Bag and size limits - saltwater
Bag limit is the maximum number of fish per person in possession. A maximum daily bag limit of 20 applies to any fish or invertebrate not included in the tables below. Protected and threatened species cannot be taken.
* Bag limit comprised of any single species or a combination of listed grouped species.
Finfish Bag and Size limits
| Species | Size limits or legal length (cm) | Bag limit | |
|---|---|---|---|
Australian bass & estuary perch |
Closed season in rivers and estuaries June - August incl. |
Only 1 over 35cm | 2 in total *, 4 in possesion |
|
Closed season in rivers and estuaries June - August incl. |
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Australian salmon |
Australian salmon |
- | 5 |
Bluefish |
Bluefish![]() |
- |
0 - release only Lord Howe Marine Park 5 |
Bonito |
Bonito |
- | 10 |
Bream & tarwhine |
25 cm |
20 in total * | |
Bream (Yellowfin)![]() |
25 cm | ||
Tarwhine![]() |
20 cm | ||
Deep-sea fish |
- | 5 in total *, gemfish: only 2 and boat trip limit of 10 | |
| Bar Cod |
- | ||
Bass groper![]() |
- | ||
| Gemfish |
- | ||
Blue-eye cod![]() |
- | ||
Dolphinfish |
Dolphinfish![]() |
60 cm, only 1 over 110 cm | 10 |
Eels |
Eels (Short and longfinned) |
(Shortfinned) 30cm (Longfinned) 58cm |
(Shortfinned) 10 (Longfinned) 10 |
Flathead |
Flathead (Dusky/common) |
36cm, only 1 over 70cm |
10 |
| 33 cm | 20 in total * | ||
Flounder & sole |
Flounders and Soles![]() |
25cm | 20 in total * |
Garfish |
Garfish (eastern sea) |
- | 20 |
Groper |
Groper (blue, brown, red)![]() |
30cm, only 1 over 60cm | 2 in total *, by line only |
Hairtail |
Hairtail |
- | 10 |
Kingfish, yellowtail |
Kingfish, yellowtail |
65 cm | 5 |
Leatherjackets |
Leatherjackets![]() |
- | 20 in total * |
Luderick |
Luderick![]() |
27 cm | 20 |
Mackerel |
Mackerel (Spanish) |
(Spanish) 75cm
|
5 in total * |
| Mackerel (Spotted) |
(Spotted) 60cm | ||
Mangrove Jack |
Mangrove Jack![]() |
- | 5 |
Marlin |
- | 1 of each species | |
| Marlin (Black) |
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| Marlin (Blue) |
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Morwong |
Morwong (Rubberlip)![]() |
30cm | 10 |
Morwong (Jackass)![]() |
30cm | 10 | |
Morwong (Red/sea carp)![]() |
30cm | 5 | |
|
- |
5 |
||
Moses perch |
Moses perch![]() |
- | 5 |
Mullet |
Small (poddy) Under 15 cm |
20 in total * for live bait only |
|
| Sea (bully) only 30 cm | 20 in total * | ||
Mulloway |
Mulloway |
45 cm only 2 fish over 70 cm | 5 |
Pearl perch |
Pearl perch![]() |
30 cm | 5 |
Red rock cod |
Red rock cod (Scorpionfish)![]() |
- | 5 |
Rock blackfish |
Rock blackfish![]() |
30 cm | 10 |
Sailfish |
Sailfish |
- | 1 |
Samson & Amberjack |
- | 5 in total * | |
Sawtail surgeon |
Sawtail surgeon![]() |
- | 5 |
Sharks and rays |
- | 0 for wobbegong (release only). | |
| Shark (Mako) |
- | 5 in total *, only 1 tiger, mako, blue shark, hammerhead or other whaler species. | |
| Shark (School) |
91 cm | ||
Shark (Whaler)![]() |
- | ||
Snapper |
Snapper![]() |
30 cm | 10 |
Spearfish |
Spearfish |
- | 1 |
Swordfish |
Swordfish |
- | 1 |
Tailor |
Tailor |
30 cm | 20 |
Teraglin |
Teraglin |
38 cm | 5 |
Trevallies |
Trevallies![]() |
(silver trevally only) 30 cm | 20 in total * |
Tuna |
90 cm or above Less than 90 cm |
2 in total * 5 in total * |
|
Tuna (Big-eye)![]() |
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| Tuna (Longtail) |
|||
Tuna (Southern bluefin)![]() |
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Tuna (Yellowfin)![]() |
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Wahoo |
Wahoo |
- | 5 |
Whiting |
Whiting |
(sand only) 27 cm | 20 in total * |
* Bag limit comprised of any single species or a combination of listed grouped species.
Invertebrates Bag and Size limits
| Species | Size limits or legal length (cm) | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|
|
Abalone |
11.7 cm | 2 |
Balmain bug +![]() |
10 cm | 20 |
Beach worms![]() |
- |
20 whole or part in total * |
All other worms![]() |
- | 100 in total * |
Cockles, mussels and pipis![]() Pipis for bait only - do not take beyond 50m of high-tide mark. |
- | 50 in total * |
Crab (Blue swimmer) +![]() |
6 cm | 20 |
Crab (Mud / black +![]() |
8.5 cm | 5 |
Crab (Spanner) +![]() |
9.3 cm | 10 |
Crab (Soldier) +![]() |
- | 100 in total * |
All other crabs +![]() |
- | 10 in total * |
Cunjevoi![]() |
- | 20 in total * |
|
Min. 10.4cm, none over 18cm |
2 in total in any combination |
|
|
Lobster (Southern rock) (male) + Lobster (Southern rock) (female) + |
11 cm 10.5 cm |
|
| Lobster (Painted, ornate) + |
- | 2 in total * |
| Lobster (Slipper, flat) + |
- | 2 |
Octopus![]() |
- | 10 in total * |
Oysters (Sydney rock, Pacific, flat)![]() |
- | 50 in total * |
| Prawns |
- | 10 litres in total * |
Saltwater Pink Nippers![]() |
- | 100 in total * |
Scallops![]() |
- | 50 in total * |
Sea urchins![]() |
- | 10 in total * |
Squid & Cuttlefish![]() |
- | 20 in total * |
Turban snails![]() |
(Sydney, military) 7.5 cm (All other molluscs) - |
20 in total* 20 in total* including turban shells |
* Bag limit comprised of any single species or a combination of listed grouped species.
+ All lobsters, crabs, bugs and crayfish carrying eggs must be returned to the water.
Baitfish bag limits (excluding charter boat operators)
| Species | Bag limit |
|---|---|
|
Australian anchovy Maray (or Round Herring) Southern Herring Pilchard Slimy Mackerel Blue Sprat (or Blue bait) Sandy Sprat (or Whitebait) |
A bag limit of 50 for each species. |
|
Garfish (other than Eastern Sea Garfish) Jack Mackerel and Yellowtail Hardyhead and Silverfish |
A bag limit of 50 comprised of any single species or a combination of species. |


















































