Fishing
Enjoyed by anglers throughout the state and around the world, fishing in Queensland waters is a popular past time.
To keep fishing sustainable, there are several rules and guidelines you must follow.
Rules and regulations
You don’t need a licence to fish recreationally in Queensland, except if fishing in some stocked impoundments. However, you must follow fishing rules and regulations.
Recreational fishing is permitted in some national parks and marine park zones, but can be restricted to specific areas within a park.
Get to know your responsibilities when fishing in fresh waters and tidal waters. Fishing rules and regulations apply to people of all ages.
Tidal waters
- Size, take and possession limits
- Protected and no-take species
- Measuring fish and crab
- Fishing gear—tidal waters
- Spearfishing, spear guns and underwater breathing apparatus
- Collecting bait
- Skin and fillet removal
- Closed seasons
- Closed waters
- Grey nurse shark protection areas
- Pest fish
- Marine plants
- Tagged fish
- Sale of fish and other prohibitions
- Crabs and lobsters
Freshwater and stocked impoundments (or dams)
- Permits for fishing in dams
- Size, take and possession limits
- Protected and no-take species
- Measuring fish
- Fishing gear—fresh waters
- Live bait
- Closed seasons
- Closed waters
- Noxious fish (fish that are a pest and threaten the environment)
- Tagged fish
- Sale of fish and other prohibitions