Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...

 
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Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...
Trout waters recreational fishing
guide (Southern)
March 2021, Primefact V13/4065#19 4th edition

Craig Watson, Fisheries Manager, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Management, Tamworth
Introduction                                    regulations and distributing freshwater
                                                fishing guides and sticky fish measuring
Our State's fisheries are a community-          rulers.
owned resource. We all have a
                                                Figure 1. The Snowy Mountains region.
responsibility to protect and safeguard
this natural asset for present and future
generations.
Fishing regulations are in place to protect
and conserve our fish stocks and aquatic
habitats to ensure that fishing activities
remain sustainable.
The Snowy catchment provides many
fishing opportunities for a variety of
enthusiasts. This guide will give you an
idea of the fishing on offer and the
closures and restrictions that apply across
the Snowy Mountains region from Tumut
in the west, Bombala in the east,
Crookwell in the north and Khancoban in
the south.                                      Fishcare Volunteers can also be found at
                                                boat ramps and on the water in dedicated
The Snowy region offers excellent lake,
                                                Fishcare vessels, advising anglers about
river and boat fishing opportunities and
                                                responsible      fishing    practices   and
anglers have the chance of catching a
                                                distributing fisheries advisory information.
wide variety of trout species including
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout         Information on bag and size limits, fishing
and Atlantic Salmon.                            closures and legal fishing gear can also be
                                                obtained free of charge from the NSW
NSW DPI Fisheries Officers regularly
                                                DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries,
patrol waterways and impoundments
                                                or by visiting your local NSW DPI fisheries
ensuring compliance with NSW fishing
                                                office.
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

To report illegal fishing activity, call your      River and in inshore areas such as Lake
local fisheries office or the Fishers Watch        Macquarie, Botany Bay, St Georges
Phoneline on 1800 043 536. All calls will          Basin, Lake Conjola and Merimbula
be treated as confidential and you can             Lake.
remain anonymous.                               You can pay the NSW Recreational Fishing
                                                Fee from hundreds of agents throughout
Recreational Fishing Fee
                                                NSW such as over the counter at most
When fishing in NSW waters, both                fishing tackle shops. You can also pay the
freshwater and saltwater, you are required      fee at some caravan parks, service
by law to pay the NSW Recreational              stations, many Kmart stores, online at
Fishing Fee and carry a receipt showing         www.licence.nsw.gov.au         or       by
the payment of the fee. This applies when       calling 1300 369 365.
line fishing, bowfishing, trapping, netting     If you pay for a one year or three-year
or when undertaking bait or invertebrate        period online, over the phone or at a
collection or when in possession of fishing     Touch agent or if you renew your licence
gear in, on or adjacent to waters.              using your renewal letter, you will receive
All money raised by the NSW Recreational        a plastic receipt in the post. For all other
fishing Fee is spent on improving               payment methods, you will receive a
recreational fishing in NSW. Some               paper receipt.
projects include:                               Some exemptions apply to paying the
o Angler facilities such as fish cleaning       fishing fee, including people under the age
  tables and fishing platforms.                 of 18 and holders of pensioner concession
                                                cards. For further information on
o Stocking of freshwater fish in dams and
                                                exemptions visit the NSW DPI website or
  rivers.
                                                call 1300 550 474.
o Essential    research      on     popular
                                                You may not need to pay the NSW
  recreational fish species.
                                                Recreational Fishing Fee if you are fishing
o Enhancing compliance with fishing             on a charter boat under the supervision of
  rules.                                        a fishing guide. Please check with the
o Restoring important fish habitat.             charter operator, or guide, before you go
                                                fishing. If they do not hold a Recreational
o Research stocking of mulloway and             Fishing Fee Exemption Certificate you will
  prawns in estuaries.                          need to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing
o The installation of fish aggregating          Fee.
  devices (FADs) to enhance fishing
                                                Trout and salmon fishing rules
  opportunities     for    Mahi    Mahi
  (Dolphinfish) or even Tuna and Marlin.        General trout steams
o Creation of recreational fishing havens.      The following waters are general trout
o Angler   education      and    advisory       streams and are closed to the taking of all
  programs such as the Fishcare                 species of fish by any method, from the
  Volunteer program, fishing workshops,         Tuesday after the June (Queen’s Birthday)
  Get Hooked. It’s Fun to Fish and fishing      long weekend until midnight on the last
  guides.                                       Friday before the start of the October
                                                (Labour Day) long weekend (inclusive) in
o Building artificial reefs in offshore areas   each year.
  such as Sydney Reef and Shoalhaven

2 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

The following methods are permitted              of the waters of the Lachlan River, its
during the fishing season:                       creeks and tributaries upstream from the
                                                 Cowra–Young road bridge.
a) one attended rod and line with not
more than 2 hooks attached and with not          Macphersons Swamp Creek. (South West
more than 3 treble hooks, or 3 double            Slopes district). The following waters are
hooks, attached to any lure: and                 general trout waters: the whole of the
                                                 waters of the Macphersons Creek and
b) a landing net used as an ancillary for
                                                 tributaries upstream from where it enters
retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Bait fishing
                                                 the backed-up waters of Burrinjuck Dam.
is permitted.
                                                 Molonglo River. (South West Slopes
When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook
                                                 district). The following waters are general
Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in
                                                 trout waters: the whole of the waters of
general trout streams, the maximum
                                                 the Molonglo River, its creeks and
quantity that a person may take on any
                                                 tributaries upstream from the railway
one day is 5 and the maximum quantity
                                                 bridge at Burbong.
that a person may have in their
possession is 10, consisting of any single       Murray River. (Monaro and Hume
species or a combination of species.             districts). The following waters are general
                                                 trout waters: the whole of the waters of
Bemboka River. (Far South Coast district).
                                                 the Murray River, its creeks and
The following waters are general trout
                                                 tributaries upstream from the road bridge
waters: the whole of the waters of
                                                 at Tintaldra.
Bemboka River, its creeks and tributaries
upstream to its junction with, and               Murrumbidgee River. (South West Slopes
including, Tantawangalo Creek.                   and Monaro districts). The following
                                                 waters are general trout waters: the whole
Goodradigbee River. (South West Slopes
                                                 of the waters of the Murrumbidgee River,
district). The following waters are general
                                                 its creeks and tributaries upstream from
trout waters: the whole of the waters of
                                                 its junction with, and including, the
the Goodradigbee River, its creeks and
                                                 Bredbo River
tributaries upstream from where it enters
the backed-up waters of Burrinjuck Dam.          Queanbeyan River (Figure 2). (South West
                                                 Slopes district). The following waters are
Guinecor Creek. (South West Slopes
                                                 general trout waters: the whole of the
district). The following waters are general
                                                 waters of the Queanbeyan River, its creeks
trout waters: the whole of the waters of
                                                 and tributaries upstream of the fence
Guinecor Creek and its tributaries
                                                 boundary of the Googong Dam Reservoir
upstream from its junction with, but not
                                                 (about 1 kilometre downstream of the
including, the Wollondilly River.
                                                 wall of Googong Dam).
Ingeegoodbee River. (Monaro district).
                                                 Shoalhaven River. (South West Slopes and
The following waters are general trout
                                                 Monaro districts). The following waters are
waters: the whole of the waters of the
                                                 general trout waters: the whole of the
Ingeegoodbee River, its creeks and
                                                 waters of the Shoalhaven River, its creeks
tributaries upstream from the Victorian
                                                 and tributaries upstream from its junction
border.
                                                 with, and including, the Mongarlowe River.
Lachlan River. (South West Slopes and
Central Tablelands districts). The following
waters are general trout waters: the whole

3 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Snowy River. (Monaro district). The            method, from the Tuesday after the June
following waters are general trout waters:     (Queen’s Birthday) long weekend until
the whole of the waters of the Snowy           midnight on the last Friday before the
                                               start of the October (Labour Day) long
River, its creeks and tributaries upstream
                                               weekend (inclusive) in each year.
of the Victorian border.
Figure 2. Queanbeyan River
                                               The following methods are permitted
                                               during the fishing season:
                                               a) one attended rod and line with not
                                               more than 2 hooks attached, artificial flies
                                               and lures only and with not more than
                                               3 treble hooks, or 3 double hooks,
                                               attached to any lure; and
                                               b) a landing net used as an ancillary for
                                               retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Bait fishing
                                               is not permitted.
                                               Note: ‘artificial flies or lures’ does not
                                               include the use of dough based baits or
                                               any other similar artificial or manufactured
                                               bait product.
                                               When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook
                                               Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout,
Tumut River. (South West Slopes and            the maximum quantity that a person may
Monaro districts). The following waters are    take on any one day is 2 and the
general trout waters: the whole of the         maximum quantity that a person may
waters of the Tumut River, its creeks and      have in their possession is 4, consisting of
                                               any single species or a combination of
tributaries upstream from its junction with
                                               species.
but not including, the Murrumbidgee
River.                                         Bobndara Creek. (Monaro district). The
                                               following waters are artificial fly and lure
Tuross River. (Monaro district). The
                                               waters: the whole of the waters of
following waters are general trout waters:
                                               Bobundara Creek and its tributaries
the whole of the waters of the Tuross          upstream from its junction with, but not
River, its creeks and tributaries upstream     including, the Snowy River.
from the Tuross Falls.
                                               Eucumbene River (Figure 3). (Monaro
Wollondilly River. (South West Slopes          district). The following waters are artificial
district). The following waters are general    fly and lure waters: the whole of the
trout waters: the whole of the waters of       waters of the Eucumbene River, its creeks
the Wollondilly River, its creeks and          and tributaries upstream from the Dam
tributaries upstream from its junction         wall of Lake Eucumbene and including
with, and including, the Tarlo River           Providence Portal.
Artificial fly and lure trout streams
The following waters are artificial fly and
lure trout streams and are closed to the
taking of all species of fish by any

4 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern) - NSW ...
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Flea Creek. (South West Slopes district).        Mowamba River. (Monaro district). The
The following waters are artificial fly and      following waters are artificial fly and lure
lure waters: the whole of the waters of          waters: the whole of the waters of the
Flea Creek and its tributaries including         Mowamba River (or Moonbah River), its
Tumbledown Creek and its tributaries
                                                 Creeks and tributaries upstream from its
upstream of the junction with the
                                                 junction with, but not including, the
Goodradigbee River.
                                                 Snowy River.
Figure 3. Eucumbene River
                                                 Swampy Plain River (Figure 4). (Monaro
                                                 district). The following waters are artificial
                                                 fly and lure waters: the whole of the
                                                 waters of the Swampy Plain River, its
                                                 creeks and tributaries downstream of the
                                                 southern      (upstream)    boundary       of
                                                 Khancoban Station and upstream from its
                                                 junction with, but not including, the
                                                 Murray River.
                                                 Thredbo River (Figure 5). (Monaro
                                                 district). The following waters are artificial
                                                 fly and lure waters: the whole of the
                                                 waters of the Thredbo River (or
                                                 Crackenback River), its creeks and
                                                 tributaries upstream from where it enters
Khancoban Creek (Figure 4). (Monaro              the backed-up waters of Lake Jindabyne,
district). The following waters are artificial   but not including that portion of the
fly and lure waters: the whole of the            Thredbo River from the upstream
waters of Khancoban Creek, together with         extremity of the public reserve known as
all of its tributaries, from its confluence      ‘Paddy's Corner’, upstream for a distance
with the backed-up waters of Khancoban           of 2.4 kilometres (being those waters
Pondage upstream to its source and               immediately adjacent to the Gaden Trout
including that part of Broken Back Creek         Hatchery or the waters of Sawpit Creek).
from the wall of Murray 2 Pondage                Artificial fly and lure trout dams
downstream to its confluence with the
waters of Khancoban Creek.                       The following dam is an artificial fly and
                                                 lure trout dam which is open to fishing all
Kybeyan River. (Monaro district). The            year round. Bait fishing is not permitted.
following waters are artificial fly and lure
waters: the whole of the waters of the           When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook
Kybeyan River, its creeks and tributaries        Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout,
upstream from its junction with, but not         the maximum quantity that a person may
including, the Numeralla River.                  take on any one day is 2 and the
                                                 maximum quantity that a person may
Maclaughlin River. (Monaro district). The        have in their possession is 4, consisting of
following waters are artificial fly and lure     any single species or a combination of
waters: the whole of the waters of the           species.
Maclaughlin River, its creeks and
tributaries upstream from its junction
with, but not including, the Snowy River.

5 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Black Lake. (Far South Coast District). The    Friday before the October (Labour Day)
following waters are artificial fly and lure   long weekend.
waters: the whole of the waters of Black
                                               Open 1: As trout spawning streams: From
Lake.
                                               1 May morning until midnight Monday
 Dam                         Town              June long weekend.
 Black Lake                  Bibbenluke        Open 2: When otherwise classed as
                                               artificial fly & lure streams: From Saturday
Figure 4. Khancoban Creek and Swampy Plains    morning October long weekend until
River                                          midnight 30 April.
                                               The following methods are permitted
                                               during the fishing season:
                                               a)   one attended rod and line with not
                                               more than 2 hooks attached, artificial flies
                                               and lures only and with not more than
                                               3 treble hooks, or 3 double hooks,
                                               attached to any lure: and
                                               b)   a landing net used as an ancillary for
                                               retrieval of fish lawfully taken. Bait fishing
                                               is not permitted.
                                               When taking Atlantic Salmon, Brook
                                               Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in
                                               trout spawning streams the maximum
                                               quantity that a person may take on any
Figure 5. Thredbo River
                                               one day is 1 and the maximum quantity
                                               that a person may have in their
                                               possession is 2, consisting of any single
                                               species or a combination of species.
                                               The legal length when taking Atlantic
                                               Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout and
                                               Rainbow Trout in trout spawning streams
                                               is 50 cm.
                                               Eucumbene River (Figure 3). (Monaro
                                               district). The following waters are trout
                                               spawning waters: the whole of the waters
                                               of the Eucumbene River and its tributaries
                                               upstream of the dam wall and including
                                               the Providence Portal.
                                               Thredbo River (Figure 5). (Monaro
Trout spawning streams                         district). The following waters are trout
The following waters are trout spawning        spawning waters: the whole of the
streams and are closed to the taking of all    Thredbo River except for a signposted
species of fish by any method, from            2.4 km reach at Gaden Trout Hatchery.
Tuesday after the June (Queens Birthday)
long weekend until midnight of the last

6 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Note: The signposted 2.4 km reach of the          Talbingo Dam                     Talbingo
Thredbo River at Gaden Trout Hatchery is
completely closed to fishing all year round.      Tantangara Dam                   Adaminaby

                                                  Three Mile Dam                   Kiandra
General trout dams
                                                  Tod Kill Park Dam                Crookwell
The following waters are general trout
                                                  Tooma Dam                        Khancoban
dams. These waters are open to fishing all
year round. When fishing in general trout         Tumut Ponds                      Adaminaby
dams, up to two attended rods each with           Tumut 2 Pondage                  Khancoban
a line may be used with not more than
2 hooks attached per line or up to               General freshwater fishing rules
3 hooks attached per line, where those           Permitted fishing gear and methods
hooks are artificial flies or lures. An
artificial fly or lure is considered to be a     Lines. Two attended lines are permitted in
single hook. Bait fishing is permitted. A        all non-tidal waters other than in some
landing net may be used as an ancillary          trout waters.
for retrieval of fish lawfully taken.            Attended lines must be within 50 m, in
Note: The bag and size limits for general        your sight,
trout dams are the same as the bag and           and have no more than 2 hooks per line
size limits for general trout streams            or up to 3 treble hooks attached to any
 Dam                           Town              lure per line other than in some trout
 Captains Flat Dam             Queanbeyan
                                                 waters. A lure is considered a single hook.
                                                 Setlines are not permitted.
 Coolumbooka Weir              Bombala
                                                 Traps and nets. You may use up to
 Diggers Creek Dam             Perisher Valley
                                                 5 open pyramid lift nets or hoop nets,
 Geehi Dam                     Khancoban         1 shrimp trap, other than in trout waters
 Gogong Dam                    Queanbeyan        where the use of traps and nets is
 Guthega Lake                  Jindabyne         prohibited (except when using up to
                                                 5 open pyramid lift nets or hoop nets in
 Happy Jacks Pondage           Khancoban
                                                 Googong Dam or Lakes Lyell, Wallace,
 Island Bend Dam               Jindabyne         Eucumbene or Jindabyne to take yabbies).
 Jounama Pondage               Talbingo
                                                 Yabby “opera house” traps are not
 Khancoban Pondage             Khancoban         permitted for use in any waters after
 Lake Bathurst                 Tarago            30 April 2021. Up to 5 yabby traps are
                                                 permitted until 30 April 2021 except in
 Lake Crackenback              Thredbo
                                                 trout waters, closed areas and the
 Lake Eucumbene                Adaminaby         following locations: Waters east of the
 Lake Jindabyne                Jindabyne         Newell Highway (excluding farm dams);
 Lake Williams                 Nimmitabel        The Murray River from the Newell
                                                 Highway at Tocumwal downstream to the
 Marsden Weir                  Goulburn
                                                 Echuca road bridge; The Edward River
 Murray 2 Pondage              Khancoban         from the Murray River at Picnic Point
 Paddy’s River Dam             Tumbarumba        downstream to Stevens Weir and the
 Pejar Dam                     Goulburn          Murrumbidgee River from Narrandera to
                                                 the Darlington Point road bridge. All
 Redground Dam                 Crookwell
                                                 opera house traps used must be
 Rossi Weir                    Goulburn          modified with permanently fitted

7 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

90mm fixed rigid rings inserted at entry       Note: The specified waters include all
funnels.                                       tributaries,    lakes,    lagoons,  dams,
                                               reservoirs, ponds, canals, channels or
Persons must not set traps or nets for
                                               waterways of the main channels of the
longer than 24 hours without lifting those
                                               above rivers, except Old Man Creek, which
traps or nets.
                                               is a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River.
Fishers are encouraged to regularly check
                                               Australian Bass and Estuary Perch. May
set fishing gear, to ensure that any
                                               not be taken in rivers, except rivers above
unwanted catch is returned to the water
                                               impoundments from 1 May to 31 August
safely, unharmed.
                                               (inclusive) in each year other than by
See the NSW Freshwater Recreational            catch and release fishing, where any fish
Fishing Guide for further details.             caught must be returned to the water
Species restrictions                           safely, unharmed.

Freshwater Catfish – Eel Tailed.               Prohibited fishing methods
(Tandanus tandanus). May not be taken by       o Setlines, spearguns, spears, poison or
any fishing method in western flowing            explosives or firearms to take fish, to
rivers. May be taken from the backed-up          use a gaff to take fish, to jag or foul
waters of listed western impoundments,           hook fish, to use frogs, live finfish
eastern rivers and eastern dams. See the         (including carp), live birds or live
NSW Freshwater Recreational Fishing              animals as bait, or any traps or nets not
Guide for further details.                       permitted for recreational use, or to
Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus). May not        sell your catch. It is illegal to keep
be taken by any fishing method in any            prohibited size fish – they should be
rivers. May be taken from the backed-up          returned to the water immediately with
waters of listed impoundments. See the           as little harm as possible.
NSW Freshwater Recreational Fishing            o Crayfish. It is illegal to remove heads,
Guide for further details.                       tails and claws from crayfish or possess
Murray Cod (Maccullochella peeli). May           tails and or claws when you are in, on
not be taken from the whole of the               or adjacent to the water. This rule does
inland waters of NSW. From 1                     not apply if the crayfish are being
September to 30 November (inclusive) in          prepared for immediate consumption,
each year (except Copeton Dam).                  are being prepared for immediate use
                                                 as bait, if the crayfish are being cleaned
Murray Crayfish (Euastacus armatus). May         at a fish cleaning facility or at a boat
not be taken in any waters at any time           ramp. It is also illegal to keep crayfish
other than between June and August               with eggs or to remove those eggs.
(inclusive) in the following specified
waters:                                        o Trout and Salmon. It is illegal to use a
                                                 setline, handheld lines, traps, nets, a
(a) Murrumbidgee  River between the              light, your hand, or a gaff to take trout
Hume Highway road bridge, Gundagai               or salmon in trout waters, unless
and 100 m upstream of the weir face at           otherwise stated. The use of salmon
Berembed Weir near Ganmain and                   roe or products containing them is also
(b) Murray River from 130 m below Hume           prohibited.
Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway
road bridge, Tocumwal

8 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

o Chemical or explosive devices. You           o Care for your own safety and never
  cannot use any chemical or explosive           take undue risks when fishing, even
  devices to take or assist to take fish         when fighting fish. Never enter the
                                                 water to retrieve lost tackle or snagged
o Fish filleting. You must not alter the
                                                 fish. If the location looks dangerous,
  length of a fish which is subject to a
                                                 don’t fish there.
  minimum or maximum size limit whilst
  you are in, on or adjacent to any waters     o Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy vest
  in any manner other than by gutting,           when boat fishing or when fishing in
  gilling and scaling. You cannot remove         hazardous locations such as those
  the head or tail. This rule does not           located near areas of fast-moving
  apply if the fish are being prepared for       water. Always wear appropriate non-
  immediate consumption, are being               slip shoes. Cleats, sandals and
  prepared for immediate use as bait, if         sandshoes with non-slip soles suit
  the fish are being cleaned at a fish           different surfaces. Carry ropes and
                                                 torches as an additional precaution.
  cleaning facility or a fish cleaning table
  at a boat ramp, or for fish that do not      o If someone falls into the water, look for
  have a legal length.                           something that floats and throw it to
                                                 the person in the water. Alert
Other freshwater fishing rules
                                                 emergency services by dialling 112
o Lakes Hume and Mulwala. NSW                    from a mobile phone or 000 from a
  fishing regulations apply to all of Lake       landline.
  Mulwala and Victorian regulations
                                               o When boat fishing, wear light clothing.
  apply to all of Lake Hume.
                                                 Light clothing such as shorts and a
o Commercial fishing gear. Leave all             spray jacket will let you swim easily if
  commercial fishing gear in place and           you fall overboard. Jumpers may be
  do not disturb commercial fishers              heavy and difficult to take off.
  going about their lawful business.
                                               o Ask for advice from locals who know
  Penalties up to $5,500 can apply.
                                                 the area – they can advise you of good
Fishing safely                                   fishing locations and areas to be
                                                 cautions around.
Fishing is fun but remember to take care
and exercise caution. Remember these
basic safety tips.
o Observe first, fish later. Always check
  weather and water conditions before
  you start fishing. Make sure you are
  aware of local weather. Listen to
  weather forecasts or call the weather
  information line on 1900 937 107.
  Be aware that conditions may change
  dramatically in a short period of time.
o Never fish alone and always inform
  others of your fishing plans. Let friends
  or family know where you are going
  and when you will be back.

9 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Wader safely                                    Catch and release
Take extra care when wearing waders.            Catch and release fishing has increased in
NSW Maritime Authority recommends               popularity in recent years. Research has
that waders should not be used in boats         shown
in case of capsize or swamping.
                                                that most fish survive using current catch
Basic wader     safety   tips   include   the   and release fishing techniques. The
following.                                      following improved fishing practices are
                                                suggested to maximise fish survival.
o To restrict the amount of water that
  can enter waders, fasten a belt around        o If a fish is deeply hooked, do not try to
  your waist. This must be as firm as             remove the hook – cut the line as close
  possible but always comfortable. The            to the mouth as possible and release
  belt will also trap air inside and provide      the fish. It is likely to survive if handled
  some buoyancy but caution is needed             carefully.
  as you could end upside down if you
                                                o Use artificial lures or non-offset circle
  fall into the water.
                                                  hooks when using bait to reduce deep
o If you fall into the water immediately          hooking of fish.
  assume a tuck position, then roll on to
                                                o Barbless hooks can be used to make
  your back while keeping the knees
                                                  hook removal easier and minimise
  tucked. Use your arms to balance.
                                                  hook damage.
o Do not try to swim but either tread
                                                o Minimise the length of time the fish is
  water or float.
                                                  out of the water. Ideally, unhook the
o If swept into a fast-flowing stream             fish while it is still in the water. Needle-
  always face downstream and go with              nosed pliers or unhooking devices can
  the current feet first while working to a       greatly reduce the time spent
  safe shore position.                            unhooking a fish.
o Always remember not to panic                  o Use fish-friendly landing nets
                                                  with soft, knotless mesh.
Responsible fishing
                                                o Avoid dropping the fish on hard or
o Observe all bag and size limits as well
                                                  hot surfaces and do not hold the fish
  as any other restrictions for the area
                                                  by the gills or eyes.
  you are fishing.
                                                o Use wet hands or gloves to
o Carefully release all undersize or
                                                  handle fish before release.
  unwanted fish and take only what is
  sufficient for your immediate needs.          o If you are going to take photos of
                                                  your fish before release, support
o Take home any rubbish from the
                                                  your fish properly.
  fishing spot, especially plastic bags, old
  line, and fishing hooks.                      Penalties
o Take home any left-over bait or fish          Penalties apply to persons who take or
  discards and ensure you clean away            possess fish (including invertebrates,
  any residue.                                  shells, etc.) taken in contravention of
o Use environmentally friendly tackle           fishing closures.
  where possible.

10 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
Trout waters recreational fishing guide (Southern)

Further information
If you would like more information about
fishing restrictions that apply to northern
trout waterways and impoundments,
please contact the relevant fisheries office.
Hume District (02) 6496 8200
Monaro District (02) 6451 3402
Far South Coast (02) 6496 8200
South West Slopes (02) 6491 1404
Central Tablelands (02) 6331 1428

For further information visit the NSW DPI
Website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries or
call 1300 550 474.

CM9 V13/4065#19

© State of New South Wales through Regional NSW 2021.
The information contained in this publication is based on
knowledge and understanding at the time of writing
(March 2021). However, because of advances in
knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that
the information upon which they rely is up to date and to
check the currency of the information with the appropriate
officer of the Department of Regional NSW or the user’s
independent adviser.

11 | NSW Department of Primary Industries, March 2021
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