Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) October 2014 Primefact 988 Second edition Recreational and Indigenous Fisheries Unit Introduction distributing freshwater fishing guides and sticky fish measuring rulers. Our State's fisheries are a community-owned resource. We all have a responsibility to protect Fishcare Volunteers can also be found at boat and safeguard this natural asset for present and ramps and on the water in dedicated Fishcare future generations. vessels, advising anglers about responsible fishing practices and distributing fisheries Fishing regulations are in place to protect and advisory information. conserve our fish stocks and aquatic habitats to ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable. Information on bag and size limits, fishing closures and legal fishing gear can also be New England waterways provide many fishing obtained free of charge from the NSW DPI opportunities for fishing enthusiasts. This guide website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, or by will give you an idea of the fishing on offer and visiting your local NSW DPI fisheries office. the closures and restrictions that apply along the New England Region from Narrabri to Tenterfield. To report illegal fishing activity, call your local fisheries office or the Fishers Watch Phoneline The New England region offers excellent lake, on 1800 043 536. All calls will be treated as river and boat fishing opportunities and anglers confidential and you can remain anonymous. have the chance of catching a wide variety of fish including Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Rainbow Trout and Brown trout. Recreational Fishing Fee When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater Figure 1. The New England region and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and carry a receipt showing the payment of the fee. This applies when line fishing, trapping, netting or when undertaking bait or invertebrate collection or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters. All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW. Some projects include: • Angler facilities such as fish cleaning tables and fishing platforms; • Stocking of freshwater fish in dams and rivers; • Essential research on popular recreational fish species; NSW DPI Fisheries Officers regularly patrol • waterways and impoundments ensuring Enhancing compliance with fishing rules; compliance with NSW fishing regulations and • Restoring important fish habitat; Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) • Research stocking of mulloway and prawns a) one attended rod and line with not more than 2 in estuaries; hooks attached and with not more than 3 treble • The installation of fish aggregating devices hooks, or 3 double hooks, attached to any lure; (FADs) to enhance fishing opportunities for and Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish) or even Tuna and b) a landing net used as an ancillary for retrieval Marlin; of fish lawfully taken. Bait fishing is permitted. • Creation of recreational fishing havens; When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in general trout • Angler education and advisory programs streams, the maximum quantity that a person such as the Fishcare Volunteer program, may take on any one day is 5 and the maximum fishing workshops, Get Hooked..It’s Fun to quantity that a person may have in their Fish and fishing guides; possession is 10, consisting of any single species • Building artificial reefs in offshore areas such or a combination of species. as Sydney Reef and Shoalhaven River and in inshore areas such as Lake Macquarie, Apsley River. Peel District. The following waters Botany Bay, St Georges Basin, Lake Conjola are general trout waters: the whole of the waters and Merimbula Lake of the Apsley River, its creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, the You can pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee Tia River. from hundreds of agents throughout NSW such Barnard River. Peel District. The following as over the counter at most fishing tackle shops. waters are general trout waters: the whole of the You can also pay the fee at some caravan parks, waters of the Barnard River, its creeks and service stations, many Kmart stores, online at tributaries upstream from its junction with, and www.licence.nsw.gov.au or by calling including, Gulf Creek. 1300 369 365. Barrington River. Peel District. The following If you pay for a one year or three year period waters are general trout waters: the whole of the online, over the phone or at a Touch agent or if waters of the Barrington River, its creeks and you renew your licence using your renewal letter, tributaries upstream from its junction with, and you will receive a plastic receipt in the post. For including, the Moppy River. all other payment methods you will receive a Beardy Waters. New England District. The paper receipt. following waters are general trout waters: the Some exemptions apply to paying the fishing fee, whole of the waters of Beardy Waters, its creeks including people under the age of 18 and holders and tributaries upstream from its junction with, of pensioner concession cards. For further and including, Furracabad Creek. information on exemptions visit the NSW DPI Blicks River. Coffs District. The following waters website or call 1300 550 474. are general trout waters: the whole of the waters You may not need to pay the NSW Recreational of the Blicks River, its creeks and tributaries Fishing Fee if you are fishing on a charter boat upstream from the road bridge at Dundarrabin. under the supervision of a fishing guide. Please Carters Brook. Peel District. The following check with the charter operator, or guide, before waters are general trout waters: the whole of the you go fishing. If they do not hold a Recreational waters of Carters Brook, its creeks and tributaries Fishing Fee Exemption Certificate you will need upstream from its junction with, and including, to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee. Stewarts Brook. Chandler River. New England District. The Trout and salmon fishing rules following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Chandler River, its General trout streams creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction The following waters are general trout streams with, and including, the Wollomombi River. and are closed to the taking of all species of fish Cobark River. Peel District. The following waters by any method, from the Tuesday after the June are general trout waters: the whole of the waters (Queen’s Birthday) long weekend until midnight of the Cobark River, its creeks and tributaries on the last Friday before the start of the October upstream from its junction with, and including, the (Labour Day) long weekend (inclusive) in each Dilgry River. year. Cooplacurripa River. Peel District. The following The following methods are permitted during the waters are general trout waters: the whole of the fishing season: waters of the Cooplacurripa River, its creeks and 2 NSW Department of Primary Industries, October 2014 Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) tributaries upstream from its junction with, and creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction including, the Mummel River. with, but not including, the Aberfoyle River. Dungowan Creek (Figure 2). Peel District. The Horton River. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Dungowan Creek and its whole of the waters of the Horton River, its tributaries upstream from the road crossing near creeks and tributaries upstream from its junction Ogunbil Station. with, and including, Cut Road Creek. Hunter River. Peel District. The following waters Figure. 2 Dungowan Creek 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. Figure 3. Gwydir River trout waters, Torryburn Deepwater River. New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of the Deepwater River, its creeks and tributaries upstream of the New England Highway road bridge near Deepwater. Georges Creek. New England District. The Figure 4. Gwydir River trout waters, Copeton Dam following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Georges Creek and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, and including, Louisa Creek. 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 downstream of Copeton Dam and upstream of its junction with, but not Laura Creek (Figure 5). New England District. including, Dingo Creek. The following waters are general trout waters: the Guy Fawkes River. New England District. The whole of the waters of Laura Creek and its following waters are general trout waters: the tributaries of the ford at Baldeslie Station. whole of the waters of the Guy Fawkes River, its 3 NSW Department of Primary Industries, October 2014 Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Northern) Figure 5. Laura Creek trout waters waters of Moonan Brook and its tributaries upstream from its junction with, but not including, the Hunter River. Moredun Creek (Figure 7). New England District. The following waters are general trout waters: the whole of the waters of Moredun Creek and its tributaries upstream of the ford immediately below its junction with Limestone Creek. Mulla Mulla Creek. Peel District.