Recreational fishing rules
Size and possession limits - tidal waters
General possession limit
There is a general possession limit of 20 for all tidal species not listed on this page.
Management changes for east coast Spanish mackerel
New east coast Spanish mackerel fishery management arrangements are in place from October 2022.
In Queensland, there are minimum size limits and also some maximum size limits. Find out how to measure your catch.
A possession limit is the total number of fish that one person can legally take and keep at any one time – it is not a daily limit. This includes any fish that you have at home in the freezer.
Return undersized, oversized, no-take or closed season species to the water immediately to ensure they have the best chance of survival – watch our top tips for catch and release.
Coral reef fin fish
A combined possession limit of 20 in total applies to all coral reef fin fish – for a complete list of species, refer to fisheries legislation.
Skin removal and filleting rules apply:
- You can have whole (dead), gilled, gutted or filleted (fillets must be at least 40 cm long with skin and scales left on) coral reef fin fish on board a boat.
- You can only have a live coral reef fin fish (excluding coral trout or redthroat emperor) on board a boat if it’s going to be displayed in an aquarium.
- You can’t have fillets of blue spotted coral trout (Chinese footballer) on board a boat.
There are two 5-day coral reef fin fish closed seasons in October and November each year.
Cods and groupers
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | 38cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of all cod and grouper species |
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 |
Barramundi cod | No take |
Potato rockcod | No take |
Queensland groper | No take |
Coral trout
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | 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 (exception follows) | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species |
Redthroat emperor (sweetlip emperor) | 38cm min Limit of 8 |
Long nose emperor | 38cm min Limit of 5 |
Spangled emperor | 45cm min Limit of 5 |
Fusiliers
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Limit of 20 |
Parrotfishes
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species |
Surgeonfishes
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species |
Sweetlips
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species |
Tropical snappers and sea perches
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species |
Crimson snapper (small mouth nannygai) and | 40cm min Combined limit of 9 in total of both species |
Flame snapper | 38cm min Limit of 5 |
Goldband snapper and Sharptooth snapper | 38cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of both species |
Hussar | 25cm min Limit of 10 |
| Jobfish – Green jobfish, Smalltooth jobfish and Ruby snapper | 38cm min Limit of 5 per species |
| Red emperor | 55cm min Limit of 5 |
Rosy snapper (rosy jobfish) and | 38cm min Combined limit of 8 in total of both species |
| Chinaman fish | No take |
| Paddletail | No take |
| Red bass | No take |
Wrasse
Species | Size and possession limits | |
|---|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 30cm min Limit of 5 per species | |
Pigfish, Redbreast Maori wrasse and Triple tail Maori wrasse | 25cm min Limit of 5 per species | |
Tuskfish (all species) | 30cm min Combined limit of 6 in total of all tuskfish species | |
Humphead Maori wrasse | No take | |
Other tidal fish
Skin removal and filleting rules apply:
- You can’t have fish on board a boat with the skin removed. Some exceptions apply to individual species – details in relevant species information below.
- You can divide a fish into portions as long as an inspector can easily count the number of fish in your possession.
Australian bass
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Limit of 2 |
Barramundi
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 58cm min 120cm max Limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
Bream
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Pikey, Tarwhine and Yellowfin | 25cm min Combined limit of 30 in total of these species |
Bugs
- You can’t have bug meat in your possession on a boat unless you intend to eat it immediately – otherwise bugs must remain whole.
- You can’t have a bug with a damaged shell or with a shell separated from the body in your possession.
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Moreton Bay (bay lobster) | 7.5cm min (across widest part of the shell) Limit of 20 |
Smooth (Balmain) | 10.5cm min (across widest part of carapace) Limit of 20 No take: Egg-bearing Balmain bugs |
Clams
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Family Tridacnidae, Helmet shells and Trumpet shells | No take |
Cobia (black kingfish)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min 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 |
Crabs
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Blue swimmer | 11.5cm min Limit of 20 No take: Female blue swimmer crabs You can’t possess blue swimmer crabs with the shell missing, or claws without the rest of the crab. |
Mud | 15cm min Limit of 7 per person / 14 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) No take: Female mud crabs You can’t possess mud crabs with the shell missing, or claws without the rest of the crab. |
Spanner † | 10cm min Limit of 20 You can’t possess spanner crab claws without the rest of the crab. No take: Egg-bearing spanner crabs |
Three-spotted | 10cm min Limit of 20 You can’t possess three-spotted crab claws without the rest of the crab. No take: Egg-bearing three-spotted crabs |
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 (exception follows) | 30cm min Combined limit of 5 in total of all species (other than dusky flathead) |
Dusky (mud flathead) | 40cm min 75cm max Limit of 5 |
Garfish
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Combined limit of 50 in total of all species |
Golden snapper (fingermark)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Limit of 5 |
Grass emperor (sweetlip)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Liimit of 10 |
Green snail
| Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
| All | 280g min Limit of 20 |
Javelin
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Barred (spotted grunter) | 40cm min (whole or with head or tail removed) or Limit of 10 |
Barred (spotted grunter) | 40cm min (whole or with head or tail removed) or Limit of 10 whole fish or 20 fillets |
Silver (small spotted grunter) | 30cm min Limit of 10 |
Jewfish
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Black (East coast) | 75cm min Limit of 1 per person / 2 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) Fish must be kept whole while on a boat. |
Black (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 60cm min 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 annual total allowable commercial catch is reached – fishery currently open. |
Scaly (jewel fish) | 45cm min Limit of 20 Fish must be kept whole while on a boat |
Luderick
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 30cm min Limit of 10 |
Mackerel
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Grey | 60cm min Limit of 5 |
Spanish | 75cm min Limit of 3 per person / 6 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
School | 50cm min Limit of 10 |
Shark | 50cm min Limit of 10 |
Spotted | 60cm min Lmit of 5 |
Mahi mahi (dolphin fish)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 50cm min Limit of 5 |
Mangrove jack
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Limit of 5 |
Molluscs and gastropods
Bivalve molluscs and gastropods, including pipis, mud whelks and cockles – excluding all oysters
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Limit of 30 No take: Bivalve molluscs and gastropods (excluding pipis) are no take in Moreton Bay |
Mullet
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Diamondscale | 30cm min Limit of 20 |
Sea | 30cm min Limit of 20 |
| Mullet exceptions (all other mullet except diamondscale, sea and freshwater) | No size limit Limit of 50 |
Mulloway
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min Limit of 2 Fish must be kept whole while on a boat |
Oysters
You can only take pearl oysters away from a public oyster reserve or unlicensed oyster ground – you must eat all other oysters where you catch them.
All licensed oyster grounds and aquaculture areas are required to display signage. Taking oysters from, or interfering with, aquaculture infrastructure and licensed oyster grounds is illegal and carries heavy penalties.
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | No size limit Limit of 20 |
Blacklip pearl oyster | 9cm min Limit of 20 |
Goldlip pearl oyster | 13cm min 23cm max Limit of 20 |
Pearl perch
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 38cm min Limit of 4 |
Prawns
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Limit of 10 litres per person / 20 litres per boat (with 2 or more people on board) You can’t have prawns with the heads or any other part removed in your possession, unless you intend to eat them immediately. |
Rays
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 150cm max or interdorsal length 60cm max Combined limit of 1 shark or ray per person / 2 sharks or rays per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
Guitarfish | Size and possession limits as above You can’t fillet guitarfish, or remove the tails or fins, or have tails or fins on board a boat |
Shovelnose ray | Size and possession limits as above You can't fillet shovelnose rays, but you can trunk or gut them |
Manta ray | No take |
Sawfish | No take |
Sea cucumber
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | No size limit 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 (Gulf waters) |
Black teatfish | No take |
| White teatfish | No take |
Sharks
Shark fishing safety – minimise the risk to yourself and other waterway users when fishing for sharks.
Fin and tail removal and filleting rules apply:
- You can remove the fins and tails of some sharks and rays, but the rest of the body must also be on board the boat.
- You can divide a shark or ray into portions as long as an inspector can easily count the number of sharks or rays in your possession.
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | 150cm max or interdorsal length 60cm max Combined limit of 1 shark or ray per person / 2 sharks or rays per boat (with 2 or more people on board) |
Grey reef and whitetip reef sharks | Size and possession limits as above You can’t fillet grey reef or whitetip reef sharks, or remove the tails or fins, or have tails or fins on board a boat |
Grey nurse shark | No take |
Hammerhead sharks | No take |
Sand tiger shark | No take |
Speartooth shark | No take |
White shark | No take |
Snapper
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 35cm min Limit of 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 Limit of 20 |
Teraglin
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 38cm min Limit of 5 |
Threadfin (salmon)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
King (East coast) | 65cm min Limit of 5 |
King (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 60cm min Limit of 5 |
Blue (East coast) | 40cm min Limit of 10 |
Blue (Gulf of Carpentaria) | 40cm min Limit of 20 |
Trevally (family Carangidae)
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exception follows) | No size limit Combined limit of 20 in total for all species |
Amberjack and Samsonfish | 50cm min Combined limit of 2 in total of both species |
Swallowtail dart | 30cm min Limit of 30 |
Giant queenfish | 50cm min Limit of 5 |
Yellowtail kingfish | 60cm min Limit of 2 |
Trochus
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 8cm min 12.5cm max Limit of 20 |
Tropical rocklobster
- You can’t have a live tropical rocklobster in your possession
- No take: Egg-bearing tropical rocklobsters and tropical rocklobsters with tar spots (sperm packets) attached
- Closed season applies
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All (exceptions follow) | No size limit Combined limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) in total of all species |
Ornate crayfish (Panulirus ornatus) | 11.5cm min tail 9cm min shell Combined limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) in total of all species |
Red champagne lobster | 7.5 min Combined limit of 5 per person / 10 per boat (with 2 or more people on board) in total of all species |
Wahoo
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | 75cm min Limit of 2 |
Whiting
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Sand (summer whiting), Goldenline and Northern | 23cm min Combined limit of 30 in total of these species |
Trumpeter (winter whiting) | No size limit Limit of 50 |
Dorab wolf herring
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
All | No size limit Limit of 10 |
Worms (including parts of worms) and bait species
Worm digging closed waters apply
Species | Size and possession limits |
|---|---|
Beach worms | No size limit Limit of 30 |
Cribb Island worms (formerly known as bloodworms) | No size limit Limit of 50 |
| All other worms (e.g. mangrove worm) | No size or possession limit |
| 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 |
| Cuttlefish or squid (excluding tiger squid – general possession limit of 20) | No size limit Limit of 50 |
| Smooth-clawed rock crab | No size limit Limit of 50 |
| Yellowtail pike | No size limit Limit of 50 |
In this guide:
- Fishing gear
- Closed seasons and waters
- Size and possession limits - tidal waters
- Size and possession limits - fresh waters