Weir (at Chaffey Park). upstream from its junction with, and including, the Keepit Dam. The following waters are closed to Mummel River. the taking of all species of fish by all methods of Dungowan Creek (Figure 1). The following fishing: the Namoi River within 150 m waters are general trout waters: the whole of the downstream of the weir face at Keepit Dam waters of Dungowan Creek and its tributaries Seasonal closures – trout waters upstream from the road crossing near Ogunbil Station. General trout streams The following waters are general trout streams and are closed to the taking of all species of fish by any method, from the Tuesday after the June (Queen’s Birthday) long weekend until midnight on the last Friday before the start of the October (Labour Day) long weekend (inclusive) in each year.

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Figure 1. Dungowan creek trout waters Figure 3. trout waters . The following waters are Horton River. The following waters are general general trout waters: the whole of the waters of trout waters: the whole of the waters of the the Gloucester River, its creeks and tributaries Horton River, its creeks and tributaries upstream upstream from its junction with, and including, from its junction with, and including, Cut Road Sharpes Creek. Creek. Gwydir River (Figure 2). The following waters Hunter River (Figure 4). The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Gwydir River, its creeks and tributaries of the Hunter River, its creeks and tributaries upstream of the road bridge at Torryburn. upstream from its junction with, but not including, .

Figure 2. Gwydir River trout waters Figure 4. Hunter River trout waters Gwydir River (Figure 3). The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters Macdonald River (Figure 5). The following of the Gwydir River, its creeks and tributaries waters are general trout waters: the whole of the downstream of Copeton Dam and upstream of its waters of the Macdonald River, its creeks and junction with, but not including, . tributaries upstream of the New England Highway road bridge at Bendemeer.

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Creek and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Tuggolo Creek. (figure 7). The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Nowendoc River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from Nowendoc Falls. Omadale Brook. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Omadale Brook and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Polblue Creek.

Figure 5. Macdonald River trout waters (Figure 6). The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Manning River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from the Gummi Trail crossing. . The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Moonan Brook and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, but not including, the Hunter River. Figure 7. Nowendoc River trout waters

General trout dams The following waters are general trout dams. These waters are open to fishing all year round. When fishing in general trout dams, up to two attended rods each with a line may be used with not more than 2 hooks per line or up to 3 hooks per line, where those hooks are artificial flies or lures. An artificial fly or lure is considered to be a single hook. Bait fishing is permitted. A landing net may be used as an ancillary for retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Note. The bag and size limits for general trout dams are the same as the bag and size limits for general

Dam Town Figure 6. Manning River trout waters Sheba Dams 1 & 2 Nundle Mulla Mulla Creek. The following waters are Dam Beardy Waters general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Mulla Mulla Creek and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, but not including, the . Myall Creek. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Myall

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General freshwater fishing rules Freshwater recreational fishing guide for further details. Permitted fishing gear and methods Murray cod (Maccullochella peeli). May not be Lines. Two attended lines are permitted in all taken from the whole of the inland waters of NSW non-tidal waters other than in some trout waters. from 1 September to 30 November (inclusive) in Attended lines must be within 50m, in your sight, each year, except Copeton Dam. and have no more than 2 hooks per line with up Murray crayfish (Euastacus armatus). May not to 3 treble hooks attached to any lure per line be taken in any waters at any time other than other than in some trout waters. A lure is between June and August (inclusive) in the considered a single hook. Setlines are not following specified waters: permitted. (a) between the Hume Traps and nets. You may use up to 5 yabby Highway road bridge, and 100 m traps, 1 shrimp trap and 5 hoop (lift) nets, other upstream of the weir face at Berembed Weir near than in trout waters where the use of traps and and nets is prohibited (except when using up to 5 (b) from 130 m below Hume Weir hoop nets in Googong Dam or Lakes Lyell, near to the Newell Highway road bridge, Wallace, Eucumbene or Jindabyne to take yabbies). Note: The specified waters include all tributaries, Persons must not set traps or nets for longer than lakes, lagoons, dams, reservoirs, ponds, canals, 24 hours without lifting those traps or nets. channels or waterways of the main channels of Fishers are encouraged to regularly check set the above rivers, except Old Man Creek, which is fishing gear, to ensure that any unwanted catch a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River. is returned to the water safely, unharmed. Australian bass and estuary perch. May not be The use of yabby traps are not permitted in any taken in rivers except rivers above waters east of the Newell Highway, the Murray impoundments from 1 May to 31 August River from the Newell Highway at Tocumwal (inclusive) in each year other than by catch and downstream to the Echuca road bridge, the release fishing, where any fish caught must be Edward River from the Murray River at Picnic returned to the water safely, unharmed. Point downstream to Stevens Weir and the Prohibited fishing methods Murrumbidgee River from to the road bridge. • It is illegal to use setlines, spear guns, spears, poison or explosives or firearms to See the Freshwater Recreational Fishing Guide take fish, to use a gaff to take fish, to jag or for information on how to correctly identify nets foul hook fish, to use frogs, live finfish and traps and their specifications and dimensions (including carp), live birds or live animals as Bowfishing. A pilot program permitting bait, or any traps or nets not permitted for bowfishing in some specific areas will be recreational use, or to sell your catch. It is implemented in 2015 (see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au illegal to keep prohibited size fish – they for more information). should be returned to the water immediately with as little harm as possible. Species restrictions • Crayfish: It is illegal to remove heads, tails Freshwater catfish – eel tailed (Tandanus and claws from crayfish or possess tails and tandanus). May not be taken by any fishing or claws when you are in, on or adjacent to method in western flowing rivers. May be taken the water. This rule does not apply if the from the backed up waters of listed western crayfish are being prepared for immediate impoundments, eastern rivers & eastern dams. consumption, are being prepared for Listed waters in the Central Tablelands district immediate use as bait, if the crayfish are are: Ben Chifley Dam, Windamere Dam and being cleaned at a fish cleaning facility or a Wyangala Dam. See the Freshwater recreational fish cleaning table at a boat ramp. It is also fishing guide for further details. illegal to keep crayfish with eggs or to Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus). May not be remove those eggs. taken by any fishing method in any rivers. May be • Trout and Salmon: It is illegal to use a taken from the backed up waters of listed setline, hand held lines, traps, nets, a light, impoundments. Listed waters in the Central your hand or a gaff to take trout or salmon in Tablelands district are: Ben Chifley Dam, trout waters, unless otherwise stated. The Windamere Dam and Wyangala Dam. See the

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use of salmon roe or products containing • If someone falls into the water, look for an them is also prohibited. angel ring, life buoy or something that floats and throw it to the person in the water. Alert • Chemical or explosive devices: You cannot use any chemical or explosive devices to emergency services by dialling 112 from a take or assist to take fish. mobile phone or 000 from a landline. • Fish filleting: You must not alter the length of • When boat fishing, wear light clothing. Light a fish which is subject to a minimum or clothing such as shorts and a spray jacket will maximum size limit whilst you are in on or let you swim more easily if you fall overboard. adjacent to any waters in any manner other Jumpers may be heavy and difficult to take than by gutting, gilling and scaling. You off. cannot remove the head or tail. This rule does not apply if the fish are being prepared • Ask for advice from locals who know the area for immediate consumption, are being – they can advise you of good fishing prepared for immediate use as bait, if the fish locations and areas to be cautious around. are being cleaned at a fish cleaning facility or a fish cleaning table at a boat ramp, or for Wader safety fish that do not have a legal length. Take extra care when wearing waders. Roads and Maritime Services recommends that waders Other freshwater fishing rules should not be used in boats in case of capsize or • Lakes Hume and : NSW fishing swamping. regulations apply to all of and Basic wader safety tips include the following. Victorian regulations apply to all of Lake Hume. • To restrict the amount of water that can enter waders, fasten a belt around your waist. This • Commercial fishing gear: Leave all must be as firm as possible but always commercial fishing gear in place and do not comfortable. The belt will also trap air inside disturb commercial fishers going about their and provide some buoyancy but caution is lawful business. Penalties up to $5,500 can needed as you could end upside down if you apply. fall into the water. • If you fall into the water immediately assume Fishing safely a tuck position, then roll on to your back Fishing is fun, but remember to take care and while keeping the knees tucked. Use your exercise caution. These are basic safety tips. arms to balance. • Observe first, fish later. Always check • Do not try to swim but either tread water or weather and water conditions before you start float. fishing. Make sure you are aware of local • If swept into a fast flowing stream always weather. Listen to weather forecasts or call face downstream and go with the current feet the weather information line on 1900 937 first while working to a safe shore position. 107. Be aware that conditions may change • Always remember not to panic. dramatically in a short period of time. • Never fish alone and always inform others of Responsible fishing your fishing plans. Let friends or family know • Observe all bag and size limits as well as any where you are going and when you will be other restrictions for the area you are fishing. back. • Carefully release all undersize or unwanted • Care for your own safety and never take fish and take only what is sufficient for your undue risks when fishing, even when fighting immediate needs. fish. Never enter the water to retrieve lost tackle or snagged fish. If the location looks • Take home any rubbish from the fishing spot, dangerous, don’t fish there. especially plastic bags, old line and fishing hooks. • Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy vest when boat fishing or when fishing in hazardous locations • Use environmentally friendly tackle where such as those located near areas of fast possible. moving water. Always wear appropriate non- slip shoes. Cleats, sandals and sandshoes with non slip soles suit different surfaces. Carry ropes and torches as an additional precaution.

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Catch and release Further Information Catch and release fishing has increased in If you would like more information about fishing popularity in recent years. Research has shown restrictions that apply to Peel district waterways that most fish survive using current catch and and impoundments, please contact the Peel release fishing techniques. The following fisheries office. improved fishing practices are suggested to Contact maximise fish survival. 4 Marsden Park Road • If a fish is deeply hooked, do not try to remove the hook, cut the line as close to the Calala NSW 2340 mouth as possible and release the fish. It is Phone: (02) 6763 1132 likely to survive if handled carefully. Fax: (02) 6763 1173 • Use methods and rigs such as artificial lures or non-offset circle hooks (when using bait) Website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries that increase the frequency of mouth-hooked fish. © State of through the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services 2015. You may copy, • Barbless hooks can be used to make hook distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary removal easier and minimise hook damage. Industries as the owner. • Minimise the length of time the fish is out of Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (January 2015). the water. Ideally, unhook the fish while it is However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of still in the water. Needle-nosed pliers or the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date unhooking devices can greatly reduce the and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent time spent unhooking a fish. adviser. • Use fish-friendly landing nets with soft, Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries. knotless mesh. Jobtrack 10154 TRIM PUB14/256 • Avoid dropping the fish on hard or hot surfaces and do not hold the fish by the gills or eyes. • Use wet hands or gloves to handle fish before release. • If you are going to take photos of your fish before release, support your fish properly.

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