Fishing in Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney hold a network of sandstone plateau country cut by deep gorges and river valleys.

The national park sits within the broader Great Blue Mountains World Heritage Area — roughly 11,000 square kilometres of wilderness — and the fishing inside it reflects that terrain: steep, often remote, and rewarding for those willing to work for it.

The eastern watershed drains toward the Hawkesbury-Nepean system, while rivers on the western side feed into the Murray-Darling. That divide shapes what you'll find.

The Grose River, running through one of the park's deepest gorges, is the kind of water that demands a multi-day walk to reach properly. The Nepean River forms part of the park's eastern edge near Glenbrook.

Smaller creeks — Glenbrook Creek, Greaves Creek, Jamison Creek, Katoomba Creek — thread through the escarpment country, varying in character from accessible to genuinely wild. The Wollondilly River lies toward the park's southern reaches.

Trout are the main target. The region has historically been considered marginal trout country, but large fish do exist — particularly in the remote gorge rivers, where the winter spawning run draws experienced anglers willing to carry a pack.

Notably, the remote wilderness sections of Blue Mountains and Kanangra Boyd National Parks are among the only places in the Central Tablelands where fishing for trout during the spawning season is permitted.

Elsewhere in the region, a winter closed season applies. Peak periods on the rivers and creeks run October through early December and again through March to early May.

The broader streams and lakes of the tablelands are subject to NSW Fisheries regulations; the nearest office is in Bathurst. Access to much of the best water means bushwalking — sometimes serious bushwalking.

A vehicle day-use fee applies at Glenbrook area attractions. Guided fly fishing trips operate inside the park under a Parks Eco Pass arrangement.

Check current regulations with NSW Fisheries before you go; some waters have closures, and the rules here are specific enough to matter. The fish aren't easy. That's the point.