New laws aim to keep the sport in trout fishing

The Department of Primary Industries today reminded the trout fishing community of new laws introduced this season that are primarily aimed at enhancing the sport of trout fishing.

"The NSW Government wants to ensure that trout fishing remains a sport and that the wild and stocked populations of fish in rivers, lakes and dams across the State are not exploited by fishers who do not follow the rules," Department of Primary Industries Acting Manager Compliance Operations, Glenn Tritton said.  

"A number of new fishing rules have been introduced this season and fishers also need to remember existing fishing laws," Mr Tritton said. 

In the new rules, the number of trout water categories has been simplified, namely that:

• Artificial lure and fly only waters - incorporate the former blue ribbon streams, catch and release streams, trophy trout dams and trout spawning streams, and
• General trout waters - incorporate the former general trout streams and dams, where bait fishing is allowed.

Mr Tritton, said three streams: Khancoban Creek, Wilde’s Meadow Creek and Tumbledown Creek, have been opened to trout fishing. These streams can now be fished but only using a single rod and artificial flies and lures.

"A bag limit of 5 will apply in all general trout waters. A bag limit of 2 will apply in artificial fly and lure waters, except spawning streams (Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers from 1 May to the end of the June long weekend) where the bag limit is 1. In all other waters, the bag limit for trout and salmon will remain at 10 per day. Size limits for trout and salmon remain unchanged (25cm in all notified trout waters other than spawning streams, where the size limit is 50cm)," he said.

"One rod and line will be permitted in artificial lure and fly and lure waters and general trout streams. Two rods and lines are permitted in general trout dams. The current limit of 2 hooks per line will continue to apply in all notified trout waters except trout dams, where the number of hooks per line has been increased from 2 to 3 (where hooks are artificial lures or flies) to allow for loch style fishing," he said.

The new rules came into effect following extensive consultation with the NSW fishing community.

Fishers found in contravention of the fishing laws may be liable to on-the-spot fines up to $500, or they may face court for serious or multiple offences where significant penalties of up to $22,000 apply.

For more information contact your local NSW DPI Fisheries office to obtain a copy of the Freshwater Recreation Fishing in NSW Summary (September 2007) or from local bait and tackle outlets, or go to: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries and follow the links.

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