Department of Primary Industries acting director fisheries compliance, Patrick Tully, said officers apprehended the 60-year-old man following a targeted operation on the Murrumbidgee River near Hay.

"The man was observed by fisheries officers retrieving a large fish trap from the Murrumbidgee River and illegally taking 12 golden perch and two carp contained within the trap," Mr Tully said.

"Following an investigation the man was found to be in possession of a total of 15 golden perch taken over two days of fishtrapping in the river."

Officers seized the golden perch and three illegal fish traps and the man, from Hay, is set to face charges relating to the unlawful use of a trap, possession of prohibited fishing gear, taking more than the daily limit of specified fish species and possession fish illegally taken.

A Griffith fisherman, who didn't want to be named, said while it was "tempting to do the wrong thing" fishos should re-consider what was right and wrong.

"We've all done it," the man said.

"You have a great day and you go over your limit.

"Or you catch one out of season and you don't put him back."

The passionate fisherman said he didn't know many fishos who had never "bent the rules a little", but he said it was in everyone's interest to do the "right thing".

"If everyone does what they want out there (on the water), there won't be any fish left for our kids," he said.

"The Fisheries people can't be everywhere to keep an eye on everyone all day every day it's up to us to enjoy a good weekend on the river but do the right thing by the environment and other fishermen and our children."

Mr Tully said fishing gear such as fish traps, gill nets, drum nets and set lines were totally prohibited throughout NSW inland waterways.

"Fish traps exert excess fishing pressure on fish populations and were banned in NSW to reduce the high level of destruction that was being inflicted on target native finfish species such as Murray cod and golden perch," he said.

"These traps also endanger non-target native fauna such as turtles, water rats, platypus and water birds.

"Our native fish stocks and fauna are a community-owned resource and fisheries officers will continue working to catch those individuals who choose to flaunt the NSW fishing rules and to protect our natural resources for future generations."

Help protect native fish stocks and report illegal or suspicious fishing to Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or online at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au.