NSW

Did you know snapper is now on the recommended species list for the Game Fish Tagging Program? They even have a special tag type designed just for their unique body shape! To qualify for tagging, snapper must measure over 60cm total length. Since 2014, recreational anglers along the NSW east coast have tagged over 1,850 snapper, with 115 recaptures reported …

Sustainable fishing charity OzFish Unlimited and social enterprise Reflections Holidays are pleased to launch the Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series, a series of angling competitions held in NSW’s premier fishing destinations across three weekends in 2024 and 2025. With a wide variety of fishing categories, a $25,000 prize pool per event, family friendly entertainment and plenty of activities, keen anglers are …

In early 2023, NSW DPIRD Fisheries Officers from the Sydney South district and the Greater Metropolitan Mobile Squad, acting on a tip-off from a member of the public via the Fishers Watch Hotline, uncovered a significant illegal operation at a residential property in Cabramatta. The officers discovered 8,716 cockles, weighing 492kg in the backyard of the residence. After investigations, these …

Hello all, well I guess there’s nothing more exciting than starting the summer off with a flood… a little sarcasm there.   This most recent event provided us with a downpour of slightly over 6m in Lismore.   While not to the catastrophic levels of 2022, it was still enough to make plenty of people around the area more than …

Remember: Fishing Gear Compliance Matters On the evening of October 30, 2024, Fisheries Officers from the Shoalhaven Fisheries District conducted a routine patrol of coastal lakes as the prawning season kicked off. During their inspection around 10:30pm, they encountered two individuals prawning in Lake Woolumboola at Culburra, NSW. The Fisheries Officers found that the men were using a hand-hauled prawn …

With summer around the corner, popular fishing locations get busy with keen fishers and in some cases, unfortunately, that means more litter and lost fishing gear. Fishing related litter and debris can have a big impact on wildlife that interact with it. Birds, turtles, seals, platypus and other aquatic animals can be accidentally injured by discarded tackle, including fishing line, …

The Minns Labor Government has today announced more than $18 million of funding for world-class programs to boost recreational fishing across the State. The Government’s commitment to making recreational fishing more accessible to everyone and ensuring its continues to contribute to the local economies of communities around NSW is being realised with today’s announcement. This investment in recreational fishing includes: …

The weather is warming up, and if you’re planning a day out by the beautiful waters of NSW, whether it’s rock fishing, spearfishing, or collecting marine invertebrates, understanding fishing rules and regulations is crucial. Rock platforms along the NSW coast are rich in marine life but also vulnerable to human activity. Many marine invertebrates, such as shellfish, crabs, and sea …

In March 2023, NSW DPIRD Fisheries Officers conducted a routine patrol at the Hammer Head Sanctuary Zone in Jervis Bay Marine Park. During this patrol, officers observed two men fishing from a boat inside the protected sanctuary zone. The Hammer Head Sanctuary Zone is clearly marked with four yellow buoys and shore-based markers. Despite these indicators and a zoning map …

Fishing-related litter has been identified as a key environmental threat in NSW and elsewhere around the world. As well as impacting on aquatic habitats – and being a really bad look for all recreational fishers, litter can harm aquatic life. Although the amount of fishing-related litter may not be as high as other types, it can have a bigger impact …