Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) Introduction Our State's fisheries are a community- owned resource. We all have a responsibility to protect and safeguard this natural asset for present and future generations. Fishing regulations are in place to protect and conserve our fish stocks and aquatic habitats to ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable. New England waterways provide many fishing opportunities for fishing enthusiasts. This guide will give you an idea Figure 1. The New England region of the fishing on offer and the closures and Fishcare Volunteers can also be found at restrictions that apply along the New boat ramps and on the water in dedicated England Region from Narrabri to Fishcare vessels, advising anglers about Tenterfield. responsible fishing practices and distributing fisheries advisory information. The New England region offers excellent lake, river and boat fishing opportunities Information on bag and size limits, fishing and anglers have the chance of catching a closures and legal fishing gear can also be wide variety of fish including Murray Cod, obtained free of charge from the NSW DPI Golden Perch, Rainbow Trout and Brown website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, or trout. by visiting your local NSW DPI fisheries office. NSW DPI Fisheries Officers regularly patrol waterways and impoundments ensuring To report illegal fishing activity, call your compliance with NSW fishing regulations local fisheries office or the Fishers Watch and distributing freshwater fishing guides Phoneline on 1800 043 536. All calls will be and sticky fish measuring rulers. treated as confidential and you can remain anonymous. Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) Recreational Fishing Fee fee at some caravan parks, service stations, many Kmart stores, online at When fishing in NSW waters, both www.licence.nsw.gov.au or by calling freshwater and saltwater, you are required 1300 369 365. by law to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and carry a receipt showing the If you pay for a one year or three-year payment of the fee. This applies when line period online, over the phone or at a Touch fishing, trapping, netting or when agent or if you renew your licence using undertaking bait or invertebrate collection your renewal letter, you will receive a plastic or when in possession of fishing gear in, on receipt in the post. For all other payment or adjacent to waters. methods, you will receive a paper receipt. All money raised by the NSW Recreational Some exemptions apply to paying the Fishing Fee is spent on improving fishing fee, including people under the age recreational fishing in NSW. Some projects of 18 and holders of pensioner concession include: cards. For further information on exemptions visit the NSW DPI website or o Angler facilities such as fishing call 1300 550 474. platforms. o Stocking of freshwater fish in dams and You may not need to pay the NSW rivers. Recreational Fishing Fee if you are fishing on a charter boat under the supervision of Essential research on popular o a fishing guide. Please check with the recreational fish species. charter operator, or guide, before you go o Enhancing compliance with fishing rules. fishing. If they do not hold a Recreational Fishing Fee Exemption Certificate you will o Restoring important fish habitat. need to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing o Research stocking of mulloway and Fee. prawns in estuaries. Trout and salmon fishing rules o The installation of fish aggregating devices (FADs) to enhance fishing General trout streams opportunities for Mahi Mahi The following waters are general trout (Dolphinfish) or even Tuna and Marlin. streams and are closed to the taking of all o Creation of recreational fishing havens. species of fish by any method, from the Tuesday after the June (Queen’s Birthday) o Angler education and advisory long weekend until midnight on the last programs such as the Fishcare Volunteer Friday before the start of the October program, fishing workshops, Get (Labour Day) long weekend (inclusive) in Hooked. It’s Fun to Fish and fishing each year. guides. The following methods are permitted o Building artificial reefs in offshore areas during the fishing season: such as Sydney Reef and Shoalhaven River and in inshore areas such as Lake a) one attended rod and line with not more Macquarie, Botany Bay, St Georges than 2 hooks attached and with not more Basin, Lake Conjola and Merimbula Lake than 3 treble hooks, or 3 double hooks, attached to any lure: and You can pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee from hundreds of agents throughout b) a landing net used as an ancillary for NSW such as over the counter at most retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Bait fishing is fishing tackle shops. You can also pay the permitted. 2 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, June 2021 Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout, Cobark River. Peel District. The following Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in general waters are general trout waters: the whole trout streams, the maximum quantity that a of the waters of the Cobark River, its creeks person may take on any one day is 5 and and tributaries upstream from its junction the maximum quantity that a person may with, and including, the Dilgry River. have in their possession is 10, consisting of Cooplacurripa River. Peel District. The any single species or a combination of following waters are general trout waters: species. the whole of the waters of the Apsley River. Peel District. The following Cooplacurripa River, its creeks and waters are general trout waters: the whole tributaries upstream from its junction with, of the waters of the Apsley River, its creeks and including, the Mummel River. and tributaries upstream from its junction Dungowan Creek (Figure 2). Peel District. with, and including, the Tia River. The following waters are general trout Barnard River. Peel District. The following waters: the whole of the waters of waters are general trout waters: the whole Dungowan Creek and its tributaries of the waters of the Barnard River, its creeks upstream from the road crossing near and tributaries upstream from its junction Ogunbil Station. with, and including, Gulf Creek. Barrington River. Peel District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Barrington River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, the Moppy River. Beardy Waters. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Beardy Waters, its creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Furracabad Creek. Blicks River. Coffs District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Blicks River, its creeks Figure. 2 Dungowan Creek and tributaries upstream from the road bridge at Dundarrabin. Deepwater River. New England District. Carters Brook. Peel District. The following The following waters are general trout waters are general trout waters: the whole waters: the whole of the waters of the of the waters of Carters Brook, its creeks Deepwater River, its creeks and tributaries and tributaries upstream from its junction upstream of the New England Highway with, and including, Stewarts Brook. road bridge near Deepwater. Chandler River. New England District. The Georges Creek. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Chandler the whole of the waters of Georges Creek River, its creeks and tributaries upstream and its tributaries upstream from its from its junction with, and including, the junction with, and including, Louisa Creek. Wollomombi River. 3 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, June 2021 Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) Gloucester River. Peel District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Gloucester River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Sharpes Creek. Gwydir River (Figure 3). New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Gwydir River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream of the road bridge at Torryburn. Gwydir River (Figure 4). New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Gwydir River, its creeks, and tributaries Figure 3. Gwydir River trout waters, Torryburn downstream of Copeton Dam and upstream of its junction with, but not including, Dingo Creek. Guy Fawkes River. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Guy Fawkes River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream from its junction with, but not including, the Aberfoyle River. Horton River. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Horton River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Cut Road Creek. Figure 4. Gwydir River trout waters, Copeton Dam Hunter River. Peel District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Hunter River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream from its junction with, but not including, Pages Creek. Laura Creek (Figure 5). New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Laura Creek and its tributaries of the ford at Baldeslie Station. Macdonald River. Peel District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Macdonald River, its creeks, and tributaries upstream of the New England Highway road bridge at Figure 5. Laura Creek trout waters Bendemeer. 4 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, June 2021 Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) Manning River (Figure 6). Peel District. The tributaries upstream from its junction with, following waters are general trout waters: and including, Tuggolo Creek.