Fishing around Australia.

Weather - Marine

Fishing Issues - ACT: NSW: NT: QLD:  SA: TAS: VIC: WA:

Are you planning on doing any fishing during your trip? What sort of licences etc do you need, and where do you get them? Because each State or Territory has different rules, be sure you are not breaking them, just so you can catch your supper. Also check out Boating information.

The following information was correct at the time of publishing, but like all things, they may have changed. If in any doubt check with the local Authority for any updates, before proceeding.

Make sure you pack your fishing gear: handlines or rods, assorted hooks, spare line, pliers, knife, lures, measuring device, weighing apparatus, landing net, fish scaler and licence if required.

Weather Information from the Australian - Bureau of Meteorology.

ACT Recreational Fishing

Fishing Rules - Where to fish - Open fishing waters [more]  A recreation fishing licence is NOT required in the ACT

The Murrumbidgee River within the ACT and the Molonglo River downstream from Coppins Crossing are Open Fishing Waters.  It is possible to fish in the open waters all year around but if you catch trout during the Closed Season (see trout fishing waters), you must return them to the water with the least amount of injury. In Open Fishing Waters you can fish with either one hand-held rod and line or one hand-held line, as well as two set lines. The set lines must have a tag (at least 7.5cm x 2.5cm in size) with the owner's name and address on it.

Trout Fishing waters: All rivers, stream and lakes other than Prohibited Fishing Waters and Open Fishing Waters are 'Trout Fishing Waters'.   You can fish in Trout Fishing Waters only during the Open Season. This runs from the Saturday nearest October 1 to the Sunday nearest June 1 of the following year. The rest of the year is the Closed Season. You must use only artificial bait (spinners, lures, plastic worms, etc.) when fishing in Trout Fishing Waters.

However, you can fish in Lake Burley Griffin, Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong all year round, and are you are allowed to use artificial, natural or live bait, except frogs or fish roe. (You can fish in Googong Reservoir all year round. Although it is managed by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, NSW Fishing Laws apply - contact (02) 6297 3886 for details).

Fishing from boats: On Lake Burley Griffin, Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong you are not permitted to use any type of motor powered boat (including surf skis). However on both Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong you may obtain a permit to use steam and electrical powered boats at up to 3 knots. Call the ACT Office of Sport and Recreation (Facilities Section) on (02) 620772313 for details.

Googong Reservoir supplied domestic water to Queanbeyan and the ACT. Power boats (except those with electric motors of less than 8 horsepower) and sailboards are prohibited but other sailing craft, canoes and row boats are permitted. Contact the Ranger at Googong Foreshores, ACT Parks and Conservation Service on (02) 62973886 for further information.

Prohibited waters: There are only a few locations in the ACT where fishing is not permitted. The 'No Fishing' areas are:
All water upstream of Bendora Dam (including Bendora and Corin Dams);
All water from the Cotter Dam Wall upstream to where Pierces Creek joins the Cotter River;
All water within the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve; and
All waters upstream from where the Orroral Tracking Station road crosses the Orroral River

Fishing laws in the ACT;; Although a license is not required to fish in the ACT, there are laws to protect the fish stock and the rivers. There are rangers who patrol the rivers and lakes to make sure these laws are not broken. You can be fined, or your equipment can be confiscated if you break these laws.

In brief these laws mean that:
You must not use stones, rifles, spear guns, nets, fish traps, explosives, chemicals etc. to catch or destroy fish.
You must not use fish roe (fish eggs) as fishing bait. You may not even have fish roe in your possession for fishing.
You must not put fish into the waters of the ACT unless you have the written approval of the Minister.
You must not leave behind dead fish, litter, glass or other rubbish.
You must not sell, or buy, any fish caught in the waters of the ACT.
The bag limit is ten fish of any species per person per day.
Trout less than 25cm in length must not be kept and should be released live, back to the water.

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NSW Recreational Fishing

• New South Wales Freshwater Fishing Guide 2008
• New South Wales Saltwater Fishing Guide 2008

When fishing in NSW waters, both fresh 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 spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters.

All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW. These trusts are regulated by law and overseen by two committees made up of recreational fishers - one for saltwater and one for freshwater.  [more]

Recreational fishing fee: If you are on a pension you may be exempt. There are some exemptions. When you're fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, you're required by law to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and have receipt for payment in your possession. This also applies when spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping and bait collection and prawn netting or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters.

All money raised by the recreational fishing fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW.  You can pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee for three days ($6), one month ($12), a year ($30) or three years ($75) from:

• Hundreds of standard and gold fishing fee agents
• Online
• By calling 1300 369 365 (Visa and MasterCard card only)

Have you lost your fishing fee receipt? Apply for a replacement 30 Kb

If you're planning to fish from a charter boat or go with a fishing guide, ask the operator if you're covered by their exemption certificate. If the operator has paid an annual fee, you may not need to pay your own fishing fee receipt. A 50 per cent concession applies to people who only fish in the tidal waters of the Tweed River and prescribed adjacent beach areas.

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NT Recreational Fishing 

Fish Possession Limits in the NT  - You are not required to have a licence in the NT

However there are rules on limits, and species, and you are also not allowed to sell or barter your catch.  Specific queries can be directed to the Department's Recreational Fishing Unit either through GPO Box 3000 Darwin NT 0801 or telephone +61 8 8999 2372 or +61 8999 2159.

A possession limit is the maximum number of fish each person may have in possession at any time, other than in their place of permanent residence. It is not a boat limit, a trip limit or a daily limit.  [more]

Fishing Controls and Advice:

Includes possession limits for Mud Crabs, Spanish Mackerel, Golden Snapper, Black Jewfish and Barramundi. [more]

Other Fisheries Regulations: Subject to Section 10 of the Fisheries Act 1988, Northern Territory Gazette No. G1, 11 January 1989 No. 58 of 1988, a person is not to take fish or aquatic life for sale or profit unless the person does so under and in accordance with a licence. Maximum penalty $20 000 or 2 years imprisonment. [more]

Enforcement:  To assist with the identification of fish and enable practical enforcement, controls apply. [more]

Download:  Please download a copy of the NT Recreational Fishing Controls.

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QLD Recreation Fishing

Brief guide to recreational fishing rules and regulations for Queensland

The brief guide to the rules and regulations can be downloaded as a PDF document. See the Resources section at the bottom of this page.
Anglers do not require a license to fish recreationally in Queensland, except if fishing in some stocked impoundments. The links below provide detailed information on anglers' responsibilities when fishing in fresh waters and tidal waters.

Resources:

• Guide to fishing rules and regulations - Fresh waters (PDF, 402 kB)
• Guide to fishing rules and regulations - Tidal waters (PDF, 470 kB)
• Table of size, take and possession limits (PDF, 218 kB)
  Bag and size limits for Queensland fresh and tidal waters

For more information about fisheries regulations and other fisheries issues, contact:

• DPI&F Business Information Centre
• Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol

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SA Recreation Fishing

Recreational Fishing Guide

Nothing on the SA fisheries site seems to indicate you require a licence, but that is only a conclusion, after much searching.  There is however a catch limit, and device rules, given after the Fishing Guide downloads.

The Recreational Fishing Guide gives an overview of the rules that apply to recreational fishing in South Australia.
The guide is available free from PIRSA Fisheries Division:

      Contact your Local Fisheries Office and ask for a copy
      phone the FISHWATCH hotline on 1800 065 522 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.

OR You can also download a copy:

Recreational Fishing Guide - Part 1 (.PDF) 2.23MB
Recreational Fishing Guide - Part 2 (.PDF) 4.63MB
Recreational Fishing Guide - Part 3 (.PDF) 759KB

Catch Limits & Legal Lengths

Minimum legal length:  There is a minimum (and sometimes maximum) legal size for some fish species you could expect to catch with a rod and line or other permitted device.

Remember that fish taken for use as bait must still conform to size limits specified for the species.

Personal daily bag limit
There are limits to the number of a particular fish species that can be taken by one fisher.

Daily boat limit
If three or less people are fishing from a boat, the personal bag limit applies to each person.
 
If three or more people are fishing from a boat the combined boat limit (that is the total number of fish that can be landed onto the boat) is generally set at three times the personal bag limit.  Note: for abalone and rock lobster the combined boat limit is set at twice the personal bag limit.
 
For example, the daily bag limit of King George whiting for one person is 12. If only two people are fishing from a boat, 24 whiting are allowed. If there are three people on board, 36 whiting are allowed. If four or more people are fishing on board, they are only allowed a combined total of 36 whiting.
 
Note that different boat limits apply for charter boat fishing. Bag and boat limits apply for a 24-hour period from midnight to midnight. Once you have caught your bag or boat limit of a particular species, you are not allowed to catch anymore of that species during that 24-hour period. 

Any species that are not listed below do not have size or bag limit restrictions – but fishers are encouraged to only take what they need for personal use.

Remember that recreational fishers are not allowed to sell or trade their catch

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TAS Recreation Fishing

Who needs a licence - Tasmania

You do not need a licence for salt water or marine fishing with a rod and line but an Inland Fisheries Licence is required for any fishing in inland waters, which includes some river mouths and estuaries. [more]

The licensing year begins on 1 November. Licences are valid from the date of issue to 31 October. Separate seasons apply for rock lobster and scallops.

Licence Cards: When you buy a licence, you will receive a temporary licence certificate. A plastic licence card listing the licence types that you have been issued with and the valid dates will be mailed to the address provided within 7 – 10 days. In the interim, the licence can be used, but you must carry your temporary certificate.

If you do not receive your licence card after this time, please contact Marine Resources on (03) 6233 7042.

If you lose your licence card, you can order a replacement at Service Tasmania or online at a cost of $6.05.

Licence Fees You can buy all the different types of recreational sea fishing licences in one transaction.

In the 2006-07 licensing year (from 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007) the following costs will apply:

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Vic Recreation Fishing

Do I Need a Licence? Yes - unless exempt e.g. over 70 or under 18 [more]

A Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) covers, all forms of recreational fishing in all of Victoria's marine, estuarine and freshwaters. Unless you are exempt, a RFL is required when taking, or attempting to take, any species of fish by any method including line fishing, bait collection, gathering shellfish, yabby fishing, prawning and spear fishing.
Fisheries Officers will be on patrol to ensure fishers hold a valid licence. Penalties apply for fishing without a licence.

How do I Obtain a Licence?

Victorian anglers now have the option to buy a three-year Recreational Fishing Licence for $60. This presents a saving of $6 on the combined cost of purchasing three annual licences. Anglers can still buy the one-year RFL for $22, the 28-day RFL for $11, and the 2-day RFL for $5.50.

The RFL may be purchased to come into effect on a future date for up to one year from the date of purchase. An RFL may not be loaned or transferred to another person.

The RFL is available from many DPI offices and more than 980 retail businesses throughout Victoria, including most retail fishing tackle stores. You can purchase a 2-day licence and a 28-day licence at over 280 Shell Touch outlets.

Licence Outlets [Agents List] PDF 151kb

Your Licence Fees at Work The money collected through the sale of licences is being used to fund projects to improve recreational fishing opportunities and fish habitats in Victoria.

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WA Recreation Fishing

Little information seems to be available regarding WA fishing.  It has therefore been concluded that a licence is required and the costs are included below.  To download an application for a new licence, or renewal, you are required to accept the conditions before the site allows you to go to the form.  For the terms click here.
For what is is worth the WA site information is here

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