Category Archives: Fishing Reports

Fishing Reports

More artificial reefs on the way

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

Upcoming artificial reefs across the nation …

Great Sandy Marine Park Reefs, Qld

  • Offshore locations between Elliott Heads and Woodgate Beach, and near Point Vernon, Hervey Bay. Intended for recreational fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving. This $2.5 million project has had tenders called, installation was scheduled for October 2025.

 Southern Ocean Surf Reef, WA

  • A purpose-built surf reef at Middleton Beach using 70,000 tonnes of granite. This reef is intended for surfers. Construction was aimed to be completed by mid 2025.

Bunbury Surf Reef, WA

  • Multi-layered granite reef (5000 sqm) reef of triangular shape at WA”s Back Beach. Aims to improve erosion control, marine habitat, and produce breaking waves for surfers.

Port Hedland Artificial Reef, WA

  • These reefs will attract species like coral trout, cod, trevally and mackerel. Recfishwest and BHP are the partners. The project was announced early 2025.

3D-printed MARS systems (national)

  • These ceramic reef modules are 3D‑printed into complex shapes that can mimic coral structures. They boost natural reef complexity, biodiversity and coral/fish settlement. May be helpful as coral faces growing heat stress. Recently developed and first deployments show positive marine uptake. See more here.

Offshore wind farms as reefs (national)

  • Wind turbine foundations are known to double as benthic habitat encouraging barnacles, fish, and more. Where ocean wind farms are installed, fishermen may benefit.

Fishing Reports, NSW

NSW recreational fishing news update

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

NSW fishing news briefs for 2025 … 

1. Fish Stocking Program

A renewed Freshwater Fish Stocking Plan was opened for public feedback, closing May 16, 2025. It proposed stocking of species like bass, trout and salmon across numerous inland waterways.

2. Seasonal Closures & Harvest Strategies

The Bass & Estuary Perch Closure was under way from May 1 to August 31, 2025, to protect spawning estuarine populations, with only catch-and-release fishing allowed above impoundments. The  Trout & Salmon Closure was under way from June 10 to October 4, 2025, on rivers and streams, with anglers still allowed to fish many dams with a 5-fish limit, but only two fish in artificial fly/lure zones. A draft Mulloway Harvest Strategy was released, with public feedback invited.

3. Youth Engagement & Grants

A FishTok meetup was held on July 10 in Sydney’s Inner West, which drew about 160 teenage anglers as part of a Get Hooked school program in partnership with TikTok. The state government’s “Gone Fishing Day” grants to $2000 and fishing equipment packages were opened for application until July 24, 2025.

4. Hatchery & Research Updates

Dutton Trout Hatchery (Ebor) reopened mid‑July 2025 with tours. It produces more than two million trout a year. An oyster reef habitat study near Port Stephens used funds to track dusky flathead and yellowfin bream, showing the reef’s impact on fish behaviour.

5. Species Protection & Enforcement

The state’s eastern blue groper line‑fishing ban was extended from March 1, 2025, to March 2028, to support scientific monitoring, despite fish stocks being sustainable. Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council pushed for transparent allocation of fishing license revenue, at around A$16 million/year.

6. Incidents

During a February fishing competition off Newcastle 58‑year‑old Paul Barning was pulled overboard by a mako shark. He had become caught in the fishing gear. The search for him was suspended on February 25. In other tragic news, there were four rock fishing fatalities over the Easter long weekend in NSW, highlighting the dangers of ocean rock fishing.

Fishing Reports, SA

SA recreational fishing news update

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

South Australian fishing news briefs for 2025 … 

1. Harmful Coastal Algal Bloom Hits

The state’s coastal fishing scene was smashed by a severe Karenia dinoflagellate bloom, first detected early in 2025, which continued across the Fleurieu Peninsula and coastal areas into July, reaching metropolitan Adelaide, including West Lakes and the Coorong. The ecological damage included thousands, if not millions, of marine animals dead, including sharks, seals and dolphins. Commercial fishers are calling for substantial help in the face of falling catches and possibly tainted seafood, and tackle shops, charters and tourist towns will likely also be affected.

2. Jetties Smashed 

Several of the state’s great fishing jetties were damaged by winter storms. See our separate post here.

3. Fishing-Limits & Management Updates

From July 1, 2025, 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.

4. Compliance, Detection & Education

A Melbourne angler was fined over having 46 blacklip abalone (exceeding limits), with a 5‑year SA abalone ban imposed. Two Adelaide residents were allegedly caught with 157 southern calamari at Black Point. In better news, Fishcare volunteers celebrated 30 years of marine education on 18 May, reaching 166,500+ fishers and helping foster sustainable practices.

5. Better Tech – SA Fishing App Relaunch

A revamped state government app was introduced with in-app catch logging (voluntary), improved maps, closures, and reporting tools, aiming to boost data collection and fisher engagement.

6. Stock Recoveries & Citizen Science

Murray cod were showing signs of population recovery in SA rivers, attributed to stocking programs and catch‑and‑release trends. Ongoing initiatives included snapper stock research with tagging, monitoring, and habitat projects guided by PIRSA and community input.

7. Local Fishing Spot Protest

In West Lakes (Freshwater Lake on Delfin Island), a viral video surfaced of teens being intimidated while fishing. The local council opted for some educational solutions to assist all involved.