Fishing News

A member of the public has been found guilty and fined $1300 for illegal intertidal shellfish collecting and failing to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee at Port Kembla after information was received from the Fishers Watch hotline. 1,702 Molluscs were found concealed in the rear of a vehicle after it was searched by a Fisheries Officer. Possession limit for …

On 15 and 16 May 2021, Fisheries Officers were conducting a routine patrol of the Lachlan River and Goobang Creek near Condoblin in Central West NSW where they located a number of unattended handlines set in Goobang Creek. Surveillance was carried out on the lines and two males were spoken to in relation to the matter. As a result of …

It’s hard to believe but the warm water fishing season is rapidly drawing to a close. Cold fronts are beginning to rear their heads along the NSW coast, bringing westerly winds and a slowing of the East Australian Current. Coinciding with this change of season, the retrieval of NSW DPI’s network of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) for winter maintenance has commenced …

Two men have been issued $6400 in fines plus court costs after being found guilty of Murray Crayfish theft. In response to information received, NSW DPI Fisheries Officer’s apprehended two men on the 17 June 2020 following an extensive surveillance operation of their fishing activities on the Murray River near Barooga. Officers located a large number of Murray Crayfish in …

On 11 March 2021, a South Coast man was sentenced to a term of nine months’ imprisonment to be served by way of intensive correction in the community and ordered to pay a total of $6,750 in fines, costs and additional monetary penalties after being found guilty of trafficking abalone and shucking abalone unlawfully. The man – a repeat abalone …

Each year our officers conduct around 50,000 checks of recreational and commercial fishers leading to the detection of about 7,000 offences. Our officers seize finfish and shellfish when they have been taken contrary to NSW fishing laws and fishing gear may be seized when it’s used to break those laws. Procedures for fish and fishing gear that is seized: – …

NSW DPI Fisheries wants your mackerel frames. With the water beginning to clear along the NSW north coast after a long wet summer, many pelagic fish are starting to return to the inshore waters, and the NSW DPI wants your mackerel frames. Anglers are starting to catch spanish and spotted mackerel once again, and the Research Angler Program is keen …

Three men have lost their boat, and the haul of Mud crabs they allegedly stole from recreational and commercial traps following an operation by NSW DPI fisheries officers and NSW Police Marine Area Command at Tweed Heads. The boat contained 43 live Mud crabs weighing a total of 26kg, one cast net – which is illegal to use and possess …

NSW DPI is reminding recreational fishers that collecting pipis for human consumption is not permitted in NSW. Pipis may be taken for bait from NSW beaches but cannot be moved more than 50m from the high tide mark. This long-standing arrangement is in place because pipis may contain toxins due to natural algal blooms, which are not always visible in …

Call for expressions of interest A Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group is being established to engage key stakeholders in a collaborative process to develop a harvest strategy for the Mulloway in NSW, with a focus on rebuilding the stock to a sustainable level. Expressions of interest are sought to fill the following member positions on the Working Group; Independent Chairperson …