Fishing

Recreational fishing is welcome in much of the ACT (regulated by the Fisheries Act 2000) and in Googong Reservoir. If you are fishing in public waters of the ACT, you do not need a licence. While the ACT Parks and Conservation Service manage Googong Reservoir, NSW fishing regulations apply and you will need a NSW fishing licence to fish there.

The main fish species in the ACT are Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Redfin and Carp. The public waters of the ACT are divided into prohibited waters, open waters and trout waters. Before heading out, check to find out where and when you're permitted to fish, and which species you can catch.

Man fishing at the Cotter

Stay safe

Remember to reduce your risk around waterways.

Let someone know before you go and avoid going alone:

Tell a responsible person where you are going, when you plan to return, and what to do if you are late.
Always closely supervise children who are in or near the water.

Know your limits:

Consider your swimming ability and endurance before visiting our waterways. If you are unsure, stay safe by not swimming and staying away from the water’s edge.
Be aware of the ACT’s boating regulations on ACT lakes.
Always wear a lifejacket when boating and fishing .Pack clothing for all weather extremes alongside extra food and water.

Understand the dangers:

Water depth in rivers can change suddenly, rocks and logs may be hidden, surfaces can be slippery, and currents may be stronger than they appear.
In case of submerged rocks or logs, enter the water carefully and avoid diving.
Rocks and vegetation beside waterways can be slippery or present trip hazards.
Check the weather conditions and be prepared for changes regardless of the forecast.
Do not enter the water if signs advise of hazards and never enter the water in times of flood.
Do not consume drugs or alcohol if you are planning on boating, entering waterways or need to supervise children who are in or near the water.

Be prepared for an emergency:

Take a first aid kit and ensure people in your group are trained to use it.
Carry multiple means of communication, including waterproof options if you are boating or fishing. Check whether your phone has range before entering the water.
In an emergency, call 000.

Where to fish

Prohibited waters

You are not allowed to fish in the following waters at any time:

Cotter River upstream of new Cotter dam wall, to the junction of Condor Creek, including the Cotter Reservoir
Cotter River and catchment upstream of Bendora dam wall, including Bendora and Corin reservoirs
Murrumbidgee River downstream of Angle Crossing to the junction with the Gudgenby River
Tidbinbilla River and catchment within the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve; and
Kellys Swamp and Jerrabomberra Swamp within the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve and any areas where fishing is prohibited as described in the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve Plan of Management 2010.

Small areas on some waterways may not be available for fishing for land management purposes. This includes dam wall exclusions around ICON water infrastructure and parts of Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

Open waters

You may fish in open waters all year. Open waters include all public waters in the ACT that are not prohibited or trout waters. This includes:

the Murrumbidgee River downstream from the junction with the Gudgenby River and upstream from the concrete crossing at Angle Crossing to the ACT border
the Molonglo River downstream of its junction with the Queanbeyan River
urban lakes and ponds.

There is special section of Open Waters on the Murrumbidgee River downstream of Uriarra Crossing. This area is Catch and Release only for Murray Cod (Mangi). You may fish downstream of Urriarra Crossing like other Open Water river sections, except that any Murray Cod (Mangi) you catch in this area must be released unharmed.

In open waters you can use either 2 attended fishing rods, 2 attended hand lines, or one of each, with no more than 2 hooks on each line. You can also have a landing net. An attended fishing rod requires you to be within 10 metres of their fishing gear and/or can always see your gear. Artificial lures, flies and live or natural bait can be used as bait, but fin fish, fish eggs and frogs must not be used. It is illegal to dig for worms along riverbanks or in nature reserves.

Murray Cod (Mangi) caught in these open waters during the Cod closed season must be returned to the water unharmed.

Trout waters

Trout fishing waters include:

Gudgenby River and its catchment and tributaries
Naas River and its catchment and tributaries
Paddys River and its catchment and tributaries
Condor Creek and its catchment and tributaries
Cotter River and its catchment and tributaries downstream of Bendora Dam to the junction with Condor Creek
Molonglo River above junction with the Queanbeyan River to the ACT border
Orroral River and its tributaries.

Open season for trout waters is from the start of the October Labour Day long weekend to the end of the June King’s Birthday weekend. In trout waters you may only use one attended fishing rod, with no more than two hooks per line, supplemented by a landing net. Only artificial fly and lure fishing is allowed in trout waters during open season. Fishing in Trout Waters during the closed season is prohibited.

Googong Reservoir

Fishing in Googong Reservoir is governed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW) and associated regulations. To fish in NSW waters, you will need a NSW recreational fishing licence, which is available from most tackle shops, on the web at Service NSW or by calling 1300 369 365.

More information about fishing at Googong Reservoir is available on the Googong Foreshores page.

Find Fishing locations

Lennox Gardens District Park

A formal urban park near Lake Burley Griffin

Tharwa Bridge

A riverside picnic area in the Pine Island-Tharwa Bridge Reserve

Ready-Cut Cottage

An historic cottage within Namadgi National Park

What you can catch

Protected species

There are 7 species in the ACT that are totally protected. It is illegal to target or catch these species. Their protected status helps conserve the species so their populations may recover. The protected species are Trout Cod, Two-Spined Blackfish, Macquarie Perch, Silver Perch, Murray River Crayfish, Alpine Spiny Crayfish and Rieks Crayfish.

If you catch a protected fish, you must release it with as little injury as possible and report the capture to ACT Office of Nature Conservation on 13 22 81. This will help us monitor the status of these threatened species.

Recreational and pest species

You may fish for the following species only during the seasons shown below. Bag and size limits help to sustainably manage recreational fish populations for the future. Significant penalties apply for non-compliance.

Murray Cod: Bag limit of 1 per day in the Murrumbidgee River with the exception of the area downstream of Uriarra Crossing to the ACT–New South Wales border, no Murray Cod may be taken here at any time. Two in all other waters, with a size limit of between 55 cm and 75 cm. Open water season: 1 December to 31 August, you must release any Murray Cod caught outside of open water season.
Golden Perch: Bag limit of 2 per day in the Murrumbidgee River, 5 in all other waters with a 30 cm minimum length. Open water season: all year.
Trout (brown or rainbow): Bag limit of 5 per day with a 25 cm minimum length. Trout water season: October Labour Day long weekend to King’s birthday long weekend in June inclusive.
Carp: No bag limit or minimum length. Open water season: all year.
Redfin: No bag limit or minimum length. Open water season: all year.

Pest fish, including Carp and Redfin should, where possible, be humanely dispatched, utilised, and not returned to the water. Dead fish should be disposed of appropriately and not left beside the water’s edge or in public places.

Yabbies

You can fish for yabbies in the ACT, but enclosed traps such as opera house, shrimp, minnow and yabby traps are prohibited and significant penalties apply if used. You may use up to 10 baited lines (no hooks) and 5 hoop nets, except in the nature reserves in the Murrumbidgee River Corridor (Woodstock, Stoney Creek, Swamp Creek, Bullen Range and Gigerline nature reserves) and where hoop nets are prohibited. The unenclosed hoop nets must have a drop of 1 metre or less and be attached to no more than 2 hoop rings or frames with a diameter of not more than 1.25 metres and a mesh size of not less than 13 mm.

Rules and regulations

If you’re out fishing, remember to follow the rules.

Return all protected species to the water immediately.
It is illegal and significant penalties apply:
- to use fish eggs, live fin fish, frogs or tadpoles as bait.
- to use gaffs, spears, spear guns, bows and arrows, poisons, explosives or firearms to catch fish in the ACT
- to move fish from one water body to another or stock fish without a permit
- to remove the heads or fillet fish while next to a lake, river or stream
- for recreational anglers to sell their catch.
Do not release fish or plants from a home aquarium into any waterways as they may become pests or introduce diseases.
For recreational powered boats including electric boats on ACT lakes (excluding Lake Burley Griffin), the speed a boat is driven determines whether you need ACT Government approval:
- Boats operated at a speed under 10 knots don’t require separate approval.
- Boats operated at a speed over 10 knots must hold a licence from any state or territory and require ACT Government approval.
- Power boats operated on ACT lakes must be registered with an Australian state or territory and you need to comply with any condition or restriction of that registration in the ACT.
Only electric boating is allowed on Googong Reservoir with a permit from the ACT Government required. Contact Access Canberra to obtain a permit.
Contact Access Canberra or the NCA for Lake Burley Griffin where permits apply for the use of any powered boat.
Please report any illegal fishing activity to Access Canberra. Penalties of up to $5000 apply for contravention of the Fisheries Act 2000.
Only catch:
- Trout during Trout season (October Labour Day long weekend to King’s birthday long weekend in June inclusive).
- Murray Cod during Murray Cod season (1 December to 31 August).

More information

Read more information in the Recreational Fishing in the ACT factsheet:

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report illegal fishing and maintenance issues to Access Canberra report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00