Riverina Recreational Fishing Guide
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Riverina recreational fishing guide November 2014 Primefact 1041 Second edition Recreational and Indigenous All calls will be treated as confidential and you Fisheries Unit can remain anonymous. Introduction Recreational Fishing Fee Our State's fisheries are a community-owned When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater resource. We all have a responsibility to protect and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the and safeguard this natural asset for present and NSW recreational fishing fee and carry a receipt future generations. showing the payment of the fee. This applies Fishing regulations are in place to protect and when spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, conserve our fish stocks and aquatic habitats to trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable. when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters. The Riverina District takes in the lower Lachlan River, the lower Murrumbidgee River, the Murray All money raised by the NSW recreational fishing River and the entire river systems of the Edward, fee is spent on improving recreational fishing in Wakool and Niemur Rivers. Permanent creek NSW. Some projects include: systems within the Riverina District also include • Angler facilities such as fish cleaning tables Old Man Creek, Yanco, Colombo, Billabong, and fishing platforms. Mirrool, Gulpa, Tuppal, Yallakool and Merran Creeks. • Stocking of freshwater fish in dams and rivers. These rivers and creeks provide an abundance of excellent fishing and camping opportunities and • Essential research on popular recreational are regularly stocked with Murray cod, and fish species. golden and silver perch. • Enhancing compliance with fishing rules. Murray crayfish, Euastacus armatus, are found in • Restoring important fish habitat. the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers and their tributaries. Fishing for Murray crayfish is a • Research stocking of mulloway and prawns popular pastime in the winter months. in estuaries. Fisheries Officers from NSW Department of • The installation of fish aggregating devices Primary Industries (NSW DPI) routinely patrol (FADs) to enhance fishing opportunities for waterways, boat ramps and impoundments dolphin fish or even tuna and marlin. advising anglers about responsible fishing • Creation of Recreational Fishing Havens. practices and ensuring compliance with NSW fishing regulations. • Angler education and advisory programs such as the Fishcare Volunteer Program, Information on bag and size limits, fishing fishing workshops and fishing guides. closures and legal fishing gear can be obtained free of charge from the NSW DPI website • Building artificial reefs in Lake Macquarie, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, by calling 1300 Botany Bay, St Georges Basin and Lake 550 474, or by visiting your local NSW DPI Conjola. More reefs in other estuaries are fisheries office. planned. To report illegal fishing activity, call your local • Investigating the building of artificial reefs in fisheries office or the Fishers Watch Phoneline offshore areas. on 1800 043 536. Riverina recreational fishing guide You can pay the NSW recreational fishing fee at Stevens Weir. The following waters are closed to hundreds of agents throughout NSW, such as the taking of all species of fish by all methods of over the counter at most fishing tackle shops. fishing: the Edward River within 80 m upstream You can also pay the fee at some caravan parks, and 70 m downstream of the weir face. local shops and service stations, many Kmart Weir No. 5 -Redbank Weir. The following waters stores, online at www.licence.nsw.gov.au or by are closed to the taking of all species of fish by all calling 1300 369 365. methods of fishing: the Murrumbidgee River If you pay for a one year or three year period within 93 m upstream and 92 m downstream of online, over the phone or at a Touch agent, or if the weir face. you renew your licence using your renewal letter, Weir No. 7 - Maude Weir. The following waters you will receive a plastic receipt in the post. are closed to the taking of all species of fish by all Evidence of payment is your receipt number methods of fishing: the Murrumbidgee River which you must be able to produce if requested within 70 m upstream and 50 m downstream of by an authorised officer (until you receive your the weir face. receipt in the post). Balranald Weir. The following waters are closed Note: If you pay for a 3 day or 1 month period, no to the taking of all species of fish by all methods additional receipt will be posted. of fishing: the Murrumbidgee River within 94 m Some exemptions apply to paying the fishing fee, upstream and 63 m downstream of the weir face. including people under the age of 18 and holders Hay Weir. The following waters are closed to the of pensioner concession cards. For further taking of all species of fish by all methods of information on exemptions visit the NSW DPI fishing: the Murrumbidgee River within 74 metres website or your local fisheries office. upstream from where the weir wall adjoins the You may not need to pay the NSW recreational northern bank and 140 metres upstream from fishing fee if you are fishing on a charter boat where the weir wall adjoins the southern bank under the supervision of a fishing guide. Please and 154 metres downstream. check with the charter operator, or guide, before Torrumbarry (Weir 26). The following waters are you go fishing. If they do not hold a Recreational closed to the taking of all species of fish by all Fishing Fee Exemption Certificate you will need methods of fishing: the Murray River within 100 m to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee. upstream and 100 m downstream of the weir face. Recreational Fishing Closures Weir closures General freshwater fishing rules The following waters are closed to the taking of Permitted fishing gear and methods all species of fish by all methods of fishing: Lines. Two attended lines are permitted in all Lachlan River – Brewster Weir. That part of the non-tidal waters other than in some trout waters. Lachlan River within 100 metres downstream of Attended lines must be within 50m, in your sight, the weir face of Brewster Weir (main weir). and have no more than 2 hooks per line with up to 3 treble hooks attached to any lure per line Lachlan River – Brewster Weir (Outlet other than in some trout waters. A lure is Regulator). That part of the Lachlan River within considered a single hook. Setlines are not 100 downstream of the outer wall of the outlet permitted. regulator at Brewster Weir. Traps and nets. You may use up to 5 yabby Lachlan River – Lake Brewster (Ballyrogan traps, 1 shrimp trap and 5 hoop (lift) nets, other Channel). That part of the Ballyrogan Channel than in trout waters where the use of traps and within 100 metres downstream of the outer wall nets is prohibited (except when using up to 5 of the outlet regulator at Lake Brewster. hoop nets in Googong Dam or Lakes Lyell, Willandra Weir. That part of the Lachlan River Wallace, Eucumbene or Jindabyne to take within 100 metres downstream of the weir face at yabbies). Willandra Weir. 2 NSW Department of Primary Industries, January 2015 Riverina recreational fishing guide Persons must not set traps or nets for longer than Note: The specified waters include all tributaries, 24 hours without lifting those traps or nets. lakes, lagoons, dams, reservoirs, ponds, canals, Fishers are encouraged to regularly check set channels or waterways of the main channels of fishing gear, to ensure that any unwanted catch the above rivers, except Old Man Creek, which is is returned to the water safely, unharmed. a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River. The use of yabby traps are not permitted in any Australian bass and estuary perch. May not be waters east of the Newell Highway, the Murray taken in rivers except rivers above River from the Newell Highway at Tocumwal impoundments from 1 May to 31 August downstream to the Echuca road bridge, the (inclusive) in each year other than by catch and Edward River from the Murray River at Picnic release fishing, where any fish caught must be Point downstream to Stevens Weir and the returned to the water safely, unharmed. Murrumbidgee River from Narrandera to the Darlington Point road bridge. Prohibited fishing methods See the Freshwater Recreational Fishing Guide • It is illegal to use setlines, spear guns, for information on how to correctly identify nets spears, poison or explosives or firearms to and traps and their specifications and dimensions take fish, to use a gaff to take fish, to jag or foul hook fish, to use frogs, live finfish Bowfishing. A pilot program permitting (including carp), live birds or live animals as bowfishing in some specific areas will be bait, or any traps or nets not permitted for implemented in 2015 (see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au recreational use, or to sell your catch. It is for more information). illegal to keep prohibited size fish – they should be returned to the water immediately Species restrictions with as little harm as possible. (Tandanus Freshwater catfish – eel tailed • Crayfish: It is illegal to remove heads, tails tandanus). May not be taken by any fishing and claws from crayfish or possess tails and method in western flowing rivers. May be taken or claws when you are in, on or adjacent to from the backed up waters of listed western the water. This rule does not apply if the impoundments, eastern rivers & eastern dams. crayfish are being prepared for immediate Listed waters in the Central Tablelands district consumption, are being prepared for are: Ben Chifley Dam, Windamere Dam and immediate use as bait, if the crayfish are Wyangala Dam.