Two fishers from Adelaide are facing prosecution after being caught with more than 10 times the legal limit of squid at Black Point. PIRSA Fisheries Officers intercepted the pair at the boat ramp and seized 157 illegally caught Southern Calamari – far exceeding the daily limit of 15 per person. The boat and all associated [...]
Did you know that Bronze Whaler Sharks are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and Dusky Whaler Sharks are listed as near threatened? Because of this, these species, along with other vulnerable shark and ray species, have a combined recreational bag limit of 1 in South Australian [...]
Snapper stocks in the West Coast and Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent are classified as depleted and have been closed to fishing since November 2019. To support the recovery of depleted Snapper stocks and the potential reopening of the fishery beyond 30 June 2026, PIRSA is preparing a Snapper Rebuilding Plan. Rebuilding plans are used [...]
Snapper catch limits have been increased in the South East Fishing Zone for recreational fishers from 1 July, The new recreational (non-charter) daily limits for Snapper in the South East Zone are: Bag limit: 3 Snapper per person per day (combined total of large and small, increase from 2) Boat limit: 9 Snapper per boat (where three or more people [...]
The whale season is well and truly underway, and for many recreational fishers, that means sharing the water with some of our most impressive marine visitors. Humpback whales are migrating north along the NSW coast, and their regular breaches and blows are a breath-taking bonus to a day on the water. But these giants deserve [...]
The 2024/25 NSW FAD season is concluding after one of the most productive years in over two decades, with strong dolphinfish catches reported from Tweed Heads all the way to Eden. All FADs will be removed for annual maintenance during the cooler months and redeployed before the next season. Removals from Port Stephens to Eden have [...]
We’re excited to share that fishing hook and line bins have now been installed by Ballina Shire Council at three popular recreational fishing spots, Gawandii Beach, North Wall (near the Marine Rescue Tower), and Fishery Creek Boat Ramp, as part of a six-month trial initiative. This project is a collaborative effort between Council, DPIRD, Australian [...]
The team from the Grafton Fisheries Centre, a hatchery dedicated to threatened species conservation in northern NSW, has released 1000 advanced sized Eastern Freshwater Cod into the Upper Clarence. These Eastern Freshwater Cod (known locally as the Clarence River Cod) were bred at the Grafton Fisheries Centre from broodstock collected from the Nymboida-Mann River. DPIRD Fisheries [...]
The NSW Game Fish Tagging Program recently received a fascinating recapture report - a Mulloway caught for the fourth time! In mid-April 2025, Cooper Black (pictured) was fishing offshore of Forster. After an unsuccessful session chasing Spanish Mackerel, he decided to target Mulloway on the way home. Among the good-sized fish landed, one had an [...]
NSW DPIRD has launched a new innovative state-wide high school program, Get Hooked... Fish for Life, to empower young people to become champions of sustainable fishing practices and fisheries stewardship. The comprehensive program is freely available to all NSW high schools, and is aimed at stages 4 and 5, years 7-10. It comprises of four curriculum-aligned units [...]
