NSW Department of Primary Industries

Recreational fishing fee

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When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and carry a receipt showing the payment of the fee. This applies when:

  • spear fishing
  • hand lining
  • hand gathering
  • trapping
  • bait collecting
  • prawn netting
  • in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters.

Purchasing your recreational fishing licence

The fees are:

  • $7 for three days
  • $14 for one month
  • $35 for one year
  • $85 for three years

You can purchase your recreational licence:

If purchasing your fishing licence online, please ensure you are using one of the following browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Internet Explorer 9, 10 or 11
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari

Fee exemptions

There are several exemptions from paying the recreational fishing licence fee. Read our Recreational fishing licence fee exemptions page for more information on these.

Do you need a refund for your NSW fishing licence fee receipt?

If you are exempt from the NSW recreational fishing fee, you can request a refund by completing the application for a refund (PDF, 324.53 KB).

Would your business like to apply to become an Accredited Recreational Fishing Fee Sales Agent?

If you would like to sell recreational fishing licences at your place of business, Fisheries can provide you with an information pack which will outline all requirements, a nomination form and an application form. Please contact Fisheries to request a new agent information application pack by:

Recreational Fishing Trusts

All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW. These trusts are regulated by law and overseen by two committees made up of recreational fishers - one for saltwater and one for freshwater.

Plastic receipts

If you pay for a one year or three year recreational fishing licence period online, over the phone or if you renew your licence using your renewal letter, you will receive a plastic receipt in the post. Evidence of payment is your receipt number, which must be able to be produced if requested by an authorised officer (until you receive your receipt in the post).

If you pay for a three day or one month period, no receipt will be posted.

Your fishing receipt must be carried whilst fishing.

Have you changed address?

If you have changed address since you last purchased your NSW fishing licence fee receipt, you can update your contact details either by:

  • online (please note: your email address and mobile number need to be on record with us if you wish to update your address online)
  • phoning 1300 660 436 during business hours
  • emailing: recfish.licensing@dpi.nsw.gov.au

You can also update your contact details when you renew your licence online. When emailing or phoning to update your address, please provide your licence number and name plus your new contact details.

Digital receipts

You can now link your NSW fishing fee receipt digitally on your smartphone.

Please note: A current email address and mobile number must to be listed on the NSW Fisheries data base for any fisher to successfully link their fishing fee receipt digitally with the My Service NSW application. The same email and mobile number must be used for the My Service NSW application.

If you need to update these details, please call Fisheries first on: 1300 660 436 or email: recfish.licensing@dpi.nsw.gov.au and advise your current email address and mobile phone number. It takes approximately 1 hour for these details to update once the amendment has been finalised.

Have you lost your fishing licence fee receipt?

If your current recreational fishing licence fee receipt has been lost or stolen, you can request a replacement licence card online. Please note: An $8.00 processing fee will apply for plastic card replacements. Alternatively, you can download a digital copy of your fishing fee receipt on your smartphone with the My Service NSW Application.

You can carry either a current: copy of your digital fishing fee receipt on your smart phone or a plastic fishing card to be fully covered to fish.

Please note: A current email address and mobile number must to be listed on the NSW Fisheries data base for any fisher to successfully link their fishing fee receipt digitally with the My Service NSW application. The same email and mobile number must be used for the My Service NSW application.

If you need to update these details, please call Fisheries first on: 1300 660 436 or email: recfish.licensing@dpi.nsw.gov.au and advise your current email address and mobile phone number. It takes approximately 1 hour for these details to update once the amendment has been finalised.

Do you plan on doing any fishing across the border, if so you may need to pay the VIC recreational fishing fee

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au