Size and possession limits in tidal waters

Check minimum and maximum sizes, possession limits and special rules before you fish in tidal waters.

Get the latest rules in the Qld Fishing 2.0 app.

How size and possession limits work

In Queensland, many tidal species have minimum size limits, and some also have maximum size limits.

• Use the approved method to measure your catch.
• Return any undersized, oversized, no-take, or closed-season species to the water immediately to give them the best chance of survival.
• Follow best-practice catch and release techniques.

A possession limit is the total number you can legally take and keep at any single time. It is not a daily limit.

It includes any fish you have with you (on the boat, on the shore, in a vehicle) and any fish you have at home, including in the freezer.

General rules

• If a tidal species is not listed, a general possession limit of 20 applies.
• Do not remove skin from fish while on board.
• You may divide fish into portions only if an inspector can easily count how many fish you have.

Coral reef fin fish

For all coral reef fin fish, the following rules apply:

• A combined total possession limit of 20 applies to all coral reef fin fish.
• Must be kept on board whole (dead), gilled, gutted, or filleted.
• If alive, must be kept on board only for aquarium display (except coral trout and redthroat emperor).
• Fillets must be at least 40cm long (with skin and scales intact).
• Must not have blue spotted coral trout (Chinese footballer) fillets on board.
• Fin fish closed seasons apply.

See the complete list of coral reef fin fish species.

Cods and groupers

Species	Size	Possession limit
Cods and grouper species	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Exceptions
Barramundi cod	No take	No take
Camouflage grouper	Min: 50cm Max: 70cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Flowery rockcod	Min: 50cm Max: 70cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Greasy rockcod	Min: 38cm Max: 100cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Maori rockcod	Min: 45cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Potato rockcod	No take
Queensland grouper	No take

Coral trout

Species	Size	Possession limit
Coral trout species	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 7 (for all trout species)
Exceptions
Blue spotted coral trout (Chinese footballer)	Min: 50cm Max: 80cm	Combined total limit: 7 (for all trout species)

Emperors

Species	Size	Possession limit
Emperor species	Min: 25cm	Limit: 5 per species
Exceptions
Longnose emperor	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5
Redthroat emperor (sweetlip emperor)	Min: 38cm	Limit: 8
Spangled emperor	Min: 45cm	Limit: 5

Fusiliers

Species	Size	Possession limit
Fusilier species	No size limit	Limit: 20

Parrotfishes

Species	Size	Possession limit
Parrotfish species	Min: 25cm	Limit: 5 per species

Surgeonfishes

Species	Size	Possession limit
Surgeonfish species	Min: 25cm	Limit: 5 per species

Sweetlips

Species	Size	Possession limit
Sweetlip species	Min: 25cm	Limit: 5 per species

Tropical snappers and sea perch

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit
Tropical snapper and sea perch species	Min: 25cm	Limit: 5 per species
Exceptions
Chinaman fish	No take	No take
Crimson snapper (small-mouth nannygai)	Min: 40cm	Combined total limit: 9 (for crimson and saddletail)
Flame snapper	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5
Goldband snapper	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for goldband and sharptooth)
Green jobfish	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5
Hussar	Min: 25cm	Limit: 10
Lavender snapper (lavender jobfish)	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for rosy and lavender)
Paddletail	No take	No take
Red bass	No take	No take
Red emperor	Min: 55cm	Limit: 5
Rosy snapper (rosy jobfish)	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 8 (for rosy and lavender)
Ruby snapper	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5
Saddletail snapper (large-mouth nannygai)	Min: 40cm	Combined total limit: 9 (for crimson and saddletail)
Sharptooth snapper	Min: 38cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for goldband and sharptooth)
Smalltooth jobfish	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5

Wrasse

Species		Size	Possession limit
Wrasse species		Min: 30cm	Limit: 5 per species
Exceptions
Humphead Maori wrasse		No take	No take
Pigfish		Min: 25cm	Limit: 5
Redbreast Maori wrasse		Min: 25cm	Limit: 5
Triple tail Maori wrasse		Min: 25cm	Limit: 5
Tuskfish species		Min: 30cm	Combined total limit: 6 (for all tuskfish species)

Other tidal fish

Australian bass

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Australian bass species	Min: 30cm	Limit: 2	Closed seasons apply.

Barramundi

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Barramundi species	Min: 58cm Max: 120cm	Limit: 5 per person, or 10 per boat (with two or more people on board)	Closed seasons apply.

Bream

Species	Size	Possession limit
Pikey	Min: 25cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for pikey, tarwhine and yellowfin)
Tarwhine	Min: 25cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for pikey, tarwhine and yellowfin)
Yellowfin bream	Min: 25cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for pikey, tarwhine and yellowfin

Cobia

Species	Size	Possession limit
Cobia (black kingfish) species	Min: 75cm	Limit: 2

Cod (estuary)

Species	Size	Possession limit
Blackspotted rockcod	Min: 38cm Max: 120cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)
Goldspotted rockcod	Min: 38cm Max: 120cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all cod and grouper species)

Dorab wolf herring

Species	Size	Possession limit
Dorab wolf herring species	No size limit	Limit: 10

Eels

Species	Size	Possession limit
Longfin  eel	Min: 30cm	Combined total limit: 10 (for all eel species)
Pacific shortfin eel (South Pacific)	Min: 30cm	Combined total limit: 10 (for all eel species)
Southern shortfin eel	Min: 30cm	Combined total limit: 10 (for all eel species)

Flathead

Species	Size	Possession limit
Flathead species	Min: 30cm	Combined total limit: 5 (for all flathead species, except dusky)
Exceptions
Dusky (mud flathead)	Min: 40cm Max: 75cm	Limit: 5

Garfish

Species	Size	Possession limit
Garfish species	No size limit	Combined total limit: 50 (for all garfish species)

Golden snapper

Species	Size	Possession limit
Golden snapper (fingermark) species	Min: 35cm	Limit: 5

Grass emperor

Species	Size	Possession limit
Grass emperor (sweetlip) species	Min: 30cm	Limit: 10

Javelin

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit
Barred (spotted grunter) - Queensland east coast	Min: 40cm (whole or head/tail removed), or Min fillet: 26cm (skin on while on board)	Limit: 10
Barred (spotted grunter) - Gulf of Carpentaria	Min: 40cm (whole or head/tail removed), or Min fillet: 26cm (skin on while on board)	Limit: 10 whole fish, or 20 fillets
Silver (small spotted grunter)	Min: 30cm	Limit: 10

Jewfish

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit	Notes
Black jewfish - Queensland east coast	Min: 75cm	Limit: 1 per person, or 2 per boat (with two or more people on board)	Must be kept on board whole. Closed waters apply.
Black jewfish - Gulf of Carpentaria	Min: 60cm	Limit: 1 per person, or 2 per boat (with two or more people on board)	Must be kept on board whole. No-take species if the annual total allowable catch count (TACC) is reached—fishery currently open.
Scaly (jewel fish)	Min: 45cm	Limit: 20	Must be kept on board whole.

Luderick

Species	Size	Possession limit
Luderick species	Min: 30cm	Limit: 10

Mackerel

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit	Notes
Grey mackerel	Min: 60cm	Limit: 5	-
Spanish mackerel - Queensland east coast	Min: 75cm	Limit: 1 per person, or 4 per boat (with 4 or more people on board)	Closed seasons apply
Spanish mackerel - Gulf of Carpentaria	Min: 75cm	Limit: 3 per person, or 6 per boat (with 2 or more people on board)	Limit of 6 per person on a licensed charter trip, entirely in Gulf waters, for a continuous period of at least 48 hours
School	Min: 50cm	Limit: 10	-
Shark	Min: 50cm	Limit: 10	-
Spotted	Min: 60cm	Limit: 5	-

Mahi mahi

Species	Size	Possession limit
Mahi mahi (dolphin fish) species	Min: 50cm	Limit: 5

Mangrove jack

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit
Mangrove jack species	Min: 35cm	Limit: 5

Mullet

Species	Size	Possession limit
Mullet species (except freshwater)	No size limit	Limit: 50
Exceptions
Diamondscale mullet	Min: 30cm	Limit: 20
Sea mullet	Min: 30cm	Limit: 20

Mulloway

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Mulloway species	Min: 75cm	Limit: 2	Must be kept on board whole.

Pearl perch

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Pearl perch species	Min: 38cm	Limit: 4	Closed seasons apply.

Snapper

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Snapper species	Min: 35cm	Limit: 4 per person (no more than one fish over 70cm), or 8 per boat, with two or more people on board (no more than two fish over 70cm)	Closed seasons apply.

Tailor

Species	Size	Possession limit
Tailor species	Min: 35cm	Limit: 20

Teraglin

Species	Size and possession limits	Possession limit
Teraglin species	Min: 38cm	Limit: 5

Threadfin

Species	Size	Possession limit
Blue threadfin (salmon) - Queensland east coast	Min: 40cm	Limit: 10
Blue threadfin (salmon) - Gulf of Carpentaria	Min: 40cm	Limit: 20
King threadfin (salmon) - Queensland east coast	Min: 65cm	Limit: 5
King threadfin (salmon) - Gulf of Carpentaria	Min: 60cm	Limit: 5

Trevally

Species	Size	Possession limit
Trevally (family Carangidae) species	No size limit	Combined total limit: 20 (for all trevally species)
Exceptions
Amberjack	Min: 50cm	Combined total limit: 2 (for amberjack and samsonfish)
Giant queenfish	Min: 50cm	Limit: 2
Samsonfish	Min: 50cm	Combined total limit: 2 (for amberjack and samsonfish)
Swallowtail dart	Min: 30cm	Limit: 30
Yellowtail kingfish	Min: 60cm	Limit: 2

Wahoo

Species	Size	Possession limit
Wahoo species	Min: 75cm	Limit: 2

Whiting

Species	Size	Possession limit
Goldenline whiting	Min: 23cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for sand, goldenline and northern)
Northern whiting	Min: 23cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for sand, goldenline and northern)
Sand (summer) whiting	Min: 23cm	Combined total limit: 30 (for sand, goldenline and northern)
Trumpeter (winter) whiting	No size limit	Limit: 50

Sharks and rays

• A combined total possession limit of 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board) applies to all sharks and rays.
• You may remove tails/fins of some sharks or rays, but the rest of the body must be on board.
• You may divide a shark or ray into portions only if an inspector can easily count how many sharks or rays you have.

Rays

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Ray species	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).	-
Exceptions
Guitarfish	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).	Do not fillet, remove tails/fins, or have tails/fins on board.
Manta ray	No take	No take	-
Sawfish	No take	No take	-
Shovelnose ray	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).	Do not fillet on board. You may trunk or gut. Fins must be naturally attached.

Sharks

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Shark species	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).
Exceptions
Grey nurse shark	No take	No take	-
Grey reef shark	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).	Do not fillet, remove tails/fins, or have tails/fins on board.
Hammerhead shark	No take	No take	-
Sand tiger shark	No take	No take	-
Speartooth shark	No take	No take	-
White shark	No take	No take	-
Whitetip reef shark	Max: 150cm, or Max interdorsal length: 60cm	Combined total limit: 1 shark or ray per person, or 2 sharks or rays per boat (with two or more people on board).	Do not fillet, remove tails/fins, or have tails/fins on board.

Crustaceans

Bugs

• Must be kept on board whole (unless consumed immediately).
• Must not have a damaged shell or a shell separated from the body.

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Moreton Bay (bay lobster)	Min: 7.5cm (across widest part of shell)	Limit: 20	-
Smooth (Balmain)	Min: 10.5cm (across widest part of shell)	Limit: 20	No-take for egg-bearing Balmain.

Crabs

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Blue swimmer crab	Min: 11.5cm	Limit: 20	No-take for female crabs. Must have shell and claws attached to the body.
Mud crab	Min: 15cm	Limit: 7 per person, or 14 per boat (with two or more people on board)	No-take for female crabs. Must have shell and claws attached to the body. Closed waters apply.
Spanner crab	Min: 10cm	Limit: 20	No-take for egg-bearing crabs. Must have claws attached to the body. Closed seasons apply.
Three-spotted crab	Min: 10cm	Limit: 20	No-take for egg-bearing crabs. Must have claws attached to the body.

Prawns

• Must be kept whole, including head (unless consumed immediately).

Species	Size	Possession limit
Prawn species	No size limit	Limit: 10 litres per person, or 20 litres per boat (with two or more people on board)

Tropical rock lobster

• Must be dead.
• No-take for egg-bearing lobsters, or those with tar spots (sperm packets).
• Closed seasons apply.

Species	Size	Possession limit
Tropical rock lobster species	No size limit	Combined total limit: 5 per person, or 10 per boat, with two or more people on board (for all tropical rock lobster species)
Exceptions
Ornate crayfish (Panulirus ornatus)	Min tail: 11.5cm Min shell: 9cm	Combined total limit: 5 per person, or 10 per boat, with two or more people on board (for all tropical rock lobster species)
Red champagne lobster	Min: 7.5cm	Combined total limit: 5 per person, or 10 per boat, with two or more people on board (for all tropical rock lobster species)

Shellfish and sea life

Clams and shells

Species	Size	Possession limit
Family Tridacnidae	No take	No take
Helmet shells	No take	No take
Trumpet shells	No take	No take

Molluscs and gastropods (excluding oysters)

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Mollusc and gastropod species (including pipis, mud whelks and cockles)	No size limit	Limit: 30	No-take for bivalves and gastropods (excluding pipis) in Moreton Bay.

Oysters

Species	Size	Possession limit
Oyster species	No size limit	Limit: 20
Exceptions
Blacklip pearl oyster	Min: 9cm	Limit: 20
Goldlip pearl oyster	Min: 13cm Max: 23 cm	Limit: 20

Trochus

Species	Size	Possession limit
Trochus species	Min: 8cm Max: 12.5cm	Limit: 20

Green snail

Species	Size	Possession limit
Green snail species	Min: 280g	Limit: 20

Sea cucumber

Species	Size	Possession limit	Notes
Sea cucumber species	No size limit	Limit: 5 per person, or 10 per boat (with two or more people on board)	Limit applies to waters north of latitude 20° south (near Bowen) and east of longitude 142°31’49’’ east (Gulf waters). Closed waters apply.
Exceptions
Black teatfish	No take	No take	-
White teatfish	No take	No take	-

Bait species

• Closed waters apply.

Species	Size	Possession limit
Beach worms	No size limit	Limit: 30
Cribb Island worms (bloodworms)	No size limit	Limit: 50
Mangrove worms	No size limit	No possession limit
Other worm species	No size limit	No possession limit
Australian anchovy	No size limit	No possession limit
Australian sardine	No size limit	No possession limit
Common hardyhead	No size limit	No possession limit
Cuttlefish or squid (excluding tiger squid)	No size limit	Limit: 50
Herring	No size limit	No possession limit
Saltwater yabby	No size limit	No possession limit
Silver biddy	No size limit	No possession limit
Smooth-clawed rock crab	No size limit	Limit: 50
Soldier crab	No size limit	No possession limit
Tiger squid	No size limit	Limit: 20
Yellowtail pike	No size limit	Limit: 50