New South Wales fishes along a coast where every few kilometres, from the Tweed to the Victorian border, a river or a coastal lake meets the sea, often 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, and behind those the big storages of the tablelands and the slopes. One fee covers all of it, fresh and salt.
Reports current for Monday 9 November
Every one of the 181 New South Wales waters we cover has a live read this morning. 37 are scoring 4 out of 5 or better and 107 are slow. Water runs 13 °C to 22 °C. Pressure is rising on most of them, which costs a point in our model when the sky is clear. 29 have a better-than-even chance of rain.
Best right now: Barrington River at Bobs Crossing 4/5, Batemans Bay 4/5, Bega River at Bega 4/5
Live verdicts from this morning's reports.
A harbour, three big estuaries, the northern and southern beaches and the rocks in between, all inside one city’s limits.
The Snowy Scheme’s central storage: a high-country trout lake 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 Beowa National Park 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.
Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, by DPIRD’s account: flathead flats, bream on the walls, jew in the channel and a tidal entrance at Swansea.
Wagonga Inlet, the breakwalls and Montague Island: a clear inlet, a bar to respect 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 in the city, and Lake Illawarra to the south.
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, the Tuggerah Lakes, The Entrance and a coast of beaches and headlands: the Central Coast fishes its estuaries, its lakes 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 one set of Victorian rules for the whole lake.
The town at the heart of Port Stephens: the marina and its 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 on the city’s northern edge.
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 an entrance held open since 2007.
Where the Tuggerah Lakes meet the sea: the channel, the bridge, the pelicans and the beaches of a Central Coast fishing town.
A working harbour on the south coast: the breakwaters, the rocks at Warden Head and the beaches, with Burrill Lake and Lake Conjola either side.
The Snowy Mountains lake below Kosciuszko: brown and rainbow trout, a town on its shore, the state trout hatchery up the Thredbo and a level read from the Bureau every day.
The Murrumbidgee storage south-west of 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, the 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 Shoalhaven through Nowra to its two entrances at Shoalhaven Heads and Crookhaven Heads, a river of bream, flathead, jew and bass.
Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley: Australian bass and golden perch in a 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 one set of New South Wales rules for the whole lake.
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, bass upstream, jew and bream in the tidal reaches, and Jervis Bay a short drive away.
The reservoir south of Queanbeyan: stocked rainbow trout, golden perch, cod and silver perch 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: stocked Murray cod and golden perch, a cod fishery open all year, and a level that swings with the irrigation year.
The easternmost point of the Australian mainland: Cape Byron’s rocks, the beaches either side, the Brunswick River to the north and a marine park around it all.
From Kyogle and Casino down to Ballina: the 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 and the mouth of Brisbane Water.
Lake Macquarie’s eastern shore: Belmont Bay, the jetties, Belmont Baths and the flats and drop-offs a short run from Swansea.
A lake that opens to the sea only some of the time: flathead flats, bream on the edges and prawns in summer, north of Ulladulla.
Oyster leases, deep holes and snags from Batemans Bay up past Nelligen into the forest: a south coast river of bream, perch and mulloway.
The river of the Riverina and the capital: cod and golden perch in the lowland reaches, trout in the mountains, and a long run of water between them.
The Sapphire Coast south of Merimbula: Pambula Lake and its oyster leases, the river mouth at Pambula Beach and the rock platforms of Haycock Point.
What the NSW Government calls the state’s largest coastal river system: from Grafton down to Yamba and Iluka, bream, flathead, jew and bass along an estuary more than 100 kilometres long.
The storage at the junction of the Lachlan and the Abercrombie below Cowra: golden perch on the points, Murray cod in the timber, and a level the Bureau reads every day.
The Central Coast’s resort beach: the Skillion and its rocks, Terrigal Haven and its new wire-trace ban, the lagoon and the beach gutters.
Below Jindabyne through Dalgety to the gorge: trout in the cold reaches, native fish under special protection, and a flow set by Snowy Hydro’s environmental releases.
The outback river near Bourke: golden perch and cod in a river that runs, or stops, with rain far to the north, and a catfish and silver perch you must put back.
The river of Taree: an estuary with a trained entrance at Harrington and a second, mostly closed one at Old Bar, oyster leases, sand flats, bream, flathead, jew and bass.
The long Tumut River storage below the Snowy Scheme: trout and natives in one water, Murray 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, silver perch and catfish you may keep, and a level that swings with the irrigation year.
The Belubula River storage below Blayney: a small, cold central west lake with golden perch, cod, stocked trout and plenty of redfin, free foreshore camping and a Bureau gauge.
The Peel River storage south-east of Tamworth: golden perch, cod and rainbow trout, a jasper wall and a morning glory spillway, with the level read at the dam by the Bureau.
The Hunter Valley’s bass lake near 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, silver perch and catfish you may keep, and a level that swings with the north-west seasons.
The small Paterson River storage north of Gresford: a quiet stocked bass lake with a speed limit, a caravan park below the wall and a Bureau gauge.
The Fish River storage on the Central Tablelands: an alpine-classed trout lake for shore anglers and paddle or electric boats, with a Bureau gauge on the level.
The Severn River storage north of Inverell: a stocked cod and golden perch lake near the Queensland border, with a camping ground at the dam and a Bureau gauge.
The Manilla River storage upstream of Manilla: golden perch, cod, silver perch and catfish in a lake that shrinks in dry years, with the Bureau’s gauge at the wall.
The Cudgegong River storage south-east of Mudgee: golden perch the top catch, stocked cod and silver perch, and a Bureau gauge at the wall.
The deep Snowy Scheme reservoir above Tumut: stocked rainbow trout between steep ridges and trout cod released for their recovery.
The high Snowy Scheme storage on the upper Murrumbidgee: a remote, windswept trout lake in Kosciuszko National Park, now partly closed for Snowy 2.0, with its level read by the Bureau.
The small Snowy Scheme pondage between Talbingo and Blowering: stocked trout, golden perch and cod in a water that rises and falls with the power station.
The Lachlan lake beside the western plains town of the same name: stocked golden perch and Murray cod in shallow, warm water, with a Bureau gauge.
The largest of the Menindee Lakes on the Darling, 110 km from Broken Hill: Murray cod and a fishery that exists only when the storage holds water, with the Bureau’s gauge showing which.
A small storage in the hills 30 km north-west of Bega: stocked Australian bass fished from a boat or canoe, with a ramp below the wall and the Bureau reading the level.
A Southern Highlands reservoir above the falls where WaterNSW allows land-based fishing for trout and bass from the eastern foreshore, with no boats and the Bureau reading the level.
Lake Yarrunga behind Tallowa Dam in the Shoalhaven gorges: stocked bass, canoe access only, and a dam site closed until mid-2027 while the road is repaired.
The Murray below Hume Weir at Albury: cod, golden perch and spring brown trout in regulated water, NSW rules from either bank, with a Bureau gauge.
The Murray between Hume and Lake Mulwala at Corowa: cod and golden perch in a regulated red-gum channel, NSW rules from either bank, with a Bureau gauge.
The Murray below Yarrawonga at Tocumwal: snag-filled cod water, the spring trout cod closure above the Newell Highway bridge, NSW rules and a Bureau gauge.
The Murray at Lock 10, where the Darling joins: cod and golden perch in wide, slow lock water, a weir closure zone and a Bureau gauge.
The Murrumbidgee through Wagga Wagga: cod and golden perch in a sand-and-snag river fed by upstream dam releases, with the Bureau’s gauge in the city.
The Murrumbidgee at Narrandera, home of DPIRD’s native fish hatchery: cod and golden perch in the red gum river, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Murrumbidgee below Burrinjuck and the Tumut junction at Gundagai: cod and golden perch, the winter crayfish window and a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Murrumbidgee on the Hay plains: slow, red-gum-lined cod and perch water and the Hay Weir closed zone.
The Lachlan at Forbes: cod and golden perch in a warm, slow central-west river below Wyangala’s releases, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Lachlan below Wyangala at Cowra: cod and golden perch in dam-fed water, the Wyangala closed zone upstream and the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Macquarie through Dubbo: cod and golden perch below Burrendong’s releases, the South Dubbo Weir closed zone and the Bureau’s gauge in the city.
The Macquarie below Burrendong at Wellington: cod and golden perch in cold release water, the dam’s closed zones and the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Namoi through Narrabri: golden perch and cod in a warm north-west river below Keepit, and protected catfish.
The Namoi at Gunnedah below Keepit: golden perch and cod across the Liverpool Plains, protected catfish and silver perch, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The upper Gwydir at Bundarra, above Copeton: cod and golden perch in granite-country pools, protected catfish, and the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Severn below Pindari Dam at Ashford: cod and golden perch in granite and gravel pools, protected catfish, with the Bureau’s gauge at the village.
The Hunter at Singleton: Australian bass and estuary perch under the winter river closure, fed by Glenbawn’s releases, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Hunter at Greta, between Singleton and Maitland: bass and estuary perch above the tide, the winter river closure and the Bureau’s gauge.
The upper Hawkesbury at Windsor, inside the tidal reach: bass and estuary perch under the winter closure, a council ramp and the Bureau’s gauge.
The Nepean at Penrith: Australian bass in the weir pool and the gorge above, a closed zone at Penrith Weir and the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Macleay at Kempsey, inside the estuary: bass above the tide, bream in the tidal reaches, the winter bass closure and the Bureau’s gauge.
The Bellinger at Thora under the Dorrigo escarpment: Australian bass in clear pools, the winter river closure and a critically endangered turtle, with the Bureau’s gauge.
The Tumut below Blowering Dam: a cold trout tailwater through the town under the NSW trout stream season, the dam’s closed zones and the Bureau’s gauge.
The Bega at Bega: bass in the fresh reaches and bream toward the estuary on the far south coast, with the Bureau’s gauge at the town.
The Tuross above the lake at Eurobodalla: bass in the pools and runs of a river that starts in Wadbilliga’s wilderness, with the Bureau’s gauge in the valley.
The Deua above Moruya at Wamban: bass in the clear pools of a river that comes down from Deua National Park, with the Bureau’s gauge just upstream at Riverview.
The Abercrombie of the central tablelands: cod and golden perch in the river pools, trout in the national park’s waters, with the Bureau’s gauge on the river.
The south side of the Clarence mouth: Yamba’s breakwalls, beaches and river channels, with mulloway, bream, flathead and tailor.
The northern side of the Clarence mouth: the Iluka breakwall, the bluff and the Bundjalung beaches, quieter than Yamba across the water.
The Evans River mouth: breakwalls, beaches and a small estuary between Broadwater and Bundjalung national parks, with bream, flathead, mulloway and tailor.
The Brunswick River mouth inside the Cape Byron Marine Park: breakwalls, river flats and beaches north of Byron, with bream, flathead, mulloway and tailor.
Cudgen Creek and the Tweed coast beaches: bream and flathead in the creek, tailor and mulloway on the beach, and the Cook Island reserve offshore.
The Nambucca River mouth: the V-Wall, the river flats and the beaches of the mid north coast, with bream, flathead, mulloway and tailor.
The mouth of the Macleay and Trial Bay: breakwalls, bay beaches and the Smoky Cape rocks, with the Fish Rock and Green Island critical habitat offshore.
The point-break village with Killick Creek and the Goolawah coast: bream in the creek, tailor and mulloway on the beaches, salmon off the point.
The Camden Haven: Laurieton’s river, the lakes behind it and the breakwalls at the entrance, under North Brother, with bream, flathead, mulloway and tailor.
The northern mouth of the Manning: the Harrington breakwall, sand flats and Crowdy Bay beach, with bream, flathead, mulloway and tailor.
The northern side of Port Stephens: the Myall River, Jimmys Beach and Bennetts Beach, inside the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park.
The lighthouse village between Port Stephens and Forster: Sugarloaf Point, Number One and Boat beaches, and a no-fishing grey nurse shark sanctuary on the offshore rocks.
The lighthouse headland of the Central Coast: rock platforms, Soldiers Beach and Cabbage Tree Harbour, with tailor, salmon, kingfish and drummer.
Sydney’s northern tip: the Barrenjoey rocks, the Pittwater side and the ocean beach, where Broken Bay meets the sea.
Manly on both shores: the harbour side inside the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve and the ocean beach, with the no-take Cabbage Tree Bay between.
Sydney’s southern beaches and Port Hacking: the Cronulla rocks and surf, and the sheltered bays of the Hacking, with Shiprock’s no-take reserve inside.
The south coast town above the sea: Werri Beach and its lagoon, the boat harbour rocks and Seven Mile Beach, with tailor, salmon, kingfish and mulloway.
The Jervis Bay village at the mouth of Currambene Creek: the wharf, the creek and the white-sand beaches, all inside the Jervis Bay Marine Park.
The channel between St Georges Basin and the sea: bream, flathead, whiting and mulloway in a tidal inlet, with the basin behind it set aside for recreational fishing.
The historic wharf on the Sapphire Coast: Tathra’s wharf and headland, the beach to the Bega River mouth, and the reef outside.
The large lake north of Bermagui: bream, flathead and mulloway in a lake whose entrance opens and closes, at the southern end of the Batemans Marine Park.
The rocky coast between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay: Bawley Point’s platforms, the beaches toward Kioloa and the northern edge of the Batemans Marine Park.
The lake south of Port Macquarie whose entrance opens and closes: bream, flathead and whiting in the lake and channel, and the beaches of Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills.
The small 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, two states’ rules, and 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, NSW rules on both banks, 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, native fish protected, with no current Bureau level series.
The Goodradigbee at Wee Jasper: trout in a clear valley river running into Burrinjuck, with a Bureau gauge at Wee Jasper and the stream closure in winter.
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 above Lake Hume: Murray cod and trout in a fast, clear river, NSW rules on both banks, 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, Kolety, at Deniliquin in the Riverina: Murray cod and golden perch in the red gum anabranch of the Murray, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The lower Edward at Moulamein: Murray cod and golden perch in a quiet red gum river of the western Riverina, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The lower Lachlan at Booligal on the Hay Plains: Murray cod and golden perch in a slow red gum river, with a Bureau gauge at the settlement.
The Darling, Baaka, at Louth below Bourke: Murray cod and golden perch in the outback river, with a Bureau gauge at the settlement.
The Darling at Tilpa between Louth and Wilcannia: Murray cod and golden perch in remote outback country, with a Bureau gauge.
The Darling, Baaka, at Menindee town, between the lakes: Murray cod and golden perch in the river below the Menindee Lakes, with a Bureau gauge.
The lower Darling at Pooncarie: Murray cod and golden perch in the river between Menindee and Wentworth, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Barwon at Brewarrina, beside Baiame’s Ngunnhu, the Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps: Murray cod and golden perch in the north-west’s big river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Barwon at Collarenebri: Murray cod and golden perch in the river town between Mungindi and Walgett, with a Bureau gauge.
The Namoi at Boggabri between Gunnedah and Narrabri: Murray cod and golden perch in a red gum river on the black-soil plains, with a Bureau gauge.
The Gwydir at Pallamallawa east of Moree: Murray cod and golden perch on the northern plains, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Castlereagh at Coonamble: golden perch and Murray cod in a sandy plains river that can shrink to waterholes, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Bogan at Nyngan: golden perch and Murray cod in the western river that flooded the town in 1990, 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: Murray cod and golden perch in a border river with a midstream line, with a Bureau gauge at the bridge.
The upper Clarence at Tabulam: Australian bass in the clear river of the Northern Rivers, in the catchment of the protected eastern freshwater cod, with a Bureau gauge.
The Nymboida at Nymboida west of Grafton: bass in a clear rapid-and-pool river inside the eastern freshwater cod closure, with a Bureau gauge.
The Orara at Glenreagh between Coffs Harbour and Grafton: Australian bass in a quiet valley river, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The upper Hastings at Mount Seaview inland from Wauchope: Australian bass in a clear mountain valley river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Camden Haven River at Kendall: Australian bass in the fresh water above the Camden Haven estuary, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The Nambucca above Bowraville: Australian bass in the fresh upper river of the Nambucca valley, with a Bureau gauge above the town.
The Gloucester River at Gloucester below the Barrington Tops: Australian bass in a clear valley river, with a Bureau gauge at the town.
The Barrington River at Bobs Crossing below the Tops: Australian bass in a clear, cold river with trout water upstream, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Karuah River at Booral north of Port Stephens: Australian bass in the fresh river above the tide, with a Bureau gauge at the crossing.
The Allyn River at Halton below the Barrington Tops: Australian bass in a clear, rocky valley river, with a Bureau gauge.
The Colo at Upper Colo, where the Wollemi gorge opens: Australian bass in a wild sandstone river, with a Bureau gauge at the bridge.
The Towamba River at Towamba inland from Eden: Australian bass in a quiet far south coast valley, with a Bureau gauge at the village.
The Brunswick River at Durrumbul near Mullumbimby: Australian bass in the fresh upper river of the Byron hinterland, with a Bureau gauge.
The Wilsons River at Eltham above Lismore: Australian 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: listed trout water 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 near Gooloogong: cod and golden perch in the river between Cowra and Forbes, 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 |
| Mann and Nymboida rivers: all fishing closed | Closed 2026-08-01 to 2026-10-31 | All fishing is prohibited from 1 August to 31 October in the Mann River and its tributaries above the Clarence junction, including the Nymboida and its tributaries up to Wild Cattle Creek, to protect spawning eastern freshwater cod; carrying fishing gear in or next to these waters is also an offence. Eastern freshwater cod are protected all year everywhere. | DPIRD NSW, eastern freshwater cod closure, read 2026-09-27 |
| 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 |
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 among them, stocked from the department’s Gaden hatchery on the Thredbo River, 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, where DPIRD names Copeton, Pindari, Burrinjuck and Blowering among the stocked impoundments and closes cod from 1 September to 30 November everywhere except Blowering and Copeton.
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 on parts of the coast, closed waters in some harbours and estuaries, and a trout season with fixed rules, longer again on the spawning streams the department lists. 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 general trout streams close from the Tuesday after the June long weekend to the last Friday before the October long weekend under the DPIRD rules; the lakes and dams stay open all year. Our Lake Eucumbene page has the lake side of it.
More than 180: the coast from Tweed Heads to Eden with Sydney, Botany Bay, Pittwater, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the south coast lakes; the coastal rivers from the Tweed to the Snowy; the Murray and Murrumbidgee by reach; and the storages, Eucumbene, Jindabyne, Burrinjuck, Copeton, Wyangala and Blowering among them.
The facts on this page were checked against these pages, from the agencies, park services and operators that manage the water on 27 September 2026; anything we could not verify was taken out.