REC fishos are being reminded that the annual zero bag limit closure for Australian bass and estuary perch from all rivers and estuaries in NSW will commence on 1st May.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Inland Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said the closure protects the fish species during their spawning period.
“During the winter months these popular native sports fish species become vulnerable to overfishing as they form large groups and migrate to parts of estuaries with the right salinity to trigger spawning,” Westaway said.
Catch and release fishing for Australian bass or estuary perch is permitted in rivers during the closure but any of these species of fish must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm.
The zero bag limit does not apply to Australian bass and estuary perch caught in freshwater dams or in rivers above impoundments, as they do not breed in these areas.
“No waters are closed to fishing and the zero bag limit does not affect anglers fishing for other estuary species, such as bream or flathead.”
The zero bag limit ends on September 1st, and Fisheries Officers will specifically target anglers illegally retaining Australian bass or estuary perch during the four month closure.
More information can be found on the NSW DPI website.
