Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

Fisheries Compliance Unit • building artificial reefs to create new fishing locations; May 2016 • fish aggregating devices (FADs) to enhance Fishing is a fun, outdoor activity for the whole fishing for dolphinfish and even tuna and family. Fishing rules help ensure healthy and marlin; sustainable fisheries for future generations. • creation of recreational fishing havens; The Tweed district waterways provide excellent beach, rock, and boat fishing opportunities. This • angler facilities such as fish cleaning tables guide provides essential information on fishing, and fishing platforms; including any closures and restrictions, which apply • stocking of freshwater fish in dams and rivers; along from the NSW/Queensland border south to Byron Bay. • essential research on popular recreational fish species; The Brunswick River is a popular recreational fishing area within the Tweed region and is the • restoring important fish habitat; northern boundary of the Cape Bay Marine Park. • marine stocking of prawns in estuaries; For further information on marine park rules and zoning see www.mpa.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) • angler education and advisory programs such 6620 9300. as the Fishcare Volunteer program, fishing workshops, Get Hooked…it's fun to fish DPI fisheries officers routinely patrol waterways, primary schools education and fishing guides. boat ramps and foreshores to advise anglers about responsible fishing practices and to ensure Much more information is available at compliance with NSW fishing regulations. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries. Information on bag and size limits and legal fishing You can pay the NSW recreational fishing fee at gear can be obtained at www.onegov.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1300 369 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries or by visiting your 365 or at many outlets throughout NSW, such as local DPI fisheries office. most fishing tackle stores, caravan parks, local shops, service stations and many Kmart stores. To report suspected illegal fishing activity, call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 (free Some exemptions apply to paying the fishing fee, call) or on-line at including people under the age of 18, holders of www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance/report- pensioner concession cards and Aboriginal people. illegal-activity. All calls will be treated as For further information on exemptions visit confidential and you can remain anonymous. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 4424 7499. You may not need to pay the NSW recreational RECREATIONAL FISHING FEE fishing fee if you are fishing on a charter boat, hire When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and boat or under the supervision of a fishing guide. saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW Please check with the charter/hire boat operator, or recreational fishing fee and carry a receipt showing guide, before you go fishing. If they do not hold a the payment of the fee. This applies when spear recreational fishing fee exemption certificate you fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait will need to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee. collecting and prawn netting or when in possession Tweed concession area (Figure 1). of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters. The recreational fishing fee payable is reduced by All money raised by the NSW recreational fishing 50% for fishing in parts of the Tweed area. The fee is spent on improving recreational fishing in Tweed concessional recreation fishing fee can only NSW. Projects include: be purchased at local bait and tackle shops or

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

Kmart at Tweed Heads South. The fee is reduced • Bilambil Road Bridge on Bilambil Creek in the tidal waters of the River Tweed, upstream of a • Robinson Road Bridge on Cobaki Creek or line joining the eastern extremities of the Tweed River breakwaters to: • From the River Tweed Breakwaters, or • From the rocks and beach north of the Tweed River • Bray Park Weir on the Tweed River Breakwaters to the Queensland Border, or • Boat Harbour Bridge • From the rocks and beach south of the Tweed River • Numinbah Road on the Rous River Breakwaters to the lighthouse at Fingal Head • Bilambil Road on Duroby Creek

Figure 1. Tweed concession area

Cook Island Aquatic Reserve (Figure 2). The RECREATIONAL FISHING following waters are closed to taking any fish CLOSURES (whether dead or alive) by any method: waters that fall within the area enclosed by the line connecting A number of fishing closures exist in the Tweed the following co-ordinates (WGS84 datum) and area. These exist for a variety of reasons, from returning to the point of commencement public health and safety to preserving unique aquatic environments. The majority of these i 28°11’32.336”S,153°34’39.872”E, closures are signposted and penalties apply for not ii. 28°11’52.114”S,153°34’59.282”E, complying with fisheries rules and regulations. iii. 28°11’54.419”S,153°34’46.449”E, Total fishing closures iv. 28°11’51.698”S,153°34’29.560”E All methods of fishing are prohibited in the v. 28°11’42.806”S,153°34’26.280”E. following waters. Note: This includes a prohibition on feeding fish or the use of burley to attract fish.

2 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

Doon Doon Creek (Clarrie Hall Dam). During the Iron Pot Creek (Toonumbar Dam). During the period August to October (inclusive) each year, the period August to October (inclusive) each year, the following waters are closed to all methods of following waters are closed to all methods of fishing: That part of Doon Doon Creek and its fishing: That part of Iron Pot Creek and its tributaries, downstream from Clarrie Hall Dam wall tributaries, 1.225 km downstream from the to the junction with Tweed River. downstream end of Toonumbar Dam Spillway wall.

Figure 2. Cook Island Aquatic Reserve

Figure 3. Tweed River Entrance - traps

3 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

General fishing closures Upper Tweed River. The following waters are closed to nets and traps of every description, other All NSW waters. During the period May to August (inclusive) each year Australian Bass and Estuary than a landing net or a shrimp net: the non-tidal Perch can only be taken by catch and release waters of Tweed River and its tributaries, upstream fishing in any NSW waters except impoundments from the Bray Park Weir wall to its source. and the waters of rivers above impoundments Rous River. The following waters are closed to nets and traps of every description, other than the Recreational netting and trapping landing net: the waters of the Rous River and its Tweed River Entrance (Figure 3). The following tributaries from the Boat Harbour bridge, upstream waters are closed to traps of every description to its source. other than the bait trap: the waters of the Tweed Upper Rous River. The non-tidal waters of Rous River from its confluence with the South Pacific River and its tributaries, from Boat Harbour Bridge Ocean, upstream to a line drawn east-west across upstream to its source are closed to nets and traps the river and intersecting the most northern of every description, other than the landing net. extremity of Ukerebagh Island. Wommin Lake and Wommin Lagoon (Figure 4). Bray Park Weir . The tidal waters of the Tweed The following waters are closed to nets of every River within 400 metres downstream from the weir description, other than the dip or scoop net face of Bray Park Weir are closed to nets and traps (prawns) or a landing net: the whole of the waters of every description, other than a landing net or within Wommin Lake and Wommin Lagoon, bait trap. adjacent to the main road from Chinderah to Fingal (Fingal Road).

Figure 4. Wommin Lake and Wommin Lagoon

4 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

of that part of the Tweed River commencing at the Spearfishing and diving eastern most extremity of the northern breakwater Spearfishing in NSW is a popular form of at the entrance to Tweed River and bounded by recreational fishing and has been recognised for its the high water mark of the western training wall, selective fishing practices. Spearfishers and divers inclusive of northern boatharbour, generally south are permitted to use: to its point of commencement, by the high water mark of Greenbank Island as reclaimed to the • a snorkel when taking fish; southern boatharbour, by the high water mark of • SCUBA and hookah apparatus for scallops the boatharbour, by the high water mark generally and sea urchins only; and southwest to Boyd’s Bay bridge, by the eastern side of that bridge, by the southwestern bank of • bare/gloved hand only when taking lobsters. Ukerebagh Passage to a point being the Spearfishers and divers are not permitted to use: intersection of the northeastern prolongation of the northwestern boundary of portion 374 with the high • a light with a spear/spear-gun; water mark of that bank, and then by a line easterly • a spear/spear-gun to take blue, brown or red to the westernmost extremity of Ukerebagh Island, groper or any protected fish; by the northwestern shore of Ukerebagh Island to the northernmost extremity of that island then by a • powerheads and/or explosive devices. line drawn northeasterly to the end of the eastern Spearfishing is prohibited in freshwater as well as training wall by the high water mark of that wall many entrances, coastal lagoons and other tidal inclusive of the tidal waters of Kerosene Inlet on waters. the eastern side of the eastern training wall and then to the high water mark of the southern The following areas covered by this guide are breakwater northwesterly and northeasterly to the closed to spearfishing: easternmost extremity of that breakwater and then All NSW ocean beaches, excluding the last 20m by a line across the entrance to the Tweed River to at each end of the beach. the point of commencement. Tweed River (Figure 5). The following waters are closed to spearfishing: the whole of the tidal waters Figure 5. Tweed River - spearfishing

5 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

Mooball Creek. The following waters are closed to Brunswick River; then by high water mark and the spearfishing: the whole of the tidal waters of that training wall to the eastern most point of the part of Mooball Creek from the traffic bridge at northern training wall; then by a line to the Pottsville downstream to its confluence with the easternmost point of the southern training wall; waters of the South Pacific Ocean. then by that training wall and high water mark to a point 1km south of the south western corner of the Cudgen Creek. The following waters are closed to southern training wall; then by a line due east for spearfishing: the whole of the waters of that part of 400 metres; then by a line generally north westerly Cudgen Creek north of the traffic bridge at to a point 400 metres due east of the point of Kingscliff. commencement and then by a line due west to the Cudgera Creek. The following waters are closed point of commencement to spearfishing: the whole of the waters of Cudgera Brunswick River (Figure 6). The following waters Creek, together with its tributaries upwards to its are closed to spearfishing: the whole of the waters source from the South Pacific Ocean. of Brunswick River and its tributaries from the Brunswick Ocean Waters (Figure 6). The easternmost extremities of the training walls to its following waters are closed to spearfishing: that source, excluding that part west of the traffic bridge part of the Pacific Ocean commencing at high (Pacific Highway) and that part north of the training water mark at a point 1km north of the north walls in Marshall Creek and that part south of the western corner of the northern training wall of the foot bridge which crosses Simpsons Creek.

Figure 6. Brunswick spearfishing

• You must not alter the length of fish by filleting GENERAL RECREATIONAL and/or removing the head until you are well FISHING RULES away from the water. This rule does not apply at areas normally used for cleaning fish, such • It is illegal for recreational fishers to sell their as boat ramp cleaning tables, if the fish are for catch. immediate consumption or immediate use as • Leave all commercial fishing gear in place and bait, or for fish that do not have a legal length. do not disturb commercial fishers going about You may clean fish by gilling and gutting only. their lawful business. • It is an offence to interfere with any oyster lease. Please ensure that your vessel, your

6 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

vessel's wash or your tackle does not interfere • Reduce wildlife injuries by attending your lines with any part of an oyster lease, including the and avoid bird feeding areas. oysters. • Use environmentally friendly fishing tackle • Abalone is prohibited for use as bait in NSW such as lead alternative sinkers, biodegradable waters to prevent the spread of abalone viral line, and non-stainless hooks where possible. ganglioneuritis (AVG). • Act responsibly when you have reached your • Collecting pipis by recreational fishers for bag limit and you remain in the fishing human consumption is prohibited in NSW. A grounds. maximum of 50 pipis is permitted to be • Do not interfere with commercial fishing collected for bait and within 50m of the high tide activities or commercial fishing gear. mark. Pipis and cockles may contain toxins due to natural algal blooms. The blooms are not Recreational harvest of shellfish always visible. Shellfish are filter feeders and they sometimes • Intertidal invertebrates must not be shucked accumulate harmful substances from the water except for immediate use as bait. during feeding. Shellfish collected by recreational • It is illegal to jag/foul hook fish other than fishers should never be eaten raw. This is because through the mouth. recreationally harvested shellfish are not subject to the same strict food safety controls as Fishing safely commercially harvested shellfish. Consequently the NSW Food Authority recommends eating only Fishing is fun, but remember to take care and shellfish harvested under a recognised program. exercise caution. Rock fishing can be particularly For more information check the DPI Recreational dangerous due to the unpredictable nature of the Fishing Guide or www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au or ocean. Follow these basic safety tips at all times phone 1300 552 406. when rock fishing: • Always wear a life jacket Penalties Penalties apply to persons who take or possess • Stay alert to the weather conditions fish (including invertebrates, shells, etc.) taken in • Plan an escape route in case you are washed contravention of fishing closures, including aquatic in reserves and intertidal protected areas. • Never turn your back on the ocean Further information • Wear appropriate non-slip footwear and light For more information about fishing restrictions that clothing apply to Tweed’s waterways and beaches, please • Do not jump in if someone is washed in - wait contact the; for assistance Tweed Fisheries Office • Never fish alone 10/12 Greenway Drive For more information go to TWEED HEADS SOUTH NSW 2485 www.safefishing.com.au Phone: (07) 5523 6900 Responsible fishing Mobile: 0419 185 537 • Reduce wildlife injuries by attending your lines Fax: (07) 5523 1835 and avoid bird feeding areas. Web: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries • Only catch sufficient fish for your immediate needs. Release all others using best practice Check for updates of this Recreational Fishing catch and release techniques. Remember all Guide at: fish, including scavengers, are important to the www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/publicati ecosystem. ons • If you retain your catch, dispatch all fish and

invertebrates swiftly and humanely.. © State of New South Wales through the NSW Department of Trade and • Investment 2016. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with Dispose of all litter and fish waste responsibly. this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW • Be considerate of others and keep noise to a Department of Primary Industries as the owner. minimum, especially in residential areas. Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

7 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Tweed Recreational Fishing Guide

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (May 2016). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser.

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