Safety and rules for boating and fishing in parks

This section has information about boating safety and guidelines and where you can fish in parks and reserves in the Northern Territory (NT).

Boating

Stay safe and protect the environment by following these guidelines:

• you may need an access or camping permit for some parks before you enter to fish
• make sure your boat and equipment meet safety laws
• check tide charts and weather forecasts before you leave
• you should not anchor on coral reefs
• take care as reefs are often unmarked and uncharted and easily covered by tides
• use a boat canopy for shade and remember that open waters can be rough.

Fishing

You don't need a licence or a permit to fish in parks or reserves but you should be aware of the following:

• fish possession limits apply in all areas
• fish possession limits are different in special areas
• you cannot use nets, traps, firearms or spears in most parks and reserves
• if you use nets, traps and pots for recreational fishing outside a park or reserve you can transport them through the park on a road. They must be securely stowed and cannot be used
• you can use a landing net for landing fish, not for any other purpose
• you cannot use set lines
• you can use a cast net in Cobourg Marine Park.

Be Crocwise when boating and fishing

Crocodiles are ambush predators. They have been involved in fatal attacks on boaters and fishers in recent years.

Don't be complacent. Stay safe by following all of these guidelines:

• take extreme care when launching and retrieving your boat
• remember, the smaller the boat the greater the risk
• stay alert for saltwater crocodiles at all times
• do not sleep on your boat overnight or camp near the water's edge
• remember that crocodiles will see you before you see them
• you should not clean fish within 50m of a water body unless using a designated fish cleaning facility
• if you must clean fish out to sea, do so 1km offshore
• dispose of fish waste by returning it to deep waters, placing it in bins, or taking it away
• remember that crocodiles move around throughout the year
• always report problem crocodiles no matter their size
• read more about crocodile safety on the Be Crocwise website
• read more about stinger or box jellyfish safety.

Read more about crocodile capture and management or get community resources on the Be Crocwise website.