What are Australia’s fishing laws and rules?

It's estimated that one in five adults participate in recreational fishing every year. Source: Moment RF / Belinda Howell/Getty Images

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Thinking of going fishing in Australia? Make sure you are familiar with local regulations, including licensing systems, closed seasons, size limits, permitted gear, and protected species.

Key Points

States and territories have different laws around recreational fishing, which can be accessed online, with official apps also available.
Heavy penalties may apply for violations, and not abiding by safety regulations can also be dangerous and cost lives.
Being an angler is part of Australian culture and comes with expectations on fishing responsibly and respecting shared spaces.

How popular is fishing in Australia?
What are the fishing rules in each state and territory?
Do you need a fishing licence in Australia?
How are First Nations fishing rights recognised?
What are the safety risks of fishing?
What does fishing responsibly mean?

Recreational fishing is one of Australia’s favourite pastimes, and arguably one of the few outdoor activities that has increased its popularity in the last couple of decades.

Man buying fishing rod in a store Credit: aywan88/Getty Images

How popular is fishing in Australia?

Recreational fishing is one of Australia’s favourite pastimes, and arguably one of the few outdoor activities that has increased in popularity over the last couple of decades.

A large-scale study published in 2023 by the Australian Government found that about 4.2 million adults go fishing each year.

“A survey of that kind has only been done twice in Australia,” fisheries scientist Andy Moore says, who is the lead author of the National Social and Economic Survey of Recreational Fishers.

“What was interesting between 2001, and the more recent survey was that the relative percentage of people that go fishing, which is about 20 per cent, one in five people, maintained the same, though our population has grown.”

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Mr Moore also says the demographics have changed, with more people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities participating in recreational fishing. For many, fishing is a tradition carried on through generations.

“In some cases, a lot of that's traditional; they've got multiple generations of people doing that activity, and so when they come to Australia, they just continue.

“One thing that was clear from our survey was that if you go fishing, more than likely you’ve been shown how to, previously in your life, usually as a child.”

Some rock fishing sites alert the public to the dangers and enforce safety measures. Source: Moment RF / Simon McGill/Getty Images

What are the fishing rules in each state and territory?

Stan Konstantaras is President of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of New South Wales, a peak body of member associations representing sport fishing, freshwater fishing, spear fishing and anglers across the state.

He explains that each jurisdiction has its own laws and regulations. These include:

Bag and size limits of the fish you are allowed to take
Rules around protected species
Types of tackle you can use
Number of rods and hooks per person
Prohibited baits

Penalties for severe fishing offences, such as exceeding bag limits of a state’s priority species, can include heavy fines or even imprisonment.

Fishing regulations for every state are freely available online. Many states also provide official apps translated into different languages.

Penalties for severe fishing offences include fines or even imprisonment. Credit: SteveLuker/Getty Images

Check the official sites:

Mr Konstantaras says tackle shops are another reliable point of contact, offering practical local knowledge.

“Whether you come from a non-English speaking background or not, you're a customer to them."

The people at the local tackle shops are a really good source of information, they are always engaging, they're patient and they're mostly fishermen as well.
Stan Konstantaras

Do you need a fishing licence in Australia?

Not all states require a licence. For example, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have exemptions. In other states, licences are affordable and easy to get.

Be careful of scams: Always use official government websites. Third-party websites may charge up to three times the actual fee, Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling warns.

#50 Let's go fishing! (Med)

“There are a number of sites that you get when you Google a fisheries licence, they’re third parties and lot of these are overseas companies.

"You will get a fishing licence, but you'll pay three times what you should pay. It's a bit of a scam and they make the sites look like it's a legitimate government site."

Ensuring your fishing equipment complies with local regulations is a common requirement nationwide.

“For example, people will see online a particular type of net. But the fact that you're able to buy that net online, doesn’t mean it's legal to use in Victoria,” Mr Dowling explains.

How are First Nations fishing rights recognised?

First Nations peoples’ rights to fish are recognised differently across states and territories. If you’re fishing in an area with cultural significance, always check local regulations and respect traditional rights.

Learn how First Nations rights to fish are recognised in your state’s fisheries laws. Credit: Rafael Ben-Ari/Getty Images

What are the safety risks of fishing?

Fishing safely is as important as following the rules. Rock fishing, in particular, is one of Australia’s most dangerous pastimes. From 2004 to 2024, 241 people drowned while rock fishing—more than half of them born in Asia.

For the past 20 years, the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW has run campaigns targeting migrant communities, who are often overrepresented in drowning statistics.

According to the Royal Life Saving’s national report, more than half of the casualties (56 per cent) were people born in Asia.

“Someone who's relatively new to the sport can walk down the rocks and start fishing completely oblivious to the dangers.”

Using a life jacket is vital and can be lifesaving, but Mr Konstantaras say the best rule is simple: if it looks unsafe, don’t fish there.

Finally, if you’re looking for best practice tips as a new angler, learn about what fishing responsibly means, Mr Dowling says.

My sister holding a little fish in her hands with some other children at the Wharf in port Macquarie Source: Moment RF / Clint Mcmanus/Getty Images

What does fishing responsibly mean?

Being a responsible angler means:

Handling fish carefully when releasing them (e.g., wetting your hands and not keeping them out of the water for too long).
Not introducing bait from one area into another.
Leaving no rubbish behind.
Respecting the space for others and future visitors.

Travis Dowling of the Victorian Fisheries Authority sums it up:

“When you go fishing, you want to think, ‘when I come back here the next time, the place looks beautiful, undamaged, protected.'"

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Subscribe to or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia.   

Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au 

Transcript

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SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.

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You're listening to Australia Explained, an SBS audio podcast helping you navigate life in Australia.

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Did you know that 1 in 5 Australian adults goes fishing every year?

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Whether it's casting a line by the river, the beach, or from a boat, fishing is more than just a pastime, it's part of the culture.

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But here's what many newcomers don't realise. Fishing in Australia comes with rules, and they matter.

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There are different rules around salt and fresh water. Every state has got different species. They've also got different threatened species. Every state has got different rules around the tackle you can use, the number of rods you can have out, the number of hooks.

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Welcome to Australia Explained. I'm your host Melissa Compagnoni.

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And in this episode, we'll go through the state-based laws and restrictions that control when we need a fishing license, where and when we can fish, fish size limits, and endangered species. We'll also look at safety, rubbish disposal, and how to handle fish once you catch them.

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In a world where we spend so much time in front of screens, it's refreshing and maybe a little surprising that fishing has kept its appeal, even growing stronger over the past 20 years. A large scale study published in 2023 by the Australian government found that about 4.2 million adults go fishing every year.

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Fisheries scientist Andy Moore led the most recent national survey of recreational fishers. He explains that while the numbers haven't changed much in two decades, the story behind them has.

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A survey of that kind has only been done twice in Australia. What was interesting between 2001 and a more recent survey was that the relative percentage of people that go fishing, which is about 20%, 1 in 5 people, maintained the same.

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Mr Moore also points out that the faces of Australia's demographic are changing, with more culturally and linguistically diverse communities embracing the sport. We're seeing

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a really diverse group of Australians participate in recreational fishing. In some cases, a lot of that's traditional. They've got multiple generations of people doing that activity, and so when they come to Australia, they just continue to do that. We have a large economic exclusion zone where fishing can occur.

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the 3rd largest in the world, so we have lots of access. We have lots of coastline. We have lots of rivers and fishing seems to be a really popular activity and it seems to be part of Australian culture.

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Stan Konstantaras is the president of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of New South Wales, a peak body of member associations representing sport fishing, freshwater fishing, spear fishing, and anglers around the state.

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He says every jurisdiction has its own set of rules, from bag and size limits to the types of gear you can use. He explains just how much these differences can matter. Every

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state is different. There are different rules around salt and fresh water. Every state has got different species. They've also got different threatened species. Every state has also

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different rules around the tackle you can use, the number of rods you can have out, the number of hooks. Some states prohibit the use of certain baits.

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Fishing regulations are easy to find online, and in most states you can even access translated official apps. But if you're just starting out, a visit to your local fishing gear shop could be the best first step.

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Mr Konstantaris explains why local tackle shops are more than just stores. They're community hubs for advice and safety.

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Whether you come from a non-English speaking background, you're a customer to them, and they are always engaging, and the people at the local tackle shops are really good source of information. They're patient. They're mostly fishermen as well, so yeah, we have got diverse rules around Australia. Definitely make the effort to go and find out.

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What about licenses? In some states like South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, you don't need one at all. In others, they're affordable and easy to get. Just remember, only buy from official government websites.

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Travis Dowling, CEO of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, warns about third party scams that overcharge.

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It's really easy to get a fishing license in Victoria. It's about $36 for the year, but I have to give a warning. There are a number of sites that you get onto when you Google a fisheries license, so they're third parties charging $90

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to $100 and a lot of these are overseas companies and you will get a fishing license but you'll pay three times what you should pay. It's a bit of a scam and they make the sites look very much like it's a legitimate government site. So use your mobile phone, jump onto the fisheries authority and it'll be really easy to do.

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Most people who break the rules don't do so deliberately. It's often accidental.

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And that's why it's important to double check your equipment and understand what's allowed, Mr Dowling says. For example, it's important to make sure your fishing equipment complies with local regulations.

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So over 90% of our inspections, people are doing the right thing, and if they're not doing the right thing, it's by accident. Look, we've got some examples where people will see online a particular type of net, right?

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And the fact that you're able to buy that net online, they may believe that that means it's legal to use in Victoria when in fact you can buy a lot of things online that are not legal to use in Victoria.

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But fishing isn't without risk. Rock fishing has been one of Australia's deadliest pastimes, with more than 240 drowning deaths recorded over the past two decades, many involving people from migrant backgrounds.

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For the past 20 years, the Recreational Fishing Alliance of New South Wales has been running campaigns on rock fishing safety.

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Mr Konstantaras shares why migrant communities are particularly vulnerable.

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I come from a migrant background, being Greek, so I know all the challenges of getting information to the migrant community. We have got really productive rock platforms in New South Wales that give a chance for families to put fresh fish on the table, but the pitfalls are huge. Someone who's relatively new to the sport walk down to the rocks and start fishing completely oblivious to the dangers.

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Wearing a life jacket is vital and life saving, but Mr Konstantaras warns if the waves look dangerous, it's best not to take the risk at all.

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Like if you really need to put a life jacket on because the seas are that big that you might get washed in, like you shouldn't be fishing there. It's a message we've been pushing for a very long time. If it's too rough, go home. Simple as that.

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Before we wrap up, here are two golden rules every angler should remember, no matter where you fish in Australia: be responsible and be respectful.

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Mr Dowling explains how small actions like handling fish with care and leaving no rubbish behind help protect both the environment and future fishing trips.

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So there's some really good practices. Obviously some of those are to protect and look after the fish that you're releasing, make sure that you don't keep them out of the water for very long.

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Make sure your hands are wet when you're releasing them. Make sure you don't leave litter around. When you go fishing, you want to think, when I come back here the next time, the place looks beautiful, it looks undamaged, and it looks protected. So don't leave your bait bags around, don't leave broken fishing line around. Take those things with you and have that thinking about your family coming back there.

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Thanks for listening to this episode of Australia Explained, written and produced by Zoe Thomaidou and hosted and mixed by me, Melissa Compagnoni. Australia Explained managing editor is Roza Germian.

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This was an SBS Audio podcast. For more Australia Explained stories, visit SBS.com.au/Australiaexplained

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Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas, send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au.

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