Sydney fishers have overwhelming declared Sydney Harbour as a great spot to fish, in one of the largest field-based recreational fishing surveys in Australia, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.

Mr Macdonald said the survey was part of a $2.2 million, two-year survey of NSW major recreational fisheries in the Greater Sydney Region.

"Results from the first stage of this research is great news for fishers - more than 70 per cent of fishers rated the Sydney Harbour fishery as good to very good with respect to the number, size and variety of fish available," Mr Macdonald said.

"Only 11 per cent of fishers considered it poor, which proves the vast majority of fishers value Sydney Harbour as a quality recreational fishing spot. 

"More than 406 angling parties - representing 838 anglers - were involved in the Sydney Harbour surveys with around 70 per cent being shore-based and 30 per cent boat-based.

Minister Macdonald said Sydney Harbour is the oldest and most loved fishery in Australia.

"Importantly, this survey shows us that we are providing quality fishing areas for recreational fishers and ensuring sustainable fishing well into the future," he said.

"Anglers are catching a range of fish including snapper, yellowtail scad, yellowfin bream, yellowtail kingfish, tailor, dusky flathead, squid, sand whiting and silver sweep.

"It’s great to see that Sydney’s recreational fishers are catching a wide variety of fish, and are happy with the diversity and size.

"Staff are also surveying more than 25,000 fishing parties from across the Greater Sydney Region as part of the two-year project including the Hawkesbury River estuary, Port Hacking estuary, Norah Head, Terrigal, Long Reef, Bellambi, Port Kembla and Shellharbour.

"Survey staff are out on boats, at fishing spots and boat ramps interviewing fisherman about recreational fishing in the area. They are spending time finding out from recreational fishers about the time they spend fishing, what they catch and their views on the quality of the fishery."

The survey is jointly funded by NSW DPI and the Recreational Fishing Trust.

More information

Greater Sydney Recreational Fishing Survey

Media contact: Jason Bartlett, 0438 209 28