Bass Season Begins

ON Sunday anglers will be able to cast their lines to catch Australian bass and estuary perch, as the annual three-month closed season finishes.

Cameron Westaway, senior fisheries manager inland for the NSW Department of Primary Industries reminds anglers total bag limits of two Australian bass or estuary perch per person, with a combined total possession limit of four fish per person, still apply.

“The native sportsfish have now completed their annual spawning and migration, which occurs each year over late autumn and early winter,” Mr Westaway said.

“A zero bag limit is in place between 1 June and 1 September to allow the fish to form schools and migrate to parts of estuaries with the correct salinity, to trigger spawning,” he said.

“From Sunday, September 1, anglers can take both Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, however they are reminded that strict bag limits do apply,” he said.

“When fishing in rivers, only one fish is permitted to be over 35 centimetres in length.

“The department enforces the three-month closure annually as during their spawning season, the schools of fish can be vulnerable to fishing,” he said.

“Now, in spring, most fish will return to their warmer weather feeding grounds higher up in the catchment,” Cameron Westaway said.

For more information on freshwater fishing rules read the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide online or at DPI Fisheries offices, fishing licence agents or bait and tackle shops.

To report suspected illegal fishing phone the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536.