Fishing Licences And Permits In Australia: A State-by-State Guide

If you're new to fishing and you're not sure whether you need a licence to wet a line, you're not alone. Australia doesn't run one national system. Every state and territory sets its own rules, and they aren't consistent throughout the country. Some states charge a fee before you can cast off a jetty. Others don't require a licence at all, but expect you to know the bag limits and protected species by heart. A couple only ask you to pay up if you're chasing something specific, like rock lobster or abalone.

This guide walks through what's required in every state and territory, what it costs where a fee applies, whether those fees increased with the new financial year, and the exemptions worth knowing about. If you're heading out on your own boat for the first time, it's also worth checking our guide to boat and jet ski licence requirements, since your boat driver's licence and your fishing licence are two completely separate things.

Recreational fishing licences and fees vary significantly by state and territory in Australia, and there's no single rule that applies everywhere.

New South Wales and Victoria require a general recreational fishing licence for most fishing, with fees starting from around $10 to $35 depending on the licence period.
Queensland doesn't require a general licence, but you'll need a Stocked Impoundment Permit to fish in managed dams and weirs.
South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory don't require a general recreational fishing licence at all, though local rules and permits can still apply in specific waters.
Western Australia doesn't licence shore-based rod fishing, but does require a licence for fishing from a boat, and for rock lobster, abalone, marron, net fishing or freshwater angling.
Tasmania doesn't licence rod-and-line sea fishing, but requires a Recreational Sea Fishing Licence for species like abalone and rock lobster, and a separate Angling Licence for any inland water.

Bag limits, size limits and closed seasons apply almost everywhere, licensed or not, so it always pays to check your state's current rules before you head out.

State-by-State Fishing Licence Requirements

New South Wales

NSW requires anyone aged 18 or over to hold a Recreational Fishing Fee (RFF) licence to fish in both fresh and saltwater, including spearfishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting. You need it even if you're just carrying fishing gear on or near the water.

Fees (current as at 2026):

3-day licence: $7
1-month licence: $14
1-year licence: $35
3-year licence: $85

You're exempt if you're under 18, assisting a minor with a single rod or scoop net, holding certain DVA or pension concession cards, or fishing in a private dam under 2 hectares. Licences are available through Service NSW.

Fee change: none. These fees have held steady for several years, with the same $35 one-year and $85 three-year rates.

Victoria

Victoria's Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) covers all recreational fishing across the state's marine, estuarine and inland waters, whether you're line fishing, collecting bait or shellfish, yabbying, prawning or spearfishing.

Current fees (updated 1 July 2026):

3-day licence: $10.00
28-day licence: $24.70
1-year licence: $43.30 (a $2.50 saving when bought online)
3-year licence: $117.40 (a $6.20 saving when bought online)

You're exempt if you're under 18 or 70 and over (a free fisher card is available instead), Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or hold a Victorian or interstate Seniors Card, Veterans Card, or eligible Pensioner Concession Card. Fees are set annually by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and update every 1 July, so it's worth checking the current price before you buy.

Fee change: increased. The 3-day licence held at $10.00, but the 28-day rose from $24.00 to $24.70, the 1-year (online) rose from $39.70 to $43.30, and the 3-year (online) rose from $108.30 to $117.40, in line with Victoria's annual 1 July fee update.

Queensland

Queensland doesn't require a general recreational fishing licence for open tidal or freshwater fishing. Where it catches most new anglers out is stocked dams and weirs. If you're 18 or over and want to fish one of these with a line, you'll need a Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP).

Current fees:

Weekly permit: $13.15
Annual permit: $62.47
Annual concession permit (Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Repatriation Health Care Card): $44.94

Anyone under 18 can fish these waters without a permit. Bag and size limits still apply everywhere in the state, licence or not.

Fee change: increased, but not recently. SIP fees rose 3.4% on 1 July 2025 as part of a routine indexation of Queensland Government fees, and have held at these levels since.

South Australia

SA is one of the more relaxed states. If you're fishing with a rod or handline (up to two per person), you don't need a recreational fishing licence anywhere in SA waters, marine or freshwater. The main exception is certain SA Water reservoirs, which require their own permit. Selling anything you catch without a commercial licence is illegal, and bag and size limits apply throughout the state.

Fee change: not applicable. There's no general recreational fishing licence fee to increase or hold steady.

Western Australia

WA splits its licensing by activity rather than by a single blanket rule. You don't need a licence to fish from the shore with a rod and line. You do need one for:

Fishing from a powered boat (Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence)
Rock lobster
Abalone
Marron
Net fishing
Freshwater angling

Current fees: the Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence costs $40 a year, and rock lobster, abalone, marron, net fishing and south-west freshwater angling licences each cost $50 a year. You'll get a 10% discount if you buy two or more activity licences at once, and half-price rates apply for under-16s and eligible concession holders. Licences run for 12 months from the date of issue rather than a fixed calendar year, so mark your renewal date.

Fee change: none. These fees have been stable at $40 for the boat licence and $50 for the other activity licences for several years.

Tasmania

You don't need a licence to fish with a rod and line in Tasmanian marine waters. You do need a Recreational Sea Fishing Licence if you're after abalone, rock lobster (dive, pot or ring), scallops, or using a graball net, mullet net, beach seine net or set line. The licensing year runs from 1 November to 31 October, and short-term licences aren't available, so you're buying for the season.

Fishing any inland water, including farm dams on private property, requires a separate Angling Licence if you're 14 or older. Junior licences (14 to 17) are currently free, and 18 to 21-year-olds get a heavily discounted rate.

Fee change: rules updated, pricing steady. The main changes for the 2025-26 season are new flathead handling rules from 1 March 2026 and mandatory rock lobster catch reporting, rather than a fee increase.

Northern Territory

The NT doesn't require a recreational fishing licence or a recreational boat licence at all. Bag and size limits still apply, along with a general possession limit of 30 fish per person, excluding species like crabs, prawns and bait fish. One thing to be aware of: large areas of the NT's intertidal waters sit over Aboriginal land, and recreational fishers may need to register or hold an access permit to fish there. Check with the Northern Land Council before you plan a trip to remote coastal areas.

Fee change: not applicable. There's no general recreational fishing licence fee to increase or hold steady.

Australian Capital Territory

Recreational fishing in the ACT's public waters doesn't require a licence. You'll still need to follow the Fisheries Act 2000, including rules around protected species and gear. The one exception worth knowing is Googong Reservoir, which is ACT-managed but governed by NSW fishing rules, meaning you'll need a valid NSW recreational fishing licence to fish there.

Fee change: not applicable. There's no general recreational fishing licence fee to increase or hold steady, though the NSW fee that applies at Googong Reservoir hasn't changed either (see the NSW section above).

Ready to Get on the Water

Licensing sorted, the next step is making sure the rest of your setup is too. Whether you're after your first tinnie, a proper fishing-ready boat, or just the right outboard for weekend trips, it's worth browsing what's currently listed on BoatsOnline. And if you haven't sorted your boat or jet ski licence yet, our state-by-state guide covers that side of things as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a fishing licence to fish from a boat in Australia?

It depends on the state. In most of Australia, the same recreational fishing licence covers fishing from land or from a boat. Western Australia is the exception: you don't need a licence to fish from the shore, but you do need a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence to fish from a powered vessel. Either way, remember that your boat driver's licence (if your state requires one) is separate from your fishing licence, and you may need both.

Is a fishing licence from one state valid in another?

No. Each state and territory issues and enforces its own licence, and none of them are recognised across borders. If you cross from Victoria into NSW waters, for example, you'll need a valid NSW licence even if your Victorian one is current. This matters most around border rivers and lakes, like the Murray River or Googong Reservoir near Canberra, where the water you're fishing may fall under a different state's rules to the one you're standing in.

Can I fish anywhere in Australia without a licence?

South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT don't require a general recreational fishing licence, and Queensland only requires a permit for stocked dams and weirs. Even in these places, though, you'll still need to follow bag limits, size limits, closed seasons and gear restrictions, and specific activities like fishing certain reservoirs can still require their own permit.

What happens if I get caught fishing without a required licence?

Fisheries officers in every state and territory can issue on-the-spot fines for fishing without a required licence, and penalties can run into the thousands of dollars for repeat or serious offences. Officers can also ask to see your licence or receipt at any time while you're fishing, so it's worth keeping a digital copy or the physical card with you even in states where you can carry just a receipt.

Do children need a fishing licence?

Generally, no. Most states exempt children from needing a recreational fishing licence, though the cut-off age varies. NSW and Queensland exempt anyone under 18, while Tasmania's inland Angling Licence only kicks in from age 14 (and is free for 14 to 17-year-olds). If a child is fishing with an adult using a single rod, most states also exempt the supervising adult from needing a separate licence for that activity.