Winter trout spawning closure starts 12 June

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Winter trout spawning closure starts 12 June
04 Jun 2012 - NSW Fisheries

The June long weekend will be the last chance for fishers to bag a trout in designated trout streams and rivers across NSW, as the fishing season closes in these waters over winter.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Senior Fisheries Manager Inland, Cameron Westaway, said the annual closure starts on Tuesday 12 June and will end in time for the October long weekend on Saturday 29 September.

“This closure enables brown, rainbow and brook trout to breed uninterrupted during their annual spawning run, while allowing trout fishers to fish over both the June and October long weekends,” Mr Westaway said.

“It is an offence to fish in trout streams during the closed season and any persons found fishing can be issued with on-the-spot fines of $500.

“Fisheries officers will be patrolling the State’s waterways to ensure that fishers are adhering to these regulations.”

Mr Westaway said that fishers can continue fishing for trout during the annual closure, without breaking the rules, at any of the trout dams across the State that have been stocked as part of the NSW DPI fish stocking program.

“Popular winter fishing spots include Lakes Jindabyne and Eucumbene, Oberon Dam near Bathurst, Tantangara and Talbingo Dams near Tumut, and Lake Wallace and Thompson’s Creek Dam near Lithgow,” he said.

“NSW DPI, in conjunction with local acclimatisation societies, has been stocking trout dams and rivers in NSW for many years.

“During the 2011/12 season, around 2.9 million trout were stocked in NSW waterways, consisting of two million rainbow trout, 600,000 brown trout, 225,000 Atlantic salmon and 40,000 brook trout.

“Fishers heading to one of the trout dams are reminded that they are required to have a current NSW recreational fishing licence on them at all times while fishing.”

Detailed information on all fishing rules can be found on the NSW DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, or in the 2012 NSW Freshwater Fishing Guide available from NSW DPI offices and most bait and tackle stores.