Freshwater bag and size limits
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
Species | Legal length | Daily limit | Possession limit | Open fishing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
* Only catch and release fishing is permitted in the Snowy catchment | - | 2 (one or more species), only | 4 (one or more species) , only 1 over 35 cm in rivers | September to April in rivers below freshwater impoundments (catch and release fishing permitted from May to August). All year in freshwater impoundments and rivers above freshwater impoundments Porters Creek Dam near Milton on the NSW south coast is now open (from July 7 2023) to catch and release fishing for Australian Bass and Estuary Perch using artificial flies or lures. |
* Only catch and release fishing is permitted in the Snowy catchment | ||||
10 cm to 12 cm | 2 | 4 | June to August in the following waters: (a) Murrumbidgee River and its tributaries excluding Old Man 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 except Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish
| 9 cm | 5 (one or more species), only | 10 (one or more species), only 1 over 12 cm | All year |
30 cm | 10 | 10 | All year | |
58 cm | 10 | 10 | All year | |
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 | |
30 cm | 5 | 10 | All year | |
55 cm to 75 cm | 2 | 4 | December to August each year. All year in Copeton Dam and Blowering Dam | |
25 cm in listed dams | 5 in listed dams | 10 in listed dams | All year in listed dams | |
| Atlantic Salmon
| 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 general trout streams, general trout dams and all other waters | 5 (one or more species) | 10 (one or more species) | From start of October long weekend to end of June long weekend in general trout streams. General trout dams and all other waters are open to fishing all year | |
- | 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 |
In 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.
Fishing 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. Refer to the NSW Government Gazette for more information on trout and salmon fishing rules and fishing rules for Thompsons Creek Dam. Seasonal fishing closures may apply in other waters.
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.
