New South Wales has the longest run of fishable coast in the country by the measure that matters, the number of estuaries: from the Tweed to the Victorian border every few kilometres a river or a lake meets the sea between two breakwalls, and each one is a bream and flathead fishery with a surf beach either side. Behind the coast are the Snowy Mountains lakes and the inland rivers of the Murray-Darling. One fee covers all of it.
Reports current for Friday 25 September
Every one of the 182 New South Wales waters we cover has a live read this morning. None reaches 4 out of 5 and 89 are slow. Water runs 8 °C to 18 °C. Pressure is rising on most of them, which costs a point in our model when the sky is clear. 31 have a better-than-even chance of rain.
Best right now: Ballina 3/5, Barwon River at Collarenebri 3/5, Barwon River at Walgett 3/5
Live verdicts from this morning's reports.
A harbour, three big estuaries, the northern and southern beaches and the rocks in between: the most varied fishing of any Australian city.
The largest of the Snowy Mountains lakes: a trout fishery of long shorelines, drowned rivers and a level that decides where the fish are.
A lake, a bar, a wharf and two beaches on the Sapphire Coast: Merimbula fishes for bream and flathead inside and salmon, tailor and kingfish outside.
A drowned river valley north of Newcastle: flathead flats, bream on the leases, kingfish at the heads and the game grounds beyond.
Twofold Bay and the far south coast: a deep bay, a wharf, the rocks of Ben Boyd and the tuna and kingfish grounds off the shelf.
A small harbour on the Sapphire Coast with the shelf close in: tuna and kingfish outside, salmon, bream and flathead inside.
Wallis Lake and the breakwalls: flathead flats, bream on the leases and the Forster-Tuncurry bar where the lake meets the sea.
Harbour breakwalls, Stockton Beach, the Hunter River and the rocks of the coast: a working port that fishes from the middle of town.
The Hastings River, its breakwalls and the beaches either side: a mid-north coast town that fishes the estuary, the walls and the surf in one day.
The Clyde River and its bay on the Eurobodalla coast: bream on the oyster leases, flathead on the flats, snapper on the reefs and a marine park to read first.
The Richmond River, its breakwalls and the beaches of the far north coast: bream, flathead, jew and the winter tailor at the top of New South Wales.
The largest coastal lake in the country, an hour north of Sydney: flathead flats, bream on the leases, jew in the channel and a tidal entrance at Swansea.
Wagonga Inlet, the breakwalls and Montague Island: a clear inlet, a famous bar and the kingfish grounds of the far south coast.
Sydney’s southern bay: the Georges and Cooks rivers, Kurnell and La Perouse, the flats and the heads, a fishery inside the airport’s flight path.
The Solitary Islands, the harbour breakwalls and a run of beaches and headlands: Coffs Harbour fishes where the warm current meets the coast.
The Moruya River, its breakwalls and the beaches of the Eurobodalla: bream and flathead in the river, salmon and tailor at the mouth, a marine park to read first.
White sand, clear water and a deep bay open to the Tasman: kingfish at the heads, flathead on the sand, squid over the weed and a marine park on every map.
A tidal river of drowned valleys north of Sydney: jewfish in the deep holes, bream on the rock walls, flathead on the sand and hairtail in winter.
The Illawarra coast: rock platforms under the escarpment, the harbour and Belmore Basin, Lake Illawarra to the south and beaches all the way.
The channel between Lake Macquarie and the sea: the bridge, the breakwalls, the flats and the ocean beaches, where the lake’s fish come and go.
Brisbane Water, Tuggerah Lakes, The Entrance and a coast of beaches and headlands: the Central Coast fishes three estuaries and the sea between Sydney and Newcastle.
The Tweed River and its border town: bream on the walls, flathead on the flats, jack in the snags and the bar where the river meets the Gold Coast surf.
The Murray’s big storage above Albury: Murray cod in the timber, golden perch on the points, trout in the cold water and a level that runs the whole fishery.
The town at the heart of Port Stephens: the D’Albora marina, the breakwater, Little Beach and the run out to the heads and Broughton Island.
Sydney’s northern estuary: a drowned valley of moorings, weed beds and sandstone shores where kingfish, squid, bream and flathead fish within sight of the city.
The river behind the border town: from the breakwalls at the mouth up past Chinderah and Tumbulgum, a tidal estuary of bream, flathead, jack and jew.
The big coastal lake south of Wollongong: flathead flats, bream on the entrance walls, prawns on the dark summer nights and a tide that reaches everything.
Where the Tuggerah Lakes meet the sea: the channel, the bridge, the pelicans and the beaches, the Central Coast’s busiest fishing town.
A working harbour on the south coast: the breakwaters, the rocks at Warden Head and the beaches, with Burrill Lake and the Milton lakes around it.
The Snowy Mountains lake below Kosciuszko: brown and rainbow trout, a town on its shore and a level that reads from the Bureau every day.
The Murrumbidgee storage below Yass: golden perch and Murray cod in the drowned timber, redfin in the bays, and a level that runs the fishing.
The big lake behind Jervis Bay: flathead flats, bream on the edges, jew in the channel and the Sussex Inlet run to the sea.
The blowhole town: harbour, rock platforms, Minnamurra River and the beaches of the Illawarra’s southern end.
Two lakes and a headland on the Eurobodalla coast: Tuross Lake, Coila Lake, the bar and the beaches, a flathead and bream village between Moruya and Narooma.
From the gorge to the sea: the tidal Shoalhaven from Nowra to Shoalhaven Heads and Crookhaven, a river of bream, flathead, jew and bass.
Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley: bass, golden perch and catfish in a stocked storage near Singleton, with a level read from the Bureau every day.
The Murray’s drowned forest at Yarrawonga: Murray cod among the dead red gums, golden perch on the edges, and a lake that straddles the border.
A harbour village south of Wollongong: the boat harbour and its breakwater, Bass Point, the beaches and the southern end of Lake Illawarra.
The lake south of Ulladulla: flathead flats, bream on the edges, prawns on the dark nights and a channel to the sea at Dolphin Point.
The town on the Shoalhaven: the river’s bridges, walls and bends through the city, bass upstream, jew and bream in the tidal reaches, and Jervis Bay a short drive away.
The reservoir south-east of Canberra: trout, golden perch and cod in a water the ACT manages and New South Wales licenses, with a level read from the Bureau.
The big storage on the Gwydir near Inverell: Murray cod water of reputation, golden perch on the points and a level that swings with the irrigation year.
The easternmost point of the mainland: Cape Byron’s rocks, the beaches either side, the Brunswick River to the north and a tide that people search for every day.
From Casino and Lismore down to Ballina: the tidal Richmond and its Wilsons arm, a big northern river of bream, flathead, jack, jew and bass.
The southern end of the Central Coast: Umina and Ocean beaches on Broken Bay, the Ettalong channel, Box Head and the mouth of Brisbane Water.
Lake Macquarie’s eastern shore: Belmont Bay, the pier and the jetties, Belmont Baths and the flats and drop-offs a short run from Swansea.
A lake that opens to the sea when it fills: flathead flats, bream on the edges and prawns in summer, between Ulladulla and Jervis Bay.
One of the cleanest rivers on the coast: oyster leases, deep holes and snags from Batemans Bay up to Nelligen and beyond, bream water end to end.
The river of the Riverina and the capital: cod and golden perch in the lowland reaches, trout in the mountains, and a thousand kilometres between them.
The Sapphire Coast south of Merimbula: Pambula Lake and its oyster leases, the river mouth, Pambula Beach and the rocks at Haycock Point.
The biggest river on the east coast south of the tropics: from Grafton down to Yamba and Iluka, bream, flathead, jew, jack and bass across a hundred kilometres of tide.
The storage on the Lachlan below Cowra: golden perch on the points, Murray cod in the timber, and a level that swings with the irrigation year, read from the Bureau every day.
The Central Coast’s resort beach: the Skillion and its rocks, Terrigal Haven and the lagoon, the beach gutters and the reefs a short run offshore.
From Jindabyne down through the gorge to the Victorian border: trout in the cold reaches below the dam, and the environmental flows that have brought the river back.
The outback river: from Bourke down through Wilcannia and Menindee to the Murray, golden perch and cod in a river that runs, or does not, with the rain far to the north.
The river of Taree: a double-mouthed estuary at Harrington and Old Bar, oyster leases, sand flats and deep bends, bream, flathead, jew and bass.
The Snowy Scheme’s long lake above Tumut: trout and natives in the one water, cod open all year, and a level the Bureau reads at the dam.
The big Macquarie River storage near Wellington: golden perch on the points, cod in the timber, and a level that swings with the irrigation year.
The Belubula River storage below Blayney: a small central west lake of golden perch, cod and the odd trout, with a foreshore camp and a Bureau gauge.
The Peel River storage south of Tamworth: golden perch, cod, catfish and a rebuilt wall, with the level read at the dam by the Bureau.
The Hunter Valley’s big bass lake at Scone: Australian bass in the schools and the timber, golden perch and catfish, and a level read by the Bureau at the dam.
The Namoi River storage near Gunnedah: golden perch water first, cod in the timber, and a level that empties and refills with the north-west seasons.
The small Paterson River storage above Gresford: a quiet Hunter bass and perch lake with a camping foreshore and a Bureau gauge at the wall.
The Fish River storage on the Central Tablelands: a cold trout lake above the Blue Mountains with a Bureau gauge and a short drive from Sydney.
The Severn River storage near Inverell: a cod and golden perch lake with camping at the wall and a level the Bureau reads every day.
The Manilla River storage north of Manilla: golden perch, cod and catfish in a lake that empties in the dry years, with the Bureau’s gauge at the wall.
The Cudgegong River storage near Mudgee: golden perch by the thousand, cod in the timber and clear water that made the lake’s name, with a Bureau gauge at the wall.
The deep Snowy Scheme reservoir above Tumut: trout in cold water between steep ridges, a pondage fishery at each end, and the Bureau’s gauge on the level.
The high Snowy Scheme storage on the upper Murrumbidgee: a wild, windswept trout lake at 1,200 metres, reached by a gravel road, with its level read by the Bureau.
The small Snowy Scheme pondage between Talbingo and Blowering: trout and natives in a water that rises and falls with the power station, with a Bureau gauge.
The Lachlan River lake on the western plains: a shallow, warm town lake of golden perch, cod and catfish beside the town of the same name, with a Bureau gauge.
The Darling River’s outback lake near Broken Hill: golden perch and cod when it holds water, dry sand when it does not, with the Bureau’s gauge telling which.
The Bega Valley’s bass lake in the hills behind Bega: a small, steep storage of Australian bass and the odd perch, reached by a gravel road, with a Bureau gauge at the wall.
The Southern Highlands trout lake near Moss Vale: shore fishing for rainbows and browns in a Sydney-supply reservoir, with the level read by the Bureau.
The Southern Highlands reservoir above the falls: bass and trout in a Sydney-supply lake with shore access, and a Bureau gauge on the level.
The Shoalhaven River storage in the gorge above Nowra: bass water of the first rank, reached by a long road to Kangaroo Valley, with a Bureau gauge at the wall.
The Murray below Hume: cod and golden perch in the cold, regulated river through Albury and Wodonga, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Murray between Hume and Mulwala: cod water through the red gums at Corowa and Rutherglen, with the Bureau’s gauge at the bridge.
The Murray below Yarrawonga: cod and perch in the wide sandy river at Tocumwal, with the town beach, the red gum forests and a Bureau gauge.
The junction of the Murray and the Darling: cod, golden perch and the big-river fishing of the far west at Wentworth, with the Bureau’s gauge at Lock 10.
The Murrumbidgee through the Riverina’s capital: cod and golden perch off the town beach, the bends and the snags of Wagga Wagga, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Murrumbidgee in the heart of the Riverina: cod, golden perch and the river camps of Narrandera, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Murrumbidgee below Burrinjuck at Gundagai: cod and golden perch in the river of the song, under the old bridges, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Murrumbidgee on the Hay plains: slow, wide cod and perch water through the saltbush, with the town weir and the Bureau’s gauge at Hay.
The Lachlan through Forbes: cod and golden perch in the town lake and the river bends, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Lachlan below Wyangala at Cowra: cod and golden perch in the river through the town and the valley, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Macquarie through Dubbo: cod and golden perch off the town’s river parks and bridges, with the Bureau’s gauge in the city.
The Macquarie below Burrendong at Wellington: cod, golden perch and the trout of the cold releases at the Bell junction, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Namoi through the cotton country at Narrabri: golden perch, cod and catfish in a warm north-west river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Namoi at Gunnedah below Keepit: golden perch, cod and catfish through the Liverpool Plains town, with the Bureau’s gauge at the bridge.
The upper Gwydir above Copeton at Bundarra: cod and golden perch in a granite-country river with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Severn below Pindari at Ashford: cod and golden perch in the Border Rivers country, with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Hunter at Singleton: bass, cod and perch in the river through the coal town, with the Bureau’s gauge at the bridge.
The Hunter between Singleton and Maitland at Greta: bass, cod and perch in the lower valley river, with the Bureau’s gauge at Greta.
The upper Hawkesbury at Windsor: bass, bream and mullet in the tidal river on Sydney’s western edge, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Nepean at Penrith: bass in the gorge and the town reach under the Blue Mountains, with the rowing course, the weir and the Bureau’s gauge.
The Macleay at Kempsey: bass in the fresh reaches, bream and jew in the tidal ones, on the mid north coast with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Bellinger above Bellingen at Thora: bass in the clear pools under the Dorrigo escarpment, with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Tumut below Blowering: a cold trout tailwater through the town, open from the October to the June long weekend, with the Bureau’s gauge at Tumut.
The Bega at Bega: bass in the fresh reaches above the town, bream and perch in the tidal ones, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Tuross above the lake at Eurobodalla: bass in the pools and the rapids of a wild south coast river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Deua above Moruya at Wamban: bass in the clear pools of a river that runs out of the wilderness, with the Bureau’s gauge at the crossing.
The Abercrombie above Wyangala: cod and golden perch in the granite gorges of the central tablelands, with the Bureau’s gauge at the crossing.
The mouth of the Clarence: breakwalls, Main Beach and the rocks of Yamba, with mulloway, bream and tailor and a tide most people search for.
The northern side of the Clarence mouth: the Iluka breakwall, the bluff and the rainforest beaches, quieter than Yamba across the water.
The Evans River mouth and the walls: bream, whiting, mulloway and the beaches of the Broadwater and Bundjalung parks, with a tide people search for.
The Brunswick River mouth: the breakwalls, the river’s bream and flathead, and the beaches north of Byron, with a tide people search for.
Cudgen Creek and the beaches south of the Tweed: bream and whiting in the creek, tailor and jew on the beach, and a tide people search for.
The Nambucca River mouth: the V-Wall, the river flats and the beaches, bream, flathead and whiting on the mid north coast, with a tide people search for.
The mouth of the Macleay and Trial Bay: the breakwalls, the gaol beach, the Smoky Cape rocks and the Fish Rock grounds outside, with a tide people search for.
The point break village with Killick Creek and the Goolawah beaches: bream in the creek, tailor and jew on the beach, tailor off the point.
The Camden Haven: Laurieton’s river walls, Queens Lake and Watson Taylors Lake, and the beaches under North Brother, with a tide people search for.
The northern mouth of the Manning: the Harrington breakwall, the flats and Crowdy Bay, bream, whiting and jew, with a tide people search for.
The northern side of Port Stephens’ entrance: the Myall River, Jimmys Beach and Bennetts Beach, bream, whiting and the tailor of the ocean beach.
The lighthouse village between Port Stephens and Forster: Sugarloaf Point rocks, Number One and Boat beaches, and the reef and seals of the point.
The lighthouse headland of the Central Coast: the rock platforms, Soldiers and Cabbage Tree beaches, and the reef off the light, with drummer, tailor and kingfish.
Sydney’s northern tip: the Barrenjoey rocks, the Pittwater wharf and the ocean beach, with kingfish, tailor and the mouth of Broken Bay.
Manly on both sides: the harbour wharf and Fairy Bower, the ocean beach and the North Head rocks, with kingfish, bream, squid and tailor a ferry ride from the city.
Sydney’s southern beaches and Port Hacking: the Cronulla rocks and beaches, Gunnamatta and Burraneer bays, and the mouth of the Hacking, with tailor, bream, kingfish and squid.
The south coast dairy town on the sea: Werri Beach and its lagoon, the Boat Harbour rocks and Seven Mile Beach, with tailor, bream and drummer.
The Jervis Bay village at the Currambene Creek mouth: the wharf, the creek, the white-sand beaches and the bay’s kingfish and whiting.
The channel between St Georges Basin and the sea: bream, flathead and whiting in the inlet, jew at the mouth and the beaches of Bherwerre, with a tide people search for.
The historic wharf on the Sapphire Coast: the Tathra wharf’s bream and kingfish, the Bega River mouth at Mogareeka and the beaches, with the reef outside.
The big lake north of Bermagui: bream, flathead and whiting in a lake that opens to the sea, with the bridge, the Aboriginal lands of its shores and the Bermagui coast outside.
The rock platforms between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay: Bawley and Kioloa, the beaches and lakes of Murramarang, with drummer, tailor and kingfish.
The lake south of Port Macquarie that opens when it fills: bream, flathead and whiting in the lake and the channel, and the beaches of Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills.
The fishing harbour and headland north of the Manning: the breakwater, the lighthouse rocks and Crowdy Bay, with kingfish, drummer and the reef outside.
The Barwon at Walgett where the Namoi joins: Murray cod and golden perch in the north-west’s big river, with a Bureau gauge at Dangar Bridge.
The Barwon at Mungindi on the Queensland border: cod and yellowbelly in the border town’s river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Lachlan at Condobolin in the central west: Murray cod and golden perch in the red gum river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The lower Lachlan at Hillston: cod and yellowbelly in the western river town, with no current Bureau level series.
The Murray at Barham and Koondrook: cod and yellowbelly among the red gum forests of the Riverina, with a Bureau gauge at Barham.
The Macquarie at Warren on the way to the Marshes: cod and yellowbelly in the western river, with no current Bureau level series.
The Mehi River through Moree: cod and yellowbelly in the Gwydir’s anabranch on the northern plains, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Snowy River at Dalgety below Jindabyne: trout in the environmental-flow river on the Monaro, with no current Bureau level series.
The Goodradigbee at Wee Jasper: trout in a limestone valley river running into Burrinjuck, with a Bureau gauge at Wee Jasper.
The Bombala River at Bombala on the southern Monaro: trout and platypus in the town’s river, with a Bureau gauge at Bombala.
The upper Murray at Jingellic below the Snowy foothills: cod and trout in a fast, clear river, with a Bureau gauge at Jingellic.
The Paterson River at Gostwyck in the Hunter: Australian bass in a green valley river, with a Bureau gauge and the winter bass closure.
The Williams River near Clarence Town in the lower Hunter: Australian bass below Chichester Dam, with a Bureau gauge at Glen Martin.
The Richmond River at Casino in the Northern Rivers: bass in the fresh water above the tide, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Manning at Wingham, near the tidal limit: bass in the fresh water and bream below, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Kangaroo River at Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley: bass above Tallowa Dam, outside the river closure, with no current Bureau level series.
The Edward at Deniliquin in the Riverina: Murray cod among the red gums of the Murray’s great anabranch, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The lower Edward at Moulamein, the oldest town in the Riverina: cod and yellowbelly in a quiet red gum river, with a Bureau gauge.
The lower Lachlan at Booligal on the Hay Plains: cod and yellowbelly in a slow red gum river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Darling at Louth, below Bourke: Murray cod and yellowbelly in the outback river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Darling at Tilpa between Louth and Wilcannia: cod and yellowbelly in remote outback country, with a Bureau gauge.
The Darling at Menindee town, between the lakes: cod and yellowbelly in the river below the Menindee Lakes scheme, with a Bureau gauge.
The lower Darling at Pooncarie: cod and yellowbelly in the river between Menindee and Wentworth, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Barwon at Brewarrina, beside the ancient Aboriginal fish traps: cod and yellowbelly in the north-west’s big river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Barwon at Collarenebri: cod and yellowbelly in the river town between Mungindi and Walgett, with a Bureau gauge.
The Namoi at Boggabri below Gunnedah: cod and yellowbelly in the red gum river of the Liverpool Plains, with a Bureau gauge.
The Gwydir at Pallamallawa east of Moree: cod and yellowbelly on the northern plains, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Castlereagh at Coonamble: yellowbelly and cod in the sandy plains river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Bogan at Nyngan: yellowbelly and cod in the western river through the town, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Macintyre at Inverell in New England: Murray cod in the granite-country river through the town, with a Bureau gauge.
The Macintyre at Yetman on the Queensland border: cod and yellowbelly in the border river, with a Bureau gauge at the bridge.
The upper Clarence at Tabulam: Australian bass in the clear river of the Northern Rivers, with protected eastern cod and a Bureau gauge.
The Nymboida at Nymboida west of Grafton: bass in a clear rapid-and-pool river, with protected eastern cod and a Bureau gauge.
The Orara at Glenreagh between Coffs Harbour and Grafton: bass in a quiet valley river, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The upper Hastings at Mount Seaview inland from Wauchope: bass in a clear mountain valley river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Camden Haven River at Kendall: bass in the fresh water above the Camden Haven estuary, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The Nambucca above Bowraville: bass in the fresh upper river of the Nambucca valley, with a Bureau gauge above the town.
The Gloucester River at Gloucester under the Bucketts: bass in a clear valley river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Barrington River at Bobs Crossing below the Tops: bass in a clear, cold river, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Karuah River at Booral north of Port Stephens: bass in the fresh river above the tide, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Allyn River at Halton below the Barrington Tops: bass in a clear, rocky valley river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Colo at Upper Colo, where the Wollemi gorge opens: bass in a wild sandstone river, with a Bureau gauge at the bridge.
The Towamba River at Towamba inland from Eden: bass in a quiet far south coast valley, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The Brunswick River at Durrumbul near Mullumbimby: bass in the fresh upper river of the Byron hinterland, with a Bureau gauge.
The Wilsons River at Eltham above Lismore: bass in a Northern Rivers creek-river, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The Bemboka River at Morans Crossing below the Brown Mountain escarpment: trout in a clear stream near the Bega valley, with a Bureau gauge.
The Dumaresq at Bonshaw on the border: cod and yellowbelly below the granite country, with a Bureau gauge on the New South Wales bank.
The Lachlan at Nanami above Forbes: cod and golden perch in the upper-middle river below Wyangala, with a Bureau gauge.
The Gwydir at Gravesend between Warialda and Moree: cod in the slopes-to-plains reach, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The lower Bogan at Gongolgon between Brewarrina and Nyngan: yellowbelly and cod in remote plains country, with a Bureau gauge.
The Namoi at Mollee Weir below Narrabri: cod and yellowbelly in the cotton country weir pool, with a Bureau gauge.
The Namoi below Keepit Dam: cod and yellowbelly in the tailwater river, with a Bureau gauge just below the wall.
The Darling at Burtundy above Wentworth: cod and yellowbelly in the last reach before the Murray, with a Bureau gauge.
The Styx River at Jeogla on the New England tablelands: wild trout below the escarpment, with a Bureau gauge.
The lower Castlereagh at Gungalman near Walgett: yellowbelly and cod in the plains river, with a Bureau gauge.
Species activity across the covered waters, written for the southern year. Peak of the year: April.
1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.
Seasonal surface curve for the dominant water type here, in degrees Celsius (estimated, not a reading).
Read from the agency page named on each row, on the date shown, and calculated for 2026 from the rule as written: a date written as a day of the week is computed, not copied. Species with no published closure are not listed, which is not the same as open.
| Fishery | 2026 | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout streams | Closed 2026-06-09 to 2026-10-02 | General trout streams close from the Tuesday after the June long weekend to the last Friday before the October long weekend. Lakes and dams have no closed season. | DPIRD NSW, summary of freshwater closures, read 2026-09-23 |
| Trout lakes and dams | Open all year | No closed season in lakes and dams; the winter closure applies to streams only. | DPIRD NSW, summary of freshwater closures, read 2026-09-23 |
| Murray cod | Closed 2026-09-01 to 2026-11-30 | Closed 1 September to 30 November in all waters except Blowering and Copeton dams. | DPIRD NSW, summary of freshwater closures, read 2026-09-23 |
| Australian bass and estuary perch in rivers | Closed 2026-05-01 to 2026-08-31 | Closed 1 May to 31 August in all rivers except rivers above impoundments; dams are not closed. | DPIRD NSW, summary of freshwater closures, read 2026-09-23 |
| Water | Type | Live data | Peak month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Lake Eucumbene | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Merimbula | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Port Stephens | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Eden | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Bermagui | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Forster | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Newcastle | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Port Macquarie | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Batemans Bay | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Ballina | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Lake Macquarie | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Narooma | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Botany Bay | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Coffs Harbour | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Moruya | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Jervis Bay | Coast | modelled tide | Apr |
| Hawkesbury River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Wollongong | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Swansea | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Central Coast | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Tweed Heads | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Lake Hume | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Nelson Bay | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Pittwater | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Tweed River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Lake Illawarra | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| The Entrance | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Ulladulla | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Lake Jindabyne | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Burrinjuck Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| St Georges Basin | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Kiama | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Tuross Head | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Shoalhaven River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Lake St Clair | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Lake Mulwala | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Shellharbour | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Burrill Lake | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Nowra | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Googong Reservoir | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Copeton Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Byron Bay | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Richmond River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Umina Beach | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Belmont | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Lake Conjola | Coast | modelled tide | Mar |
| Clyde River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Murrumbidgee River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Pambula | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Clarence River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Wyangala Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Terrigal | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Snowy River | River | modelled | Apr |
| Darling River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Manning River | River | modelled | Mar |
| Blowering Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Lake Burrendong | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Carcoar Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Chaffey Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lake Glenbawn | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Lake Keepit | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lostock Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Oberon Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Pindari Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Split Rock Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Windamere Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Talbingo Reservoir | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Tantangara Reservoir | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Jounama Pondage | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Lake Cargelligo | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lake Menindee | Lake | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Brogo Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Wingecarribee Reservoir | Lake | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Fitzroy Falls Reservoir | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Tallowa Dam | Lake | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Murray River at Albury | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murray River at Corowa | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murray River at Tocumwal | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murray River at Wentworth | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Murrumbidgee River at Hay | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Forbes | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Cowra | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Macquarie River at Dubbo | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Macquarie River at Wellington | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Namoi River at Narrabri | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Namoi River at Gunnedah | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Gwydir River at Bundarra | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Severn River at Ashford | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Hunter River at Singleton | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Hunter River at Greta | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Hawkesbury River at Windsor | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Nepean River at Penrith | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Macleay River at Kempsey | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Bellinger River at Thora | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Tumut River at Tumut | River | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Bega River at Bega | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Tuross River at Eurobodalla | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Deua River at Wamban | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Abercrombie River | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Yamba | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Iluka | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Evans Head | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Brunswick Heads | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Kingscliff | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Nambucca Heads | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| South West Rocks | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Crescent Head | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Laurieton | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Harrington | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Hawks Nest | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Seal Rocks | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Norah Head | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Palm Beach | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Manly | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Cronulla | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Gerringong | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Huskisson | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Sussex Inlet | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Tathra | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Wallaga Lake | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Bawley Point | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Lake Cathie | Town | modelled tide | Mar |
| Crowdy Head | Town | modelled tide | Apr |
| Barwon River at Walgett | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Barwon River at Mungindi | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Condobolin | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Hillston | River | modelled | Mar |
| Murray River at Barham | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Macquarie River at Warren | River | modelled | Mar |
| Mehi River at Moree | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Snowy River at Dalgety | River | modelled | Apr |
| Goodradigbee River at Wee Jasper | River | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Bombala River at Bombala | River | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Murray River at Jingellic | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Paterson River at Gostwyck | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Williams River at Glen Martin | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Richmond River at Casino | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Manning River at Wingham | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Kangaroo River at Hampden Bridge | River | modelled | Jan |
| Edward River at Deniliquin | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Edward River at Moulamein | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Booligal | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Darling River at Louth | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Darling River at Tilpa | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Darling River at Menindee | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Darling River at Pooncarie | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Barwon River at Brewarrina | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Barwon River at Collarenebri | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Namoi River at Boggabri | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Gwydir River at Pallamallawa | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Castlereagh River at Coonamble | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Bogan River at Nyngan | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Macintyre River at Inverell | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Macintyre River at Yetman | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Clarence River at Tabulam | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Nymboida River at Nymboida | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Orara River at Glenreagh | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Hastings River at Mount Seaview | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Camden Haven River at Kendall | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Nambucca River above Bowraville | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Gloucester River at Gloucester | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Barrington River at Bobs Crossing | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Karuah River at Booral | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Allyn River at Halton | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Colo River at Upper Colo | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Towamba River at Towamba | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Brunswick River at Durrumbul | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Wilsons River at Eltham | River | BoM gauge | Jan |
| Bemboka River at Morans Crossing | River | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Dumaresq River at Bonshaw | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Lachlan River at Nanami | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Gwydir River at Gravesend | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Bogan River at Gongolgon | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Namoi River at Mollee | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Namoi River below Keepit Dam | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Darling River at Burtundy | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
| Styx River at Jeogla | River | BoM gauge | Apr |
| Castlereagh River at Gungalman | River | BoM gauge | Mar |
Think of New South Wales as three bands. The coast, from the subtropical north around Byron and Ballina to the cool south around Eden, is estuaries and beaches and rock platforms, with the same cast of fish along its length and the seasons shifting later as you go south: bream and flathead in the estuaries, tailor and salmon on the beaches in the cooler months, mulloway at night, kingfish at the headlands in summer. The mountains hold the trout lakes and rivers, Eucumbene and Jindabyne first among them, with a river season that closes through winter. And the inland is Murray cod and golden perch water on the big rivers and the storages, with its own closed season for cod in spring.
The NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is the simplest system on the mainland: A$7 for three days, A$35 for a year, the same for everyone, fresh and salt, and the receipt has to be on you. What is not simple is the rule book: size and bag limits by species, marine parks with sanctuary zones along most of the coast, closed waters inside the harbours and the estuaries, and a trout season with fixed rules. DPIRD publishes all of it, and every water page on this site links the page that applies to it.
Two things run the coast. The wind, because a southerly change closes the rocks and the beaches for a day or two and a westerly gives the flat mornings, and the tide, because the estuaries run on it to the last kilometre. The daily report on each water scores the pressure trend, the wind and the sky; the tide panel shows a modelled curve for the coordinates and says so, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s official prediction linked. On the lakes, the level from Water Data Online replaces the tide as the number to read.
Yes. The NSW Recreational Fishing Fee applies to all fishing in the state, fresh and salt, from A$7 for three days; exemptions exist and DPIRD lists them. See our New South Wales licence page.
The trout rivers close between the June and October long weekends under the DPIRD rules; the lakes stay open all year. Our Lake Eucumbene page has the lake side of it.
The coast from Tweed Heads to Eden, Sydney and its bays, the Hawkesbury, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, the south coast estuaries and the Snowy Mountains lakes, with more to come from the official gazetteer.