Looking to catch a few meals on your next trip?
When you next find yourself in New South Wales and craving a bit of adventure, there’s nothing quite like packing some gear, throwing in a line and pulling out some fish. Whether you’re fishing off a local jetty, a freshwater dam off the beaten track or right on the beach, there’s a long list of fishing spots in NSW that will be sure to get hooked on catching delicious meals while on the road (and saving some cash while you’re at it!)
To maximise your fishing time, we’ve pulled together a guide on things you should know before you wet your line, as well as some top fishing spots to visit in NSW.
First, the important stuff
Register
In NSW, you will need to register a recreational fishing license when fishing in saltwater or freshwater or when you’re on or near NSW waters with fishing gear. It’s easy to do! Just jump online and register at Service NSW. Fees range from around $7 for 3 days up to $85 for 3 years.
Rules and regulations
It’s important to note that when fishing in NSW, there are rules and regulations around what fish you can catch and keep and which ones you must throw back.
For example, there are size and bag limits for many species, and some fish are protected. It’s a good idea to brush up on the regulations beforehand to make sure you are fishing within the rules.
Download the FishSmart NSW app
To make things easier, you can download the FishSmart NSW – NSW Fishing app for all the essentials on fishing recreationally in NSW, including bag and size limits, closed seasons, fishing gear maps and keeping on top of your license.
Where to fish in NSW
Now that you have your license and are up-to-date on the regulations, it’s time to start planning your next fishing trip. There are many great spots to fish in NSW, both inland and along the coast. Here are a few top spots to get you started:
Lake Macquarie
The largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia, Lake Macquarie is a popular spot for a day of fishing. You can catch a variety of recreational fish here, including bream, dusky flathead, tailor, squid, luderick, sand whiting, yellowtail kingfish and Australian salmon.
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, located northwest of Sydney, is another great spot for fishing, particularly for bream, flathead, crab and jewfish. It’s also a beautiful area to explore, with plenty of opportunities for camping and hiking.
Jindabyne
If you’re looking for a spot to fish that’s easy on the eyes, then Jindabyne is a great option. Nestled in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, this large freshwater lake is packed full of trout and salmon, making it a go-to place for fishing of all kinds.
Narooma
This town on the South Coast is an ideal destination for any avid fisher. You’ll have the chance to catch a number of species, including Marlin, Tuna and Kingfish Snapper, Flathead and more.
Get cooking!
Once you’ve caught your fish, it’s time to get cooking. There are so many ways to cook a healthy fish meal, from grilling to baking and frying. As long as you’ve got a bit of garlic, lemon, olive oil and some salt and pepper, you can’t go wrong.
And just like they say, good things come to those who… bait!
