With waterways across the state full of water and life, fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are getting busy making sure fishing activity along local lakes and rivers is up to standard. 

North West officers have reported several incidents on the Barwon River since spring began.

In the first incident, four men were found to be using 13 unattended set lines upstream from Collarenebri. 

Fisheries officers inspected their campsite, discovering 17 Golden Perch that had been caught using illegally set lines. 

In a separate incident along another stretch of the Barwon, two men were apprehended using a total of 11 unattended set lines.

They were also in possession of mutilated Golden Perch and were using an illegal opera house yabby trap, which are prohibited in all NSW waters. 

The opera-house style yabby traps have been banned since early 2021.

In NSW inland water, only two hand held lines are permitted per person, and each must be attended at all times.

 According to a Department of Primary Industries spokesperson, illegal fishing activity doesn’t favour a season. 

“Illegal activity in the North West Zone (NWZ) can occur at any time of year and can generally be linked to water flows, fish abundance and fish migration events. Weather and holiday periods also influence fishing pressure and consequent illegal fishing activity,” they said. 

While there are various rules and regulations involved in legal fishing practices, the DPI said that not knowing the rules is rarely an excuse. 

“NWZ Fisheries Officers find generally more serious offences (fish trapping, netting and closure offences) are committed by fishers who have a good understanding of lawful fishing practices and have chosen to break the rules,” the DPI spokesperson said. 

Keep an eye on the size. Catches of yellowbelly or golden perch have limits.

Golden Perch are a restricted species in NSW and fishers must keep the fish intact while in, on, or adjacent to the waters so that fisheries officers can confirm the measurements of the fish. 

Yellowbelly (golden perch) caught must be at least 30 centimetres and the daily limit of 5 fish and 10 in possession applies year round.

For more details on rules to follow with a fishing line in hand, refer to the DPI website or the FishSmart App. 

You can report suspected illegal fishing activity to the Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536.