Recreational fishing rules and regulations
Size and possession limits - tidal waters
Changes to fishing rules
Changes to Queensland’s fisheries legislation commenced 1 September 2019. We are working through changes to this website to ensure information is up to date.
General possession limit
There is a general possession limit of 20 for all species without a prescribed possession limit (excluding some bait species).
Coral reef fin fish closures apply. In addition to individual possession limits for each coral reef fin fish species listed, a combined possession limit of 20 in total of all coral reef fin fish applies.
Cods and groupers
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 38cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Barramundi cod | No take |
Camouflage grouper | 50cm min 70cm max Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Flowery rockcod | 50cm min 70cm max Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Greasy rockcod | 38cm min 100cm max Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Maori rockcod | 45cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Potato rockcod | No take |
Queensland groper | No take |
Coral trout
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 38cm min Combined limit of 7 in total of all trout species |
Blue spotted coral trout (Chinese footballer) | 50cm min 80cm max Combined limit of 7 in total of all trout species |
Emperors
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 25cm min 5 per species |
Redthroat emperor (sweetlip emperor) | 38cm min Possession limit of 8 |
Long nose emperor | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Spangled emperor | 45cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Fusiliers
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No limit |
Parrotfishes
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min 5 per species |
Surgeonfishes
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min 5 per species |
Sweetlips
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min 5 per species |
Tropical snappers and sea perches
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All tropical snappers and sea perches (including Moses perch (snapper) (exceptions follow) | 25cm min 5 per species |
Chinaman fish | No take |
Crimson snapper (small mouth nannygai) and | 40cm min Combined limit of 9 in total of both species |
Flame snapper | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Goldband snapper | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Green jobfish | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Hussar | 25cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Rosy snapper (jobfish) and | 38cm min Combined limit of 8 in total of both species |
Paddletail | No take |
Red bass | No take |
Red emperor | 55cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Ruby snapper | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Smalltooth jobfish | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Miscellaneous jobfish | 38cm min 5 per species |
Wrasse
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 30cm min 5 per species |
Humphead Maori | No take |
Tuskfish (all species) | 30cm min Combined limit of 6 in total of all tuskfish species |
Australian bass †
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Possession limit of 2 Read note 1 |
Barramundi †
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 58cm min 120cm max Possession limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) Read note 1 |
Bream
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Pikey, Tarwhine and Yellowfin | 25cm min Combined limit of 30 in total of these species |
Bugs ^
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Moreton Bay (bay lobster) | 7.5cm min (across widest part of carapace) No possession limit Read note 2 |
Smooth (Balmain) | 10.5cm min (across widest part of carapace) No possession limit Read note 2 |
Cobia (black kingfish)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min Possession limit of 2 |
Cod (estuary)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Blackspotted rockcod and Goldspotted rockcod | 38cm min 120cm max Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
Crab ^†
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Blue swimmer | 11.5cm min Possession limit of 20 Read note 2 |
Mud | 15cm min Possession limit of 7 per person / 14 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) Read note 2 |
Spanner † | 10cm min Possession limit of 20 |
Three-spot | 10cm min No possession limit Read note 2 |
Eels
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Longfin, Pacific shortfin (south Pacific) and Southern shortfin | 30cm min Combined limit of 10 in total of all species |
Flathead
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 30cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of all species (except dusky flathead) |
Dusky (mud flathead) | 40cm min 75cm max Possession limit of 5 |
Garfish
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Green snail
| Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
| All | 280g min No possession limit |
Golden snapper (fingermark)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Grass emperor (sweetlip)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Javelin
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Barred (spotted grunter)(East coast) | 40cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Barred (spotted grunter)(Gulf of Carpentaria) | 40cm min (whole or with head or tail removed) or 26cm min (fillet length) 10 whole fish or 20 fillets |
Silver (small spotted grunter) | 30cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Jewfish
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Black (East coast) | 75cm min Possession limit of 1 per person / 2 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) Fish must be kept whole while on a boat. Note: Will become a no-take species if the total allowable commercial catch is reached – fishery currently open. |
Black (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 60cm min Possession limit of 1 per person / 2 per boat (with 2 or more people on board ) Fish must be kept whole while on a boat. Note: Will become a no-take species if the total allowable commercial catch is reached – fishery currently open. |
Scaly (jewel fish) | 45cm min No possession limit (fish must be kept whole while on a boat) |
Luderick
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Mackerel
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Grey | 60cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Spanish | 75cm min Possession limit of 3 per person / 6 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
School | 50cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Shark | 50cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Spotted | 60cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Mahi mahi (dolphin fish)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 50cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Mangrove jack
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Mullet
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Diamondscale | 30cm min Possession limit of 20 |
Sea | 30cm min Possession limit of 20 |
| Mullet exceptions (all other mullet except diamondscale, sea and freshwater) | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Bivalve molluscs and gastropods
Includes pipis, mud whelks and cockles, and excluding oysters.
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No size limit Combined possession limit of 30 except in Moreton Bay where bivalve molluscs and gastropods (excluding pipi) are no take |
Clams (family Tridacnidae), Helmet shells and Trumpet shells | No take |
Oysters ≈
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No limit Read note 3 |
Blacklip pearl oyster | 9cm min No possession limit Read note 3 |
Goldlip pearl oyster | 13cm min 23cm max No possession limit Read note 3 |
Mulloway
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min Possession limit of 2 (fish must be kept whole while on a boat) |
Pearl perch
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 38cm min Possession limit of 4 |
Prawns ‡
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Possession limit of 10 litres per person / 20 litres per boat (with 2 or more people on board) Read note 4 |
Rays
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 |
| Guitarfish | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 |
Manta ray | No take |
| Shovelnose ray | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 |
Sawfish
| Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
| Sawfish | No take |
Sea cucumber
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No size limit Possession limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) for waters north of latitude 20° south (near Bowen) and waters east of longitude 142°31’49’’ East |
| All | No take in waters south of latitude 20º south (near Bowen) and waters west of longitude 142º31’49’’ East (Gulf waters) |
Black teatfish | No take |
| White teatfish | No take |
Sharks
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 per person / 2 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
| Grey reef shark | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 |
| Whitetip reef shark | 1.5m max or interdorsal length 60cm max Possession limit of 1 |
White shark | No take |
| Sand tiger shark | No take |
Speartooth shark | No take |
| Hammerhead sharks | No take |
Snapper
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min 4 per person with no more than 1 over 70cm / 8 per boat with no more than 2 over 70cm (with 2 or more people on board) |
Tailor
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Possession limit of 20 |
Teraglin
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 38cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Threadfin (salmon)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
King (East coast) | 65cm min Possession limit of 5 |
King (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 60cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Blue (East coast) | 40cm min Possession limit of 10 |
Blue (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 40cm min Possession limit of 20 |
Trevally (family Carangidae)
Includes but is not limited to trevally and scad/yakka.
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No size limit Combined limit of 20 in total for all members of the Carangidae family |
Amberjack and Samsonfish | 50cm min Combined limit of 2 in total of both species |
Swallowtail dart | 30cm min Possession limit of 30 |
Giant queenfish | 50cm min Possession limit of 5 |
Yellowtail kingfish | 60cm min Possession limit of 2 |
Trochus
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 8cm min 12.5cm max Possession limit of 50 |
Tropical rock lobster †^#
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No size limit Combined possession limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat in total of all species (with 2 or more people on board) |
Painted crayfish †#^ (Panulirus ornatus) | 11.5cm tail min 9cm carapace min Combined possession limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat in total of all species (with 2 or more people on board) |
Red Champagne Lobster | 7.5 min Combined possession limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat in total of all species (with 2 or more people on board) |
Wahoo
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min Possession limit of 2 |
Whiting
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Sand (summer), Goldenline and Northern | 23cm min Combined limit of 30 in total of these whiting species |
Trumpeter (winter) | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Dorab Wolf herring
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Possession limit of 10 |
Worms (including part thereof)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Beach worm | No size limit Possession limit of 30 |
Cribb Island worms – formerly known as bloodworms | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Tidal bait species
Species | Size and possession limits |
Southern herring | No size or possession limit |
Common hardyhead | No size or possession limit |
Australian sardine | No size or possession limit |
Australian anchovy | No size or possession limit |
Silver biddy | No size or possession limit |
Saltwater yabby | No size or possession limit |
Soldier crab | No size or possession limit |
Non-regulated worms (e.g. mangrove worm) | No size or possession limit |
Mullet (excluding diamondscale, sea and freshwater) | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Cuttlefish or squid (excluding tiger squid) | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Smooth-clawed rock crab | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Yellowtail pike | No size limit Possession limit of 50 |
Notes:
- † A closed season applies to these species.
- ^ Female mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are no take. Egg-bearing spanner crabs, three-spot crabs, slipper lobsters, tropical rock lobsters and bugs are no take. Tropical rock lobsters with tar spots attached (tar spots and sperm packets) are no take.
- ≈ It is illegal to take oysters (excluding pearl oysters) from any oyster ground; however, you may consume oysters on the spot where taken in any public oyster reserve or unlicensed oyster grounds.
- ‡ A person must not possess prawns with the heads or any other part removed, unless the removal is to process the prawns for immediate consumption.
- # Recreational fishers must not possess live tropical rock lobsters.
- Grey nurse sharks, whales, porpoises, dugongs, turtles and dolphins are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
In this guide:
- Fishing equipment
- Catch limits and closures
- Size and possession limits - tidal waters
- Size and possession limits - fresh waters