Recreational Fishing

Bag and Size Limits for Freshwater Species

Bag limit: The maximum number of fish per person per day.

Possession Limit: The possession limit is the maximum number of fish per person if you have been fishing for more than one day, which is equal to twice the daily bag limit, unless otherwise stated in the table. The possession limit also applies to the transport and storage of fish but does not apply to the purchase of fish from a registered fish receiver, such as a fish shop.

Summary of freshwater fishing rules

Fish Species	Legal Length	Daily Limit	Possession Limit	Open Fishing Season
Australian bass / Estuary perch	-	2 (one or more species), only 1 over 35 cm in rivers	4 (one or more species) , only 1 over 35 cm in rivers	September to May in rivers below freshwater impoundments. All year in freshwater impoundments and rivers above freshwater impoundments
Crayfish, Murray	Min 10 cm Max 12 cm	2	4	June to August in the following waters: (a) Murrumbidgee River and its tributaries excluding Old Mans Creek from the Hume Highway road bridge at Gundagai to a line 100m upstream of the weir face at Berembed Weir near Ganmain (b) Murray River and its tributaries from 130 below Hume Weir near Albury to the Newell Highway road bridge at Tocumwal, All other waters in NSW are closed to Murray crayfish fishing.
Crayfish, other spiny	9 cm	5 (one or more species), only 1 over 12cm	10 (one or more species), only 1 over 12 cm	All year
Eel , Southern short fin	30 cm	10	10	All year
Eel, long fin	58 cm	10	10	All year
Freshwater Catfish (eel-tailed)	30 cm in listed dams, eastern dams and eastern rivers	5 in listed dams and eastern dams, 2 in eastern rivers	10 in listed dams and eastern dams, 4 in eastern rivers	All year in eastern rivers, eastern dams and listed dams
Golden perch	30 cm	5	10	All year
Murray cod	60 cm	2	4 only 1 over 100 cm	December to August each year
Silver perch	25 cm in listed dams	5 in listed dams	10 in listed dams	All year in listed dams
Trout and salmon Atlantic salmon Brown trout Rainbow trout Brook trout Trout & Salmon closures 110Kb	25 cm in general trout streams and dams	5 (one or more species) in general trout streams and dams	10 (one or more species) in general trout streams and dams	From start of October long weekend to end of June long weekend in general trout streams. General trout dams are open to fishing all year
	25 cm in artificial fly and lure streams and dams	2 (one or more species) in artificial fly and lure streams and dams	4 (one or more species) in artificial fly and lure streams and dams	From start of October long weekend to end of June long weekend in artificial fly and lure streams. Artificial fly and lure dams are open to fishing all year
	50 cm in trout spawning streams	1 (one or more species) in trout spawning streams	2 (one or more species) in trout spawning streams	From 1 May to end of June long weekend. Rules for artificial fly and lure streams apply from start of October long weekend to 30 April.
	25 cm in all other waters	10 (one or more species) in all other waters	20 (one or more species) in all other waters	All year in all other waters
Yabbies - freshwater	-	200	200	All year
Other native fin fish species	-	10, one or more species, other than invertebrates	10, one or more species, other than invertebrates	All year
Non native fin fish species (excluding trout & salmon)	-	-	-	All year

Note. n the above table, the terms “eastern dams” & “eastern rivers” refer to waters located within the eastern drainages of NSW. Listed dams are shown in the table below: The daily limit is the maximum number of fish taken per person per day. The possession limit is the maximum number of fish per person if you have been fishing for more than one day, which is equal to twice the daily bag limit, unless otherwise stated in the table. The possession limit also applies to the transport and storage of fish but does not apply to the purchase of fish from a registered fish receiver, such as a fish shop. Finfish are measured from the tip of the snout to tip of the tail. Crayfish are measured from the rear of the eye socket to the centre rear of the carapace.

The taking of any fish species in general trout streams, artificial fly and lure streams and trout spawning streams from the end of the June long weekend to the start of the October long weekend is prohibited. Trout & salmon fishing rules 110Kb. Seasonal fishing closures may apply in other waters. Refer to pages 284 to 304 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010.

The daily limit is the maximum number of fish taken per person per day. The possession limit is the maximum number of fish per person if you have been fishing for more than one day, which is equal to twice the daily bag limit, unless otherwise stated in the table. The possession limit also applies to the transport and storage of fish but does not apply to the purchase of fish from a registered fish receiver, such as a fish shop. Finfish are measured from the tip of the snout to tip of the tail. Crayfish are measured from the rear of the eye socket to the centre rear of the carapace.

Western dams where silver perch & catfish may be taken

Dam / Weir	Species permitted
Ben Chifley	Silver perch, catfish
Blowering	Silver perch
Burrendong	Silver perch, catfish
Burrinjuck	Silver perch
Chaffey	Silver perch, catfish
Copeton	Silver perch, catfish
Googong	Silver perch
Jounama	Silver perch
Keepit	Silver perch, catfish
Lake Albert	Silver perch
Lake Wyangan	Silver perch
Pindari	Silver perch, catfish
Split Rock	Silver perch, catfish
Windamere	Silver perch, catfish
Wyangala	Silver perch, catfish
Yass	Silver perch

Eastern dams where silver perch & catfish may be taken

Dam / Weir	Species permitted
Glenbawn	Silver perch, catfish
Glennies Creek	Silver perch, catfish
All other eastern dams	*Catfish

*Note: Catfish may also be taken from eastern flowing streams.