A fishing licence is required in NSW, even if you only plan on fishing infrequently. If you’re over the age of 18 and you are engaged in any of the following, in New South Wales, you need a recreational fishing licence.

• Spearfishing
• Hand line, or hand gathering
• Trapping
• Bait collecting
• Prawning (inc. prawn netting)

You may be exempt from requiring a NSW fishing licence if:

• You’re under the age of 18
• You are an adult assisting a person under the age of age, and
  • fish with a single rod (primarily used by the person under 18)
  • prawn with a single scoop net
• You’re fishing in a private dam with a surface area of less than 2 hectares
• You identify as an Aboriginal person
• You are the holder of one of the following:
  • current pensioner concession card issued by Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
  • current DVA Veteran Gold Card
  • letter from the DVA stating that you receive a disability compensation payment at more than 70%, or are eligible for a special rate disability pension

Do I really need a licence?

The short answer is yes. You must hold a licence, unless you’re exempt for the reasons above. By ensuring you are a licence holder, your small fee, contributes to the management of both the waterways and your fishing future. Without a licence the water is subject to unpatrolled and unmanaged fishing and may create an unhealthy future for fish, and fishing stock.

Where can i get a licence?

There are a number of affiliate companies around that offer to “broker” or do the work for you. They will charge a few dollars extra, and to be honest are not really required. You can order a licence directly through Service NSW and for most NSW road users they’re already using it for their digital drivers licence. Sign-up here for a licence: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-recreational-fishing-licence-1-year-or-3-year. Note: This link is directly to Service NSW. We do not receive any commission for you using this link.