Introduction
You must have a recreational fishing license or a receipt showing your payment of the recreational fishing fee when –
- You are fishing in both freshwater and saltwater of New South Whales
- If you are near NSW waters and plan to fish
You must carry your license in order to do hand-lining, spearfishing, or bait collecting. You do not have to apply for a license if you meet the criteria for fishing license exemption but you must keep your identity if asked to show it. These regulations are intended to keep fishing a sustainable activity and at the same time preserve the landscape’s ecology.
Add your license to the Service NSW app
You can get your recreational fishing license by applying online. Once you have your recreational fishing license, you can show it using a mobile device anywhere anytime.
Eligibility
You need to complete the application and pay the license fee if you do not qualify for an exemption. Make sure you have all the information and documents which are required to complete your license application.
Things you need to apply for recreational fishing license
⦁ Personal data
⦁ Postal and residential address
⦁ Credit card
⦁ License starting date
⦁ License duration
Fishing license exemptions
You do not have to apply for a license if you meet the criteria for a recreational fishing license exemption but you must keep your identity if asked to show it.
Plastic receipts
You will receive a plastic receipt in the post if you purchase a one-year or three-year fishing license period online, or by phone. Your receipt number is the evidence that you have been paid and you can show it to the officer if he asks from you. But you will not receive a receipt if you pay for three-day or one-month periods. You must have your fishing license payment receipt when fishing.
New South Wales government uses all the money raised by the Recreational Fishing Fee to make improvements in recreational fishing.