Annual NSW trout fishing season opens 29 September
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The annual NSW trout fishing season opens on Saturday 29 September and finishes at the end of the June 2008 long weekend, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) announced today.
DPI Manager Fisheries Compliance Glenn Tritton said the opening followed the completion of the annual spawning period, which allowed trout to travel up rivers and streams to breed uninterrupted.
"The trout fishing industry is important for economies of regional NSW. A survey of the value of trout fishing in the Snowy Mountains showed it is worth $70 million to that region's economy and creates up to 700 jobs in the region," he said.
Outstanding trout fishing is often found in the headwaters of the Murrumbidgee, Eucumbene and Thredbo Rivers, the lakes of the Snowy Scheme (Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara), Talbingo Dam and Khancoban Pondage. Other renowned trout fishing areas include the New England region and the Central Tablelands.
Mr Tritton said the 2007/08 fish stocking season had already begun and by the end October long weekend approximately 312,000 rainbow trout fry will have been released into the rivers and streams of the New England.
This release was conducted by NSW DPI in conjunction with the New England Trout Acclimatisation Society
He said an additional 120,000 fry would be released in the Central Tablelands area in conjunction with the Central Acclimatisation Society.
"These are the first of many planned trout releases, with approximately three million trout and salmon to be released across NSW this stocking season," he said.
Mr Tritton said following the announcement of new recreational fishing rules, which came into effect on 3 September, notified trout waters have been simplified into two categories - artificial fly and lure only waters and general trout waters.
These waters include the former blue ribbon streams, catch and release streams, trophy trout dams and trout spawning streams and general trout waters, incorporating the former general trout streams and dams where bait fishing is allowed.
Khancoban Creek, Wilde’s Meadow Creek and Tumbledown Creek, previously closed to fishing, are now managed as artificial fly and lure waters and will be open for the first time to anglers on 29 September.
The number of hooks permitted in artificial fly and lure dams and general trout dams has been increased from two to three, where those hooks are artificial fly or lures, to cater for loch style fishing.
These details and other changes are in the NSW Freshwater Fishing Brochure, which can be obtained from most places where recreational fishing licences are sold, or at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries. Anglers need to have a current NSW recreational fishing licence.
Anglers can also check trout fishing rules in their area with their nearest DPI Fisheries office.
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