Anglers across Lismore and the Northern Rivers are looking forward to the start of this year’s Australian Bass and Estuary Perch season with the annual three-month zero-bag limit on these popular sporting fish ending, and the season opening tomorrow (Monday, 1 September).

As part of the NSW Government’s plan to protect the state's waterways and to maintain stocks of these iconic fish, a zero-bag limit is put in place each year in estuaries and rivers below impoundments between 1 June and 31 August.

This three-month no-take season protects the fish during breeding season, safeguarding them into the future and allowing them to successfully reproduce and maintain healthy populations.

To enhance fishing opportunities, the Government is stocking up to 260,000 Australian Bass into impoundments, where the fish can’t naturally reproduce, across the State from this October.

This stocking boosts fishing opportunities as well as employment and economic benefits for our recreational fishing industry which contributes more than $3.4 billion to the State’s economy and generates more than 14,000 full-time jobs.  

From the start of September recreational fishers are encouraged to explore the State’s beautiful coastal rivers and streams to experience the thrill of targeting two of our most prized native sportfish.

(A young angler with an Australian Bass)

Australian Bass are found in coastal rivers and lakes from the Tweed River in northern NSW to remote streams on the Far South Coast.

Estuary Perch are commonly found south of the Hawkesbury River but can also be caught further up north around the Richmond River.

With a varied diet of prawns, worms and smaller fish, Australian Bass and Estuary Perch are opportunistic hunters and the ideal target for recreational fishers using either bait or lures.

$62,000 has also been awarded by the NSW Government to community groups to release the Australian Bass into rivers and dams across NSW as part of the native fish stocking grants program.

The government will be releasing Australian bass across the state into Toonumbar Dam, Clarrie Hall Dam, Glenbawn Dam, Lake St Clair, Tallowa Dam, Lake Lyell and Lake Wallace.

Fishers are reminded that a strict bag limit of two and possession limit of four applies to Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, either for a single species or a combination of both species. Only one fish is permitted to be over 35cm in length when fishing in rivers. 

Information about freshwater fishing rules: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/freshwater-bag-and-size-limits.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said, “Spring not only marks that warmer weather is on the way, but also the start of the Australian Bass and Estuary Perch fishing season in our coastal rivers and creeks.

“Recreational fishers heading into regional NSW for a fishing adventure will not be disappointed by the memorable fishing experience on offer from Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, that are renowned for putting up a solid fight. 

“The Minns Government’s fish stocking program and investment in the community native fish stocking program are another example of our commitment to boosting recreational fishing opportunities across NSW.

“Stocking of Australian Bass into impoundments in Northern NSW and the Hunter region, down to southeast of NSW, provides just another reason for fishers to travel into regional NSW to wet a line.”

Kyogle Fishing Club President, Mr Barry Reeves said, “Kyogle Fishing Club has been involved in the Community Native Fish Stocking grants program for about 20 years, allowing us to stock around 200,000 Australian Bass into Toonumbar Dam.

"Bass are fantastic native sportfish, putting up a great show, especially when targeted on surface lures. They're definitely a huge fishing drawcard for fisheries like Toonumbar."

"This popular impoundment offers excellent recreational fishing opportunities to the Kyogle community and travelling recreational anglers."