# Kangaroo Valley Fishing Guide | Australian Bass on the Kangaroo River, NSW Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/shoalhaven/kangaroo-valley/fishing/ Type: ActivityGuide Location: Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven, NSW Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A complete Kangaroo Valley fishing guide — chasing native Australian bass on lures in the Kangaroo River, Lake Yarrunga (Tallowa Dam) and the Shoalhaven. The best spots, species and seasons, kayak and bank fishing, the bass closed season, licences and caring for the river. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Lure & kayak anglers chasing native bass - Price range: Free bank & paddle fishing; licence required - Vibe: Wild, scenic, catch-and-release - Distance: NSW Shoalhaven hinterland ## Featured Properties - Wildes Boutique Hotel Kangaroo Valley: 4.5/5 (297 reviews) Book direct: https://wildes.com.au/ Wildes Boutique Hotel Kangaroo Valley — Kangaroo Valley - Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley: 4.2/5 (193 reviews) Book direct: https://holidayhaven.com.au/kangaroo-valley/ Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley — Kangaroo Valley - Kangaroo Valley Golf & Country Retreat: 4.3/5 (413 reviews) Book direct: http://www.kangaroovalleygolf.com.au/ Kangaroo Valley Golf & Country Retreat — Kangaroo Valley ## FAQ Q: Do you need a fishing licence in Kangaroo Valley? A: Yes. In NSW you must pay the recreational fishing fee and carry your licence receipt when fishing anywhere, including freshwater and shore-based fishing in Kangaroo Valley. Licences are available online through NSW DPI Fisheries for periods ranging from three days to three years, and they’re inexpensive. Some exemptions apply — for example, anglers under 18 and certain pension categories — so check the current rules. Carrying a valid licence is a legal requirement and fisheries officers do check. Q: What fish can you catch in Kangaroo Valley? A: The marquee species is the native Australian bass — a prized sportfish caught on lures in the Kangaroo River, Lake Yarrunga and the Shoalhaven. In Lake Yarrunga (the impoundment behind Tallowa Dam) you’ll also catch estuary perch, a closely related native. Eels and sea mullet run up the freshwater reaches and are easy to catch off the bank, making them great for kids. The system also holds introduced carp and redfin perch, which are pests and should be removed (in NSW they must not be returned to the water alive). Q: When is the bass closed season in Kangaroo Valley? A: Australian bass and estuary perch in flowing rivers are protected by a closed season from 1 June to 31 August every year, with a zero bag limit. During this period the fish are migrating to spawn, and any bass caught in the river must be released — there are no exceptions. The open river season begins on 1 September, when strict size and bag limits apply. Note that impoundments such as Lake Yarrunga can be treated differently from the open river, so always check the current NSW DPI rules before keeping any fish. Q: Where are the best fishing spots in Kangaroo Valley? A: For bass on lures, the Kangaroo River is the standout — the clear pools and snaggy runs around Hampden Bridge and downstream are classic bass water, fished best from a kayak, canoe or by wading. Lake Yarrunga, the impoundment behind Tallowa Dam, holds bass and estuary perch around the drowned timber and is accessible by canoe or kayak only. For easy family and bank fishing, the Bendeela picnic and camping area and the riverside reserves offer gentle access for eels, mullet and carp. Remember the river bass closed season runs 1 June to 31 August. Q: Can you fish in Kangaroo Valley with kids and without a boat? A: Absolutely — it’s one of the best places to get kids started. Bank fishing at the Bendeela picnic and camping area and the riverside reserves is easy and accessible, with grassy banks and gentle water. Target the obliging fish: eels and sea mullet take a simple bait off the bank and give young anglers something that bends the rod, while introduced carp are a fun, no-pressure target. A keen junior might even tempt a bass on a small lure. You’ll still need a NSW fishing licence for shore-based fishing, and the river bass closed season (1 June to 31 August) still applies. Q: Can you use a boat at Tallowa Dam and Lake Yarrunga? A: Only paddle craft and electric motors. Tallowa Dam, which forms Lake Yarrunga, permits canoes, kayaks and electric-powered boats only — no large petrol-powered boats are allowed. This keeps the lake quiet, clean and uncrowded, and it’s a genuinely peaceful way to chase bass and estuary perch around the standing timber and lake arms. Launch your paddle craft at the dam, take plenty of water, and wear a life jacket. The dam also has a fish lift that carries native fish over the wall to help them migrate up the Shoalhaven. ## At a Glance - Marquee species: Australian bass — native sportfish caught on lures, strong catch-and-release ethic - Kangaroo River: Scenic paddle-and-cast water for bass — wading, walking and kayak fishing - Lake Yarrunga: Impoundment behind Tallowa Dam — bass and estuary perch; canoe/kayak access only - Shoalhaven River: Bass and estuary perch in the deeper river arms feeding the lake - Other species: Estuary perch, eels and mullet (easy off the bank); carp and redfin (introduced) - Closed season: River bass must be released 1 June – 31 August (zero bag limit) - Licence: NSW recreational fishing licence required, including freshwater shore fishing - Sensitive river: Platypus live in the Kangaroo River — fish gently, handle bass with care ## Featured - 1. Kangaroo River bass on lures — the signature paddle-and-cast — Lure anglers · kayak, canoe & wading · dawn and dusk - Why people love it: A native bass detonating on a surface lure at dawn, cast from a kayak beneath the escarpment, is one of the most thrilling and beautiful sessions in NSW freshwater fishing. - Don't miss: A dawn surface-lure session in the clear pools — a bass blowing up on a popper, photographed and released. - Good to know: River bass are closed (no take) 1 June – 31 August. It’s platypus habitat — never leave line in the water and handle fish gently with wet hands. - 2. Lake Yarrunga & Tallowa Dam — paddle-in impoundment fishing — Canoe & kayak only · bass & estuary perch · year-round - Why people love it: A quiet, paddle-only lake of drowned timber and hidden arms where bass and estuary perch school — native-fish water you’ll often have entirely to yourself. - Don't miss: Drifting the drowned timber and lake arms by kayak, casting soft plastics for bass and estuary perch. - Good to know: No large powered boats — canoes, kayaks and electric motors only. Dam and river bass rules differ, so check current NSW DPI limits before keeping anything. - 3. Bendeela & accessible riverbank spots — easy family fishing — Families & beginners · bank-based · eels, mullet & more - Why people love it: Grassy banks, a picnic and obliging eels, mullet and carp make it the perfect spot to get kids hooked on fishing — no boat, no fuss, plenty of bites. - Don't miss: A relaxed afternoon on the bank at Bendeela — picnic out, kids onto eels and mullet, a bass if you’re lucky. - Good to know: A NSW licence is still required for shore fishing. River bass are closed 1 Jun – 31 Aug; take all line and rubbish home — it’s platypus water. - 4. Chasing bass — techniques, lures and careful handling — All levels · surface lures, spinnerbaits & soft plastics · catch-and-release - Why people love it: It’s pure, hands-on lure fishing — a light rod, a few poppers and spinnerbaits, and the thrill of a native bass smashing a surface lure tight against the snags. - Don't miss: A surface lure twitched across a still pool at first light — and the explosive strike of a native bass. - Good to know: Bass are slow-growing — release them carefully with wet hands and a knotless net. From 1 Jun – 31 Aug release is mandatory for river bass. - 5. Licences, the closed season & caring for the river — Every angler · rules, ethics & the platypus river - Why people love it: The same rules that protect the bass — a closed season, catch-and-release, line and rubbish taken home — are what keep this platypus river clear, healthy and full of fish. - Don't miss: Fishing it the right way — licence sorted, river bass released in the closed season, line and rubbish carried out. - Good to know: Don’t keep river bass from 1 Jun – 31 Aug, and never leave fishing line near the water — it kills platypus and birds. Don’t return carp or redfin alive. ## What travellers say - [positive] Scenery and sport in equal measure: The recurring praise is the combination — wild, beautiful native-fish water beneath the escarpment, and the genuine thrill of a bass smashing a surface lure from a quiet kayak at dawn. - [mixed] Respect the closed season and the river: Anglers note the 1 June – 31 August bass closure, the catch-and-release ethic and the platypus habitat — those who release the fish, fish gently and take their line home leave the river better than they found it. - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: