The NSW Government is deploying 34 Fish Aggregating Devices along the state's coast, from Tweed Heads to Eden, ahead of summer. The floating buoys, tracked by GPS and anchored up to 20 kilometres offshore, attract baitfish and larger species such as mahi mahi, tuna, marlin and wahoo. The devices stay in the water through the warmer months and are retrieved in early winter for maintenance. Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the program is funded by recreational fishing licence fees. Fishers are urged to check weather and marine safety conditions before heading out.
Many people remember their first fish, and fishing and camping with family bring lasting benefits, even without a catch. Four-year-old Ardi Border has family ties to both the coast and the bush. Near Port Stephens he can go boating, fish from beaches, snorkel, surf and visit islands. Inland, rivers hold cod and dams hold crayfish. The writer recalls moving from Tweed Heads to teach in Gilgandra, a small central NSW town, and says the experience shaped them.
Giant tuna are drawing anglers from across Australia to Lakes Entrance, about 300 kilometres from Melbourne. The largest fish so far weighed 231 kilograms and was caught by a team of five fishers, a record for the Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club. Local tourism has surged, with car parks full of boat trailers and accommodation in demand. Researchers are working to confirm whether the fish are Pacific bluefin, a species rarely seen in Australia, and are collecting genetic samples to find out.
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Williamstown MP Melissa Horne has announced that a re-elected state government would expand the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary to include The Crystals, a popular swimming and snorkelling site at Williamstown Beach. The change would require amending the National Parks Act. Local campaigners and a community petition have welcomed the move, though the petitioners say the fight is not over. Victoria's peak recreational fishing body, VRFish, criticised the decision, saying it was made without consultation and breaks an earlier promise not to introduce new or extended marine parks.
The NSW Government plans to turn two artificial lakes at Penrith Lakes into a $5 million family fishing park, due to open in 2028. The lakes are currently closed to the public. Ministers say the site will be safe, accessible to everyone, including women, children and people with a disability, and suit people who do not own a boat. Officials say they may later explore fishing guides and a tackle shop. Local MP Karen McKeown welcomed the project as a new place for local families to get outdoors.
Around 600 mature Murray Cod have been returned to Lake Bonney in South Australia's Riverland. The project was led by RecFish SA and backed by the state government and its Recreational Fishing Authority. RecFish SA chief executive Asher Dezsery said the fish had disappeared from the lake after water quality problems and fish kills. Ecologists say the cod may improve water quality and habitat, while local leaders hope the fish will boost tourism. Fishing for Murray Cod is banned during the breeding season, with catch-and-release fishing resuming from January 1, 2027.
Clarence MP Richie Williamson has called on the NSW Government to reconsider proposed cuts to recreational fishing limits, warning they could hurt coastal tourism and small businesses. Under the proposals, the snapper bag limit would fall from 10 fish to three, and yellowtail kingfish from five to one. Williamson has moved a Notice of Motion calling for the changes to be paused and the scientific evidence made public. The government has extended public consultation to 15 February 2027.
