Do I Need a Fishing Licence While Camping in Australia? 2026

The short answer by state

There is no national fishing licence. Each state and territory sets its own, and some licences are for one activity only, such as fishing from a boat or taking rock lobster.

Where you need a licence

In NSW, one fee covers saltwater and freshwater. It covers line fishing, spearfishing, bait collecting and collecting invertebrates by hand, and under-18s are exempt. Victoria says you need a licence for recreational fishing in its waters, and under-18s and people aged 70 and over can apply for a free fisher card instead.

Tasmania requires an angling licence for inland waters, and children under 14 do not need one. In the sea, Tasmania's rod and line fishing needs no licence, but rock lobster, abalone, scallop, nets and set lines do. WA also requires a licence for fishing from a powered boat, whether you fish with a line, catch crabs or use a spear.

Where you do not need a licence

Queensland has no general licence, but anyone aged 18 or over needs a Stocked Impoundment Permit to line fish in a stocked dam or weir, and one permit covers every impoundment in the scheme. Under-18s do not need one. South Australia does not require a licence for recreational fishing, but fishing in a reservoir needs a permit, and PIRSA suggests contacting SA Water for the detail.

The Northern Territory does not require a licence, and fishing permits are not required in NT parks and reserves, although some parks need access or camping permits. Much of the NT's intertidal water lies over Aboriginal land, where you may need a permit or registration. The ACT does not require a licence in public waters, but Googong Reservoir follows NSW rules and needs a NSW licence.

Western Australia: licences by activity

WA licenses the activity, not the angler. DPIRD lists a recreational fishing from a boat licence at $40, and licences at $50 each for south-west freshwater angling, rock lobster, abalone, marron and net fishing. Licences last 12 months from the day payment is received, and you must not fish until you receive the receipt.

Fees are halved for people under 16, Seniors Card holders and some pensioners, and a 10 per cent discount applies when you apply for more than one activity at once. Rowing or paddling without a motor does not trigger the boat licence.

Bag and size limits apply everywhere

No licence does not mean no rules. PIRSA says South Australia's fishery is not licensed but has size, bag, boat and possession limits, and the ACT says anglers must follow the Fisheries Act 2000 even without a licence. In the NT, barramundi have a possession limit and a minimum size, with tighter rules in Kakadu and the Mary and Daly River zones.

Limits vary by species, by zone and sometimes by season, so check the official limits for the water you are on. A free app from the state fisheries agency is the easiest way to do it, and the NSW, Victorian and South Australian apps also show marine park zones.

Marine parks: sanctuary zones ban fishing

Fishing is banned in marine park sanctuary zones and no-take areas, even if you hold a licence. NSW sanctuary zones ban fishing by any method, Victoria's marine national parks and marine sanctuaries are no-take areas, and South Australia's sanctuary zones are no-take areas where you cannot use fishing gear. South Australia's penalties run from a formal warning for a first offence to a maximum of $100,000 or two years in prison for serious or repeat offenders.

Check the official zoning maps before you cast: the NSW Department of Primary Industries publishes marine park zoning maps and the FishSmart NSW app, the Victorian Fisheries Authority has a Can I fish here? feature in its app, and South Australia's Marine Parks site has maps and GPS coordinates. NSW has changed some zones over the years, so use the current map for the park, not an old one.

Fishing near water in croc country

In the Top End, assume crocodiles are present in any waterway. NT Government Be Crocwise guidance says to stand at least 5 metres back from the water's edge when fishing, and NT Parks says not to clean fish within 50 metres of the water unless you use a designated fish cleaning facility.

The Northern Territory and Queensland camping rules guides cover where to pitch and croc warnings in more detail.

What to do instead

If the licence cost is the problem, buy a short one: NSW offers 3 days and 1 month, Victoria offers 3 days and 28 days, Queensland sells a stocked dam permit by the week, and Tasmania sells inland licences for 48 hours, 7 days and 28 days. Victoria sells its licence online and at participating angling shops or authorised agents.

If you would rather skip a licence entirely, plan the trip around Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory or the ACT, and check for reservoir permits and Aboriginal land permits first. In every state, choose a spot outside a sanctuary zone.

Check this rule at the place in AussieCamps

AussieCamps place pages carry facilities, fees and rules as the park agency publishes them for 1,838 campgrounds and 745 national parks, so you can see a campground's own notes before you pack the rods. The app does not list fishing licences or zones. Place details open without coverage, while the map, weather and photos need a connection. It is an iPhone app.

It does not replace the official rule. Confirm the licence and the zone with the fisheries agency or park manager before you fish.

Places along the way