Batemans Bay Recreational Fishing Guide Fisheries Compliance Unit May 2016 Fishing is a fun, outdoor activity for the whole All money raised by the NSW recreational fishing family. Fishing rules help ensure healthy and fee is spent on improving recreational fishing in sustainable fisheries for future generations. NSW. Projects include: The waterways within the Batemans Bay area • building artificial reefs to create new fishing provide excellent beach, rock, and boat fishing locations; opportunities. This guide provides essential • fish aggregating devices (FADs) to enhance information on fishing, including any closures and fishing for dolphinfish and even tuna and restrictions, which apply along the coast from marlin; Narrawallee Inlet to Moruya. • creation of recreational fishing havens; The Batemans Marine Park extends from Murramarang Beach in the north to Wallaga Lake • angler facilities such as fish cleaning tables in the south and includes offshore waters to the 3 and fishing platforms; nautical mile limit of state waters. Maps of the • stocking of freshwater fish in dams and rivers; Marine Park are now available free for mobile devices, see last page of this brochure for details. • essential research on popular recreational fish For further information on marine park rules and species; zoning maps visit www.mpa.nsw.gov.au or phone • (02) 4476 0802 or 0427 496 033. restoring important fish habitat; • DPI fisheries officers routinely patrol waterways, marine stocking of prawns in estuaries; boat ramps and foreshores to advise anglers about • angler education and advisory programs such responsible fishing practices and to ensure as the Fishcare Volunteer program, fishing compliance with NSW fishing regulations. workshops, Get Hooked…it's fun to fish Information on bag and size limits and legal fishing primary schools education and fishing guides. gear can be obtained at Much more information is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries or by visiting your www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries. local DPI fisheries office. You can pay the NSW recreational fishing fee at To report suspected illegal fishing activity, call the www.onegov.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1300 369 Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 (free 365 or at many outlets throughout NSW, such as call) or report on-line at most fishing tackle stores, caravan parks, local http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance/rep shops, service stations and many Kmart stores. ort-illegal-activity. All calls will be treated as confidential and you can remain anonymous. Some exemptions apply to paying the fishing fee, including people under the age of 18, holders of pensioner concession cards and Aboriginal people. RECREATIONAL FISHING FEE For further information on exemptions visit When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and www.dpi.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 4424 7499. saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW You may not need to pay the NSW recreational recreational fishing fee and carry a receipt showing fishing fee if you are fishing on a charter boat, hire the payment of the fee. This applies when spear boat or under the supervision of a fishing guide. fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait Please check with the charter/hire boat operator, or collecting and prawn netting or when in possession guide, before you go fishing. If they do not hold a of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au Batemans Bay Recreational Fishing Guide recreational fishing fee exemption certificate you Butler’s Creek. All the waters of Butler’s Creek will need to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee. are closed to the use of nets, other than a dip or scoop net (prawns) or a landing net. RECREATIONAL FISHING Moruya River. The following waters are closed to CLOSURES the use of nets, other than a landing net; the Moruya River upstream from Kiora bridge and the A number of fishing closures exist in the [District] Deua River and their tributaries to their source, area. These exist for a variety of reasons, from including Wamban Creek to its source. public health and safety to preserving unique aquatic environments. The majority of these Tabourie Lake (Figure 1). All the waters of closures are signposted and penalties apply for not Tabourie Lake and its tributaries are closed the complying with fisheries rules and regulations. use of hoop or lift nets. Willija Swamp (YSwamp) (Figure 2.). All the General fishing closures waters of Willija (or ‘Y’) Swamp at Moruya Heads All NSW waters. During the period May to August are closed to the use of nets or traps, other than a (inclusive) each year Australian Bass and Estuary landing net. Perch can only be taken by catch and release The following waters are fishing in any NSW waters except impoundments Willinga Lake (Figure 3). and the waters of rivers above impoundments closed to the use of a net, other than a dip or scoop net (prawns) or a landing net; all the waters Recreational netting and trapping of Willinga Lake (including its entrance) and its tributaries. Batemans Marine Park and is closed to all Conservation Restrictions methods of fishing. For further information on Critical Habitat Grey Nurse Shark - Tollgate marine park rules and zoning maps visit Islands is within a sanctuary zone of the www.mpa.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 4476 0802. Figure 1. Tabourie Lake 2 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Batemans Bay Recreational Fishing Guide Figure 2. Willija Swamp (Y Swamp) Figure 3. Willinga Lake • a spear/spear-gun to take blue, brown or red Spearfishing and diving groper or any protected fish; Spearfishing in NSW is a popular form of • powerheads and/or explosive devices. recreational fishing and has been recognised for its selective fishing practices. Spearfishers and divers Spearfishing is prohibited in freshwater as well as are permitted to use: many entrances, coastal lagoons and other tidal waters. • a snorkel when taking fish; The following areas covered by this guide are • SCUBA and hookah apparatus for scallops closed to spearfishing: and sea urchins only; and All NSW ocean beaches, excluding the last 20m • bare/gloved hand only when taking lobsters. at each end of the beach. Spearfishers and divers are not permitted to use: • a light with a spear/spear-gun; 3 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Batemans Bay Recreational Fishing Guide Burrill Lake (Figure 4). The whole of the entrance below the traffic bridge, commencing from the waters to Burrill Lake, including the tributaries southeast pylon of the bridge, then by a line extending from a line drawn across the entrance bearing 130° to an established concrete cairn at waters from the northernmost point of Thisleton’s the entrance of the creek, then by a line bearing Point in a northeastern direction bearing 23°, about 66° to a position marked by a broad arrow painted 291 metres to a point on the northeastern white on the rocks on the northern side of the foreshore of the lake, downwards to the South entrance, then bounded by the northern shore of Pacific Ocean. Candlagan Creek to the northeastern pylon of the bridge, then along the bridge to the point of Candlagan Creek (Figure 5). All the waters of commencement. Candlagan Creek and adjacent ocean waters Figure 4. Burrill Lake Figure 5. Candlagan Creek 4 NSW Department of Primary Industries, May 2016 Batemans Bay Recreational Fishing Guide • Do not jump in if someone is washed in - wait GENERAL RECREATIONAL for assistance FISHING RULES • Never fish alone • It is illegal for recreational fishers to sell their catch. For more information go to www.safefishing.com.au • Leave all commercial fishing gear in place and do not disturb commercial fishers going about their lawful business. • You must not alter the length of fish by filleting Responsible fishing and/or removing the head until you are well • Reduce wildlife injuries by attending your lines away from the water. This rule does not apply and avoid bird feeding areas. at areas normally used for cleaning fish, such • Only catch sufficient fish for your immediate as boat ramp cleaning tables, if the fish are for needs. Release all others using best practice immediate consumption or immediate use as catch and release techniques. Remember all bait, or for fish that do not have a legal length. fish, including scavengers, are important to the You may clean fish by gilling and gutting only. ecosystem. • It is an offence to interfere with any oyster • If you retain your catch, dispatch all fish and lease. Please ensure that your vessel, your invertebrates swiftly and humanely. vessel's wash or your tackle does not interfere with any part of an oyster lease, including the • Dispose of all litter and fish waste responsibly. oysters. • Be considerate of others and keep noise to a • Abalone is prohibited for use as bait in NSW minimum, especially in residential areas. waters to prevent the spread of abalone viral • Reduce wildlife injuries by attending your lines ganglioneuritis (AVG). and avoid bird feeding areas. • Collecting pipis by recreational fishers for • Use environmentally friendly fishing tackle human consumption is prohibited in NSW. A such as lead alternative sinkers, biodegradable maximum of 50 pipis is permitted to be line, and non-stainless hooks where possible. collected for bait and within 50m of the high tide mark. Pipis and cockles may contain toxins due • Act responsibly when you have reached your to natural algal blooms. The blooms are not bag limit and you remain in the fishing always visible. grounds. • Intertidal invertebrates must not be shucked • Do not interfere with commercial fishing except for immediate use as bait. activities or commercial fishing gear. • It is illegal to jag/foul hook fish other than Recreational harvest of shellfish through the mouth.