Why do we have closed waters?

Closed waters (regulated waters) prevent people from fishing in certain areas and these may be:

• where a population of endangered or threatened species live
• where fish congregate during or before spawning
• where fish may mass or be stranded near artificial barriers and be susceptible to overfishing
• to separate incompatible uses, for example spearfishing in a bathing area
• to enable successful migration of fish through fishways.

Closed waters in freshwater areas

Taking or possessing freshwater fish from closed waters is prohibited.

Murray cod cannot be taken from the Barwon, Macintyre or Dumaresq rivers from 1 September to 30 November.

No fish can be taken from Obi Obi Creek all year round between the Baroon Pocket Dam wall and the shortest line across the creek at the southern bank of Skenes Creek. The use and possession of fishing lines in this section of Obi Obi Creek is not permitted.

Waters closed to all forms of fishing

Fishing, which includes collecting, is not allowed in the following areas:

Albert River: from Luscombe Weir to 120 m downstream of the weir.

Balonne River: 100 m upstream to 75 m downstream of Surat Weir; 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Beardmore Dam wall; and 100 m upstream to 115 m downstream of Jack Taylor Weir.

Barwon River: from 100 m upstream to 100 m downstream of Mungindi Weir.

Boyne River (in the Auburn River basin): from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Boondooma Dam wall.

Boyne River (Boyne River basin): 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Awoonga Dam wall.

Brisbane River: Old Mount Crosby Weir to 50 m downstream of the weir; 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Mount Crosby Weir; and Wivenhoe Dam wall to 600 m downstream of the dam wall.

Burdekin River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Clare Weir.

Burnett Creek: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Maroon Dam wall.

Burnett River: 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Burnett Barrage; 100 m upstream to 100 m downstream of the Kirar Weir; 50 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Ned Churchward (Walla) Weir; 200 m upstream to 150 m downstream of Claude Wharton Weir; and 500 m upstream to 500 m downstream of the Paradise Dam wall.

Condamine River: 200 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Chinchilla Weir; 400 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Loudon Weir; 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Lemon Tree Weir; Yarramalong Weir to 200 m downstream of the weir; 150 m upstream to 150 m downstream of Cecil Plains Weir; and from 27#02'24" S 149#57'12" E (approximately 14 km upstream of Reilly´s Weir) to 150 m downstream of Reilly's Weir.

Dawson River: 100 m upstream to 150 m downstream of the Glebe Weir; Gyranda Weir to 200 m downstream of the weir; Orange Creek Weir to 150 m downstream of the weir; 100 m upstream of the Theodore Weir to the downstream side of the Leichhardt Highway (from Taroom to Theodore) bridge on the river; 100 m upstream to 100 m downstream of the Moura Weir; and 400 m upstream of Neville Hewitt Weir to the downstream side of the bridge across the river on the road from Baralaba to Woorabinda.

Dogwood Creek: from 90 m upstream to 100 m downstream of Gil Weir (formerly Miles Weir).

Dumaresq River: from 100 m upstream to 100 m downstream of Bonshaw Weir.

Fitzroy River: 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Fitzroy River Barrage; 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Eden Bann Weir; and 200 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Wattlebank Control Weir.

Kolan River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Kolan Barrage.

Logan River: from 100m upstream to 100 m downstream of Cedar Grove Weir; and 100 m upstream to 100m downstream of South Maclean Weir.

Macintyre Brook: 100 m upstream to 100 m downstream of the Coolmunda Dam spillway wall; 100 m upstream to 50 m downstream of Whetstone Weir; and 100 m upstream to 50 m downstream of Bendor Weir.

Macintyre River: from 150 m upstream to 150 m downstream of Goondiwindi Weir.

Mary River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Mary River Barrage.

Nerang River: from Hinze Dam wall to 400 m downstream of the dam wall.

Nogo River: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Wuruma Dam wall.

Nogoa River: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Fairbairn Dam wall.

Pike Creek: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Glenlyon Dam wall.

Pioneer River: 200 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Marian Weir; 200 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Mirani Weir; and 400 m upstream to 250 m downstream of Dumbleton Weir.

Quart Pot Creek: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Storm King Dam wall.

Reynolds Creek: from 200 m upstream to 300 m downstream of the Moogerah Dam wall.

Sandy Creek: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Leslie Dam wall.

Severn River: the part of the Severn River commonly known as Queen Mine waterhole, about 6 km west of Ballandean.

Six Mile Creek: from the dam wall at Lake MacDonald to 100 m downstream of the dam wall.

Stuart River: from 750 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Gordonbrook Dam wall.

Three Moon Creek: from 200 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Cania Dam wall.

Thomson River: from 50 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Fairmount Weir.

Tinana Creek: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Tinana Creek Barrage.

Waters closed to taking fish

In Queensland there are a number of areas closed to taking some fish or all fish, or the use of certain fishing apparatus. For more information refer to the Fisheries Regulation 2008 or management plans.