NAFF 15 (2024-26) - updates and corrections
This book was released in late 2024.
If you have update or correction information, please email it here.
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* WA released a new Recreational Fishing Guide in March 2025, detailing updated bag and size limits, licence rules, and best-practice guidance, including protocols for dealing with sharks, and catch care.
* Recent WA rule changes include year-round sea urchin fishing (20 per fisher, no licence), ability to hold lobster tails on boats for consumption, use of two rods for freshwater fish, and spearfishing allowed for barramundi in oceanic waters.
* In April 2025, new FADs were deployed off WA's Dampier and Broome, hopefully enhancing year-round pelagic game fishing for species such as tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, tripletail, mackerel, trevally and sailfish.
* In June-July 2025, sewage spills in Perth's Swan River prompted health warnings against fishing and eating fish/crabs.
* Ongoing recovery initiatives in WA have been aimed at supporting stocks of prized "reefies" dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, especially in the hard-fished West Coast bioregion, which has seen a decline in fish stocks. However WA demersal fish stocks are considered under pressure in all except the Gascoyne bioregion, so watch for new fishing restrictions.
* In late June/early July 2025 the NT Government released more than 100,000 barramundi fingerlings and adult fish into freshwater sites near Darwin and Palmerston, including Manton Dam, Rum Jungle and the Palmerston lakes, to boost accessible fishing.
* Progress on a new coastal facility with enclosing rock walls is under way at Mandorah, on the far side of Darwin Harbour. Looks like it is already a good place to target fish along the rock walls.
* A vast toxic algal bloom affected much of South Australia's gulf coastline in 2025, especially near Adelaide. It is likely SA fishing will be affected for some time. New fishery management measures have been introduced.
* South Australian jetties were damaged by storms in winter 2025.
Normanville jetty was damaged and then collapsed over May-June 2025.
Robe jetty was severely damaged in June-July 2025.
Kingston jetty had a section wash away in late June 2025.
Port Noarlunga jetty, an important recreational fishing jetty, was damaged in late May 2025, with major plan damage.
Second Valley's causeway to the jetty had a partial collapse in July 2025.
Old Rapid Bay jetty (already disused) was damaged in January 2022.
Port Germein jetty was damaged in June 2025 when a major high-tide with strong winds caused damage leading to its temporary closure.
* From July 1, 2025, SA recreational snapper bag limits in the South East Fishing Zone increased from 2 to 3 fish per person per day (boat limit 9), reflecting stable stocks.
* Southern calamari limits were reduced to 12 per person (36 per boat) to aid sustainability. PIRSA is advancing a Snapper Rebuilding Plan with SARDI modelling, aiming for closure re-openings post-2026 and stock recovery criteria.
* A new Marine Scalefish Fishery Management Plan, featuring a harvest strategy, came into effect July 1, 2025, covering key species across all coastal zones.
* The NSW eastern blue groper line-fishing ban was extended from March 1, 2025, to March 2028, to support scientific monitoring.
* Tasmania has been hit by ongoing dry weather with a six-month anomaly to July 2025 on the once notoriously wet West Coast of more than -500mm in some areas.
The lack of rain affects the trout fishery. Recreational fishers have also complained on social media of huge numbers of cormorants, which predate on trout.
Cormorant numbers are cyclical, reaching plague proportions some years. However fewer trout in a waterway means the remaining fish grow larger.
* From April 9, 2025, Tasmanian recreational fishers could share scallop catches legally aboard boats, with a 250 scallop boat limit, reflecting reforms to the Scallop Management Plan.
* More federal marine park rezonings were announced in 2025 for Australia's south-east region. Most are far off shore. See a map here.
* The 2025 Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide was released in February, with updates to bag and size limits, new protected species rules - including Macquarie perch being fully protected - and with a trout and salmon closed season from June 10, reopening September 6.
* On July 4, 2025, it was announced that 10 million fish were stocked across Victoria during the 2024-25 season-comprising Murray cod, golden perch, trout, salmonids, and more.
* The 25th anniversary of Queensland's Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) was celebrated in July 2025. Over 3.2 million fingerlings, including barramundi, murray cod, golden perch, silver perch and Australian bass were stocked in the past year at 63 sites.
* Jolimont Creek, north of Mackay, now features Queensland's largest rock fishway (100m+), completed June 2025 to restore fish passage.
* Two artificial reefs off Fraser Coast have been funded ($2.5 million) to support recreational fishing and recreation, due by late October 2025.
* Toxic algal blooms were detected in Hervey Bay, including species not seen in the area before. The dinoflagellates pose ecological and human health risks, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring. The bay is already known to host ciguatera at times.
* And some good news. The Northern Terrritory's annual Million Dollar Fish promotion continues to see multiple $10,000 tagged fish caught every year. Be sure to register at Million Dollar Fish before visiting the NT.