Information from a four-year survey of recreational fishing habits will be used for setting catch limits.
It will be the largest study of the sector in a decade and will cost $5 million over four years.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley says the results will greatly improve understanding of how many people are going fishing, where they fish and how much they are catching.
Recreational Fishing Council president Geoff Rowling says it supports the survey but has concerns about its accuracy and wants to see how it will be conducted.
Research is expected to start in time for the 2011-12 summer fishing season.
