Fishing and Boating
Sailing and fishing are popular activities at Booderee.
Our Protected Marine Species
All aquatic invertebrates (for example beach worms, sea urchins, lobsters, crabs, scallops, cockles, mussels, turban snails, pipis and abalone) and all species on the rock platforms (including oysters and octopus) are protected and must not be taken in Booderee National Park.
Other species that also cannot be taken include: grey nurse shark, estuary cod, eastern blue devilfish, elegant wrasse and all species of seahorses, seadragons and pipefishes.
Rock Platforms
All species on the rock platforms are protected and cannot be collected.
Boat Ramps
The boat ramp at Murrays Beach carpark provides access to Jervis Bay waters.
Mooring Buoys
Bowen Island and Murrays Beach mooring buoys are for commercial use only. Mooring buoys at Hole in the Wall can be used by the public but size and weight restrictions apply.
Diving
The clear waters of Jervis Bay provide excellent opportunities for diving. Snorkelling locations in Jervis Bay are found off rock platforms at Scottish Rocks and Murrays Beach. The diverse marine environment in Jervis Bay offers scuba divers a rewarding diving experience. Air tank filling, diving equipment and tours are available at dive shops in nearby Huskisson.
Beaches
Quieter swimming beaches are located around the Bay shores from Green Patch to Murrays Beach. Open ocean beaches with surf are found at Cave Beach, Bherwerre Beach and Steamers Beach.
Threats to marine life are:
- plastic bags and other waste, that are mistaken for jellyfish
- dropped cigarette butts
- discarded fishing line, bait packets and hooks
- habitat destruction, poor water quality and seagrass depletion
- boat and propeller collisions
- deliberate acts of cruelty and disease
Please assist us by disposing of waste properly and anchoring only in waters greater than 10 metres deep.
Fishing Regulations
Only line fishing is permitted in Booderee National Park waters. Groper, crustaceans, and marine life on intertidal rock platforms are protected. Spearfishing is prohibited and spears or spearguns are not permitted in the Park. No fishing is permitted in the Botanic Gardens.
Size and bag limits for most species apply and are generally those that also apply within NSW waters (except squid that has a bag limit of 10 per person per day). Where a species is not listed the NSW limits apply.
Types of fishing allowed are:
- using one hand rod with a single hook or lure per person
- using one hand-held line with a single hook per person
- using one landing net
A NSW Fishing Licence is required.
Types of fishing NOT allowed are:
- commercial fishing
- spearfishing using either handspears or spearguns
- no live bait other than a limited number of fish or squid may be collected or used in Booderee National Park
(NOTE: Fishing bag limits are the same as the adjoining NSW waters, with the exception of squid collected - 10 per person) - all plants and animals are protected including abalone, crayfish, pipis, crabs, oysters and all other shellfish and crustaceans
- all life on rock platforms is protected
Activities NOT allowed are:
- use of jet skis
- towing of persons behind boats
- boom riding
- anchoring on seagrass communities
| Fish | Bag Limits (max no. per day) |
Size Limits (max or min size in cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Australian bass & estruary perch | 2 | Only 1 greater than 35 cm |
| Australian salmon | 5 | - |
| Bream (black/southern/yellowfin) | 20 (in total) | 25 cm (min) |
| Eels (short & longfinned) | 20 (in total) | 30 cm (min) |
| Flathead (dusky/common) | 10 | Only 1 greater than 70 cm All others a min of 36 cm |
| Flathead (sand/tiger) | 20 (in total) | 33 cm (min) |
| Groper (blue, red/brown) | 2 (in total) | - |
| Kingfish (yellowtail) | 5 | 60 cm (min) |
| Luderick | 20 | 25 cm (min) |
| Mackerel (spanish or spotted) | 5 (in total) | - |
| Morwong (banded) | 5 | - |
| Morwong (red/sea carp) | 5 | 25 cm (min) |
| Morwong (jackass, rubberlip) | 20 | 28 cm (min) |
| Mullet (poddy - for live bait) | 20 | Less than 15 cm |
| Mullet (sea/bully) | 20 | 30 cm (min) |
| Mulloway (or jewfish) | 5 | 70 cm (min) - 2 per day 45 cm (min) - all others |
| Rock blackfish | 10 | 30 cm (min) |
| Sharks & rays | 5 (in total) max 2 (wobbegong) |
91 cm (min) - for school shark only |
| Snapper | 10 | 30 cm (min) |
| Squid (southern calamari & arrow) | 10 (in total) | - |
| Surgeon fish (sawtail) | 5 | - |
| Tailor | 20 | 30 cm (min) |
| Tarwhine | 20 | 20 cm (min) |
| Teraglin | 5 | 38 cm (min) |
| Trevally | 20 (in total) | - |
| Whiting (sand whiting) | 20 (in total) | 27 cm (min) |
See also: Zoning
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