Fishing in dams and weirs

Stocking private freshwater dams

Freshwater fish stocking in Queensland is the process of releasing young fish (fingerlings) into dams, weirs and rivers to enhance and maintain fisheries and help threatened freshwater fish species recover.

You can only stock private non-tidal waters (such as a constructed farm dam) with approved local species. You cannot stock a waterway (such as a creek or stream) even if it is on private land.

Fish stocking is managed under the Policy for fish stocking in Queensland (PDF, 3 MB).

Identify your drainage division

Queensland is divided into 5 drainage divisions. The drainage division and river or catchment you belong to determines which species of fish you should stock in your private dam.

To find your drainage division:

  1. Go to QLD Globe.
  2. Add the drainage divisions data layer:
    1. Click 'Layers' from the left-hand menu
    2. Click 'Add layers', then 'Inland waters', then 'Drainage boundaries', then 'Drainage basin sub-area'.
  3. Click 'Search' in the left-hand menu, and search for your location using one of the options listed.

Native fish and mosquito control species

Stock

Species River systems and river basins
Australian bass All coastal river basins from the Burnett River basin, south to the New South Wales border
Barramundi
  • East coast Cape York strain (Orford Bay to Bathurst Heads)
  • Mid north-east coast strain (Cooktown to Burdekin River)
  • Central east coast strain (Repulse Bay to Shoalwater Bay)
  • South-east coast strain (Fitzroy River to Mary River)
Eel-tailed catfish Albert, Auburn, Baffle, Barambah, Bremer, Brisbane, Boyne, Burnett, Burrum, Caboolture, Calliope, Comet, Dawson, Fitzroy, K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), Isaac, Kolan, Lockyer, Logan, Mackenzie, Maroochy, Mary, Nogo, Nogoa, Noosa, North Pine, Shoalwater, South Coast, South Pine, Stanley and Waterpark river basins
Golden perch (yellowbelly) Albert, Auburn, Balonne, Barambah, Border Rivers, Bremer, Brisbane, Burnett, Burrum, Caboolture, Condamine, Lockyer, Logan, Macintyre, Maranoa, Maroochy, Mary, Moonie, Nebine, Nogo, North Pine, Paroo, Severn, South Coast, South Pine, Stanley and Warrego river basins
Golden perch (yellowbelly)
East Coast strain 		Comet, Dawson, Fitzroy, Isaac, Mackenzie and Nogoa river basins
Khaki bream Barron, Daintree, Mulgrave, Murray, North Johnstone, Russell, South Johnstone and Tully river basins
Mary river cod Albert, Bremer, Brisbane, Lockyer, Logan, Mary, North Pine, Stanley and South Coast river basins
Silver perch Auburn, Barambah, Bremer, Brisbane, Boyne, Burnett, Burrum, Caboolture, Dawson, Eliot, Fitzroy, Kolan, Lockyer, Logan, Maroochy, Mary, Nogoa, Nogo, North Pine, Stanley, South Coast, and South Pine river basins
Sleepy cod (southern strain) Plane Creek, Fitzroy, Mackenzie, Nogoa, Dawson, Isaac and Comet river basins
Sooty grunter Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, North Johnstone, Tully, Murray (North Queensland), Herbert, Burdekin, Clarke, Bowen, Belyando and Pioneer river basins
Southern saratoga Auburn, Barambah, Bremer, Brisbane, Boyne, Burnett, Comet, Dawson, Fitzroy, Isaac, Lockyer, Mackenzie, Nogoa, Nogo, North Pine, Stanley, and South Coast river basins

Mosquito control

North East Queensland (Jacky Jacky Creek to Mossman River):

  • Cairns rainbowfish (Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides)
  • Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
  • Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida)
  • McCulloch's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
  • Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
  • Threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri)
  • Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
  • Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Central Queensland (Barron River to Boyne River):

  • Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida)
  • Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
  • Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifier)
  • Agassiz's perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
  • Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae)
  • McCulloch's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
  • Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata)
  • Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
  • Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Southern Queensland (Baffle Creek to Tweed River):

  • Agassiz's perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
  • Duboulay’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi)
  • Ornate rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus)
  • Bug-eyed goby (Redigobius bikolanus)
  • Marjorie's hardyhead (Craterocephalus marjoriae)
  • Firetail gudgeon (Hypseleotris galii)
  • Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
  • Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer)
  • Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
  • Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)
  • Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)

Stock

Barramundi

  • South-east Gulf of Carpentaria strain: Leichardt River to Wassar River
  • North-west Cape York strain: Archer River to Escape River

Sleepy cod

  • Northern strain: all river basins in the Gulf region

Sooty grunter

  • All river basins in the Gulf region

Redclaw crayfish

  • All river basins in the Gulf region

Mosquito control

  • Chequered rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida inornata)
  • Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
  • Spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae)
  • Delicate blue-eye (Pseudomugil tenellus)
  • Macleay's glassfish (Ambassis macleayi)
  • Pennyfish (Denariusa bandata)
  • Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)

Stock

All river basins in the Murray–Darling:

  • Murray cod
  • Silver perch
  • Golden perch (Murray-Darling strain)
  • Eel-tailed catfish (Murray-Darling strain)

Mosquito control

  • Agassiz's perchlet / olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi)
  • Murray River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)
  • Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)
  • Fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus)
  • Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)
  • Darling River hardyhead (Craterocephalus amniculus)
  • Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Species

The Lake Eyre strain of golden perch can be stocked in all river basins of Lake Eyre.

Mosquito control

  • Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei)
  • Mueller's perchlet (Ambassis mulleri)
  • Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)
  • Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni)

Stock

Check with hatcheries within the region for the most appropriate local fish to use for stocking.

Mosquito control

  • Desert rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida tatei)
  • Northwest glassfish (Ambassis spp.)
  • Western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri)

Only introduce local fish

If you are planning on introducing fingerlings into your dam, you must only introduce a species that already occurs naturally within the region.

The reasons behind this are:

  • a permit is not required to stock private waters with species local to your region
  • if local fish escape during a flood there will be few impacts on other local species and their habitat
  • local fish can survive local conditions
  • local fish are available through hatcheries.

A few local fish species are highly effective with assisting in mosquito control. These fish eat mosquito larvae and control the algae that usually provide protection to larvae. Make sure you select a species that is appropriate for your drainage division.

Where to buy

Local fish are available from:

  • licensed fish hatcheries
  • local councils (some local councils breed and supply native fish)
  • the wild (if collecting local fish from the wild, ensure you comply with possession limits and equipment standards).

If you're not sure which requirements apply to your dam, call 13 25 23.

Find a hatchery

View the list of licensed hatcheries in Queensland that stock:

  • native fish
  • mosquito control species.

Abington Aquaculture

  • Contact: Douglas Dilger
  • Phone: 0458 408 462
  • Email: sales@abington.com.au
  • Location: 510 Abington Road, ABINGTON QLD 4660

Native fish species:

  • Australian bass
  • Silver perch
  • Jade perch
  • Golden perch
  • Sleepy cod
  • Sooty grunter
  • Saratoga
  • Barramundi (south east coast, others by request)

Aquaculture Gladstone

Native fish species:

  • Australian bass
  • Silver perch
  • Jade perch
  • Golden perch
  • Sleepy cod
  • Sooty grunter
  • Saratoga
  • Barramundi (south east coast and others by request)

Australian Native Fish Enterprises

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)
  • Golden perch
  • Murray cod
  • Silver perch
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch
  • Australian bass
  • Saratoga
  • Sleepy cod

Mosquito control species

  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Fly-specked hardyhead
  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish

Ausyfish Pty Ltd

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Murray cod
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch
  • Saratoga (southern)
  • Silver perch
  • Sleepy cod

Mosquito control species

  • Delicate blue-eye
  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Murray River rainbowfish
  • Chequered rainbowfish
  • Banded rainbowfish
  • Eastern rainbowfish
  • McCulloch's rainbowfish
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Desert rainbowfish

Barramundi Blue Aquaculture

  • Phone: (07) 4777 2744
  • Post: PO Box 690, INGHAM QLD 4850

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (mid north-east coast strain)

Bass, Barra and Barcoo

Native fish species

  • Australian Bass
  • Barramundi (south east coast)
  • Murray Cod
  • Jade Perch/Barcoo Grunter
  • Golden Perch (Fitzroy Dawson and Murray Darling)
  • Silver Perch,
  • Saratoga (Southern)
  • Sooty Grunter
  • Sleepy Cod

Bundy Barra

  • Contact: David and Leanette Harrison
  • Phone: (07) 4159 9666
  • Location: 9 Victory Terrace, BUNDABERG QLD 4670

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)
  • Silver perch
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch

Coral Coast Barramundi

  • Contact: Brett Smith
  • Mobile: 0447 199 917
  • Email: nurserymanager@coralcoastbarra.com.au
  • Location: Lot 22354 Bruce Highway, BOWEN QLD 4805

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (central-east coast, mid north-east coast strain and south-east coast)

Coral Coast Mariculture

  • Contact: Clive Keenan
  • Phone: (07) 4156 1600
  • Fax: (07) 4156 1680
  • Mobile: 0402 482 588
  • Email: ccm@bordernet.com.au
  • Location: 652 North Littabella Road, MULLETT CREEK (via BUNDABERG) QLD 4670

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)

Freshwater Australian Crayfish Traders

  • Contact: Robin Hutchings
  • Phone: (07) 5463 8226
  • Email: fact@gil.com.au
  • Location: 785 Tarome Road, TAROME QLD 4309

Mosquito control species

  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish

GFB Fisheries

  • Contact: Tim
  • Phone: 0437 184 635
  • Email: farmmanager@gfbfisheries.com
  • Location: LOT 3 Bohle Road, GUMLOW QLD 4817

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (central-east coast and mid north-east coast strain)

Giru Barramundi and Crayfish

  • Contact: Ron Shaw
  • Phone: (07) 4782 9012
  • Mobile: 0438 220 764
  • Email: girubarramundi@bigpond.com
  • Location: ‘Sandy Creek’ 255 Sandy Camp Road, GIRU QLD 4809
  • Post: PO Box 138, GIRU QLD 4809

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (mid north-east coast strain)

Granite Belt Fish Hatchery

  • Contact: Nick Donges
  • Mobile: 0400 792 986
  • Email: gbfh2005@gmail.com
  • Location: 166 Donges Road, SEVERNLEA QLD 4380

Native fish species

  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch
  • Murray cod

Greenacres Aquaculture

Native fish species

  • Australian Bass
  • Barcoo Grunter
  • Barramundi
  • Eel tail catfish
  • Golden Perch (Murray Darling, Cooper and Dawson strains)
  • Mullet
  • Gulf Saratoga
  • Southern Saratoda
  • Silver Perch
  • Sooty Grunter

Hanwood Fish Hatchery

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch
  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)
  • Golden perch (Fitzroy/Dawson, Murray Darling and Ayre Basin)
  • Murray cod
  • Mary River Cod
  • Silver perch
  • Tandanus (eel tailed) Catfish

Mosquito control species

  • Olive perchlet

Ikan Pty Ltd

  • Contact: Jan Kocar
  • Phone: (07) 4063 2576
  • Email: ikan@activ8.net.au
  • Location: 123 Bob Road, MOURILYAN QLD 4858

Mosquito control species

  • Ornate rainbowfish
  • Pacific blue-eye

Jungle Creek Aquaculture

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (mid north-east coast strain)

Leigh Oakley

  • Phone: (07) 5449 2454
  • Mobile: 0412 665 516
  • Location: 10 Capri Court, NOOSA HEADS QLD 4567

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Silver perch
  • Murray cod

Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre

Native fish species

  • Barramundi (south-east Gulf of Carpentaria strain)

Liverpool Creek Aquarium

Mosquito control species

  • Olive perchlet
  • Spotted blue-eye
  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Fly-specked hardyhead
  • Banded rainbowfish
  • Eastern rainbowfish
  • McCulloch's rainbowfish
  • Threadfin rainbowfish

Louise Joyce

Native fish species

  • Saratoga (southern)

Michael Masters

  • Phone: (07) 54467584
  • Location: YANDINA QLD 4561

Mosquito control species

  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Ornate rainbowfish
  • Pacific blue-eye

Redclaw Aquatica

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch

Mosquito control species

  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Ornate rainbowfish

Redgate Fish Farm

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch

Russell Manning

  • Phone: (07) 5447 7040
  • Mobile: 0488 162 326
  • Email: fishfarmer@bigpond.com
  • Location: 23 Liane Dr, Lake Macdonald, COOROY QLD 4563

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch (Murray–Darling strain)
  • Mary River cod

Sleepy Haven Hatchery

Native fish species

  • Sleepy cod

South East Queensland Fish Pty Ltd

  • Phone: (07) 5546 4462
  • Email: sales@seqfish.com.au
  • Location: 1044 Beenleigh-Beaudesert Road, LUSCOMBE QLD 4207

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch
  • Murray cod
  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)
  • Sleepy cod
  • Eel-tail catfish
  • Barcoo grunter / jade perch

Mosquito control species

  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Firetail gudgeon

Suncoast Native Fish

  • Contact: Chris Muir
  • Phone: (07) 5446 3655
  • Location: 9 Kimbah Court, COOROIBAH QLD 4565

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch

Mosquito control species

  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Fly-specked hardyhead
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Ornate rainbowfish

Sunland FW Fish Hatchery

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Saratoga (southern)
  • Silver perch
  • Sea mullet
  • Mary River cod (private waters and aquarium only)

Mosquito control species

  • Olive perchlet
  • Western carp gudgeon
  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Eastern rainbowfish
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish

Sunshine Coast Crayfish Producers

  • Contact: Ross and Vicki Rickard
  • Phone: (07) 5446 6319
  • Email: redclawcrays@yahoo.com
  • Location: 91 Toolborough Road, YANDINA QLD 4561

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Golden perch
  • Silver perch
  • Saratoga (southern)

Mosquito control species

  • Olive perchlet
  • Australian smelt
  • Pacific blue-eye
  • Western carp gudgeon
  • Firetail gudgeon
  • Fly-specked hardyhead
  • Eastern rainbowfish
  • Duboulay's rainbowfish
  • Ornate rainbowfish
  • Blue eye

Sweetwater Australia Pty Ltd

Native fish species

  • Silver perch
  • Golden perch
  • Australian bass
  • Barcoo grunter (jade perch)
  • Sooty grunter
  • Catfish
  • Sleepy cod
  • Barramundi
  • Saratoga

Waterloo Fish Hatchery

Native fish species

  • Australian bass
  • Barramundi (south-east coast strain)
  • Jade perch
  • Mangrove jack
  • Silver perch

Wayne Spencer

  • Phone: 0419 671 151
  • Location: 3316 Dawson Highway, CALLIOPE QLD 4680

Native fish species

  • Saratoga (southern)
Last updated:
18 February 2025