Each year, New South Wales and Queensland enforce a closed season for our native populations of Australian Bass in coastal rivers and estuaries, so they can do their thing and get their jiggy on. The closure is in place to allow fish to migrate down into the saltwater of our estuaries so they can spawn, which allows natural recruitment to run its course.
When Is The Closure In Effect:
NSW:
In New South Wales, recreational fishers are not allowed to target Australian Bass in rivers and estuaries from 1 May to 31 August (being each day in the months of May to August).[1] Aussie Bass cannot be targeted during this period unless adhering to strict "catch and release" fishing methods, in river systems below impoundments (dams), but can still be targeted to fill bag limits in stocked impoundments and in the systems above those impoundments, during the closure period.[2]
It is important to remember, the closure in New South Wales extends to Estuary Perch so you cannot target Estuary Perch to fill bag limits in New South Wales from 1 May to 31 August.
"In New South Wales, recreational fishers are not allowed to fill their bag limits for Australian Bass in rivers and estuaries from 1 May to 31 August (being each day in the months of May to August)."
QLD:
Queensland likes to do things a little differently and so their Australian Bass season is different to that of New South Wales. Queensland enforces a recreational fishing closure for Australian Bass from 1 June to 31 August (starting one month later than NSW).[3] During this period, you cannot fish for Australian Bass in any tidal waters.
"Queensland enforces a recreational fishing closure for Australian Bass from 1 June to 31 August (starting one month later than NSW)."
VIC:
Victoria has no closed season for Australian Bass.
Even though there is no closed season for Australian Bass in Victoria, we urge all Victorian anglers to self-impose their own closed season from 1 May to 31 August. Self-imposing the closure, will allow these Aussie natives time to naturally recruit, ensuring plentiful numbers of Bass remain in Victoria for many years to come.
"Even though there is no closed season for Australian Bass in Victoria, we urge all Victorian anglers to self-impose their own closed season from 1 May to 31 August."
Why Is The Australian Bass Closure In Effect?
The Australian Bass closure is in effect for a couple of reasons.
Queensland fisheries states the main reason for recreational fishing closed seasons is to “prevent fishing for certain species at certain times of the year to protect those species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning seasons.”.[4]
Fisheries Deputy Director General, Sean Sloan, states the Australian Bass closure is in effect in NSW because it “protects the fish during this spawning period to ensure they can remain a popular catch with recreational fishers for many generations to come”.[5]
As both QLD and NSW Fisheries succinctly put it, the most important reason for the closure is to allow Australian Bass to migrate downriver to the estuarine systems (saltwater) so they can spawn and naturally recruit free from recreational angling pressure, so as not to disturb their annual spawning period.
Australian Bass migrate to spawn annually. The winter months are typically the months where flood events happen more regularly and these flood events allow our mighty Aussie Bass to migrate downstream where upon their arrival, they school up awaiting the perfect salinity levels to spawn.
Another reason for the closure is that most native species are vulnerable to overfishing during periods of spawning, and the Australian Bass is no exception! While Australian Bass are schooled up waiting to spawn in the winter months, our beloved Aussie Bass can become vulnerable to traditional fishing methods. Catching spawning Australian Bass could have a disastrous impact on the natural recruitment levels of our native Aussie Bass.
"The winter months are typically the months where flood events happen more regularly and these flood events allow our mighty Aussie Bass to migrate downstream where upon their arrival, they school up awaiting the perfect salinity levels to spawn."
Catching Australian Bass within the closure period can result in mishandling the fish, which can cause damage to rowed up fish (with eggs). Mishandling of Australian Bass during their spawning period may also result in caught fish having a less successful spawning event. Meaning less recruitment, meaning less bass fingerlings, meaning less baby bass for the future of our fisheries – all, would agree that is a bad result.
It is well known that catching a Murray Cod during a spawning event will have detrimental impacts on the success of the Murray Cod’s natural recruitment. When a Murray Cod is caught by a recreational angler, it is away from its nest of eggs, which it would otherwise have been protecting fiercely. During the time the Murray Cod is captured and away from the nest, the eggs become susceptible to predation because the Murray Cod is no longer able to ward off predators from the nest. Predation of the eggs can happen swiftly. By the time the Murray Cod is released by the angler, it may already be too late for the eggs.
Australian Bass are a little different to that of the Murray Cod. During the closed season, the Australian Bass are susceptible to the interference of recreational anglers during a capture event because caught fish may experience reduced spawning success. Reduced spawning success is not uncommon after a catch and release fish capture – with the Steelhead (rainbow trout species found in the North Pacific Ocean) being one species that is known to be at risk of not sustaining its own population, which is due in part, to the effects of catch and release fishing.[6] An Australian Bass that has been caught and released by a recreational angler, may not be as focused on spawning after its release, which will affect the numbers of spawning fish if this happens on a large scale.
"During the closed season, Australian Bass are susceptible to the interference of recreational anglers during a capture event because caught fish may experience reduced spawning success."
Consequences Of Fishing For Bass During Closed Season:
NSW:
In NSW, The Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (NSW) gives authorised officers (Fisheries Officers) the power to issue fines (penalty notices) for fishing for Australian Bass during the closure period.[7] The fine figure will be $500 as per the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW), but if the matter goes to court, you could face a maximum of 200 penalty units worth of fines, or six months imprisonment for your first offence; or a maximum of 400 penalty units worth of fines, or twelve months imprisonment for your second or subsequent offence.[8]
One penalty unit is worth $110, so if you do the math, you will see those are some scarily high fines to pay if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
DPI Fisheries Officers are known to patrol rivers during the closed season where they strictly enforce the closure, so with the possibility of such heavy fines and imprisonment, you do not want to be caught targeting Australian Bass or Estuary Perch during the closed seasons in NSW.
It is worth including, and I am sure I am now wavering on the side of fear mongering, but Fisheries Officers in NSW also have the power to confiscate and seize your fishing gear if you are caught fishing in contravention of the laws.[9] Fishing gear is expensive, so again, this will hit those willing to break the law where it matters – their pockets.
"Fisheries Officers in NSW also have the power to confiscate and seize your fishing gear if you are caught fishing in contravention of the laws."
For a guide on what to expect if you choose to contest a penalty notice issued for contravening a fishing closure period, see the Department of Primary Industries step by step guide on what to expect. Read here.[10]
Nothing contained within this blog article constitutes legal advice. If you have found yourself in trouble with the law relating to a fisheries offence, you should seek legal advice from a lawyer.
QLD:
In Queensland, if you are found to be fishing for Australian Bass during the closed season, you are likely to be faced with heavy fines although the fine amounts are a little more uncertain.
In both NSW and QLD, if you are an angler who continues to break fisheries laws and are deemed a “repeat offender” or a “persistent offender”, the courts can prohibit you from fishing altogether and can even prohibit you from owning fishing gear and tackle.[12]
Nothing contained within this blog article constitutes legal advice. If you have found yourself in trouble with the law relating to a fisheries offence, you should seek legal advice from a lawyer.
What To Do If Australian Bass Are Caught As Bycatch During The Closed Season?
If you catch an Australian Bass during the closed season period, it should be returned to the water in the least intrusive way possible. This means, fish should not be removed from the water where possible. Best practice fish handling would see any bycatch Australian Bass unhooked and released while still in the water. This will ensure they have the best chance of survival after release so they can go back to focusing on what is important; breeding and making more Australian Bass.
Where possible, when you catch Australian Bass as by-catch during the closed season, we recommend:
1. Not taking the time to film or photograph the fish;
2. Returning the fish back to the water as quickly as possible (see step one again);
3. Minimising the time the fish is exposed to air and keeping the fish in the water to unhook it when and where possible (crushing the barbs on your hooks is a great way to ensure the unhooking process is speedy and efficient); and
4. When handling the fish, supporting the belly but not squeezing it, making sure not to press too firmly on the belly in case the fish has row (eggs).
For more information on correct fish handling practice, see our article titled, “Best Practice Fish Handling – Catch and Release Fishing”. This article will be of interest to you if fish mortality after a capture event is important to you.
Who To Report Illegal Fishing To?
If you see anglers targeting Australian Bass during the NSW or QLD Australian Bass closed season, we encourage you to report the illegal fishing.
In NSW, you can report any illegal fishing to:[13]
Any Fisheries Office;
By contacting the Fishers Watch Phoneline (1800 043 536); and
By submitting an online form (see here).[14]
In QLD, you can report illegal fishing to:
The Fishwatch Hotline (1800 017 116); or
Submit an online form (see here).[15]
What Species To Fish For During Bass Season Closure:
There is an abundance of other species you can target during the Australian Bass closure period.
With so many iconic Australian fish species spanning from the freshwater to the saltwater, available to the land-based angler and the boating enthusiast, there will be a species out there for you to target which will scratch your Aussie Bass itch.
Lots of Australian fish hit hard and pull string, much like our Aussie Bass. Murray Cod, Yellow Belly, Dusky Flathead, Bream, Jew Fish (Mulloway), Tailor, and Whiting – just to name a few. What is great, is some of these species can be targeted throughout the winter months with success. So get out there, try something a little different, and be rewarded! Who knows, you might just find some love and passion for a new species during the bass closure.
With Australian Bass being out of action for three months, it is a great time to do some travelling and chase one of Australia’s equally iconic fish – the Murray Cod. In NSW, the Murray Cod closure comes into effect for three months from 1 September each year. I call that perfect timing! Although I do not get to target Murray Cod as much as I would like, this year I plan to catch a solid greenback and urge you to get out and catch one too. Many of the techniques used to catch Australian Bass cross pollinate with Murray Cod fishing – the kicker being, you must step up your tackle and your lure offerings. Our bet is, if you have a good grasp of targeting Australian Bass on lures, you will be well on your way to catching a Murray Cod. So, we urge you to start planning a Murray Cod fishing expedition. And if you do some travelling to chase our native fish of a thousand casts, make sure you spend some money locally to help our smaller locally owned Australian businesses.
"Many of the techniques used to catch Australian Bass cross pollinate with Murray Cod fishing – the kicker being, you must step up your tackle and your lure offerings."
Closing Remarks:
During the Australian Bass closed season, our Aussie natives are not pressured heavily, making for one hell of a season re-opening come springtime. Once the season reopens in Spring, the Bass are usually hot on the bite and are ready, willing, and waiting, to eat our lure offerings. So with that in mind, pencil the 1st of September into your calendar and get out there bass fishing again once the season reopens.
Our beloved Australian Bass deserve a break from recreational angling pressure over the closure period so they can breed and recruit in large numbers. This will ensure our revered native Australian Bass remain in high numbers for many years to come. After all, we are all on the quest to catch that horse of a 50cm bronzed up brute, which will only be an easier fete with more Australian Bass in our systems.
The Finatic Blogger...
Nothing contained within this blog article constitutes legal advice. If you have found yourself in trouble with the law relating to a fisheries offence, you should seek legal advice from a lawyer.
[1] https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/saltwater-bag-and-size-limits https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/closures/summary-fw-closures
Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW) sch 3, pt 2, s 2.
Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (NSW) s 8.
[2] https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2023/general2/australian-bass-and-estuary-perch-closure-commences-1-may
[3]https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/recreational/recreational-fishing-rules/closed-seasons-waters
Fisheries Declaration 2019 (QLD) pt 5, div 4, s 28.
[5] https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2023/general2/australian-bass-and-estuary-perch-closure-commences-1-may
[7] Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW) sch 8 pt 1.
[8] Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (NSW) ss 14 (1) (2).
[9] Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (NSW) Pt 9 Div 4.
[11] Fisheries Act 1994 (QLD).
[12] Fisheries Act 1994 (QLD) Pt 8 Div 5 s 174.
Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (NSW) Pt 9 Div 7 ss 282C-292D.
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