Fishing closures

Fishing closures may be permanent, seasonal or temporary.

Closed areas help replenish fish numbers by:

  • protecting fished species during their breeding season
  • letting juvenile fish grow in safety
  • reducing fishing pressure on stocks.

You must return any species you catch during a closure period to the water immediately.

Learn more about viewing GPS, Google Earth and Google Maps data.

View disclaimers and accuracy statements for GPS data.

Want to see closures in one easy to use map?

The free SA Fishing app is a must-have guide with all the information you need to fish in South Australia. This includes a GPS map with fishing closures highlighted.

Download the SA Fishing app

Areas closed to all fishing

Within these areas all fishing activity is strictly prohibited during closure times. Fishing is banned in some areas all year.

You cannot enter some areas during closure periods.

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (inner waterways)

Within the inner waterways of the Port Adelaide River system, southeast of a line from Pelican Point to the southern breakwater at St Kilda, it is not permitted to:

  • use a fishing line (hand line or rod) within 50 metres of a visible dolphin
  • use hooks with a shank length greater than 56 mm and a gape greater than 23 mm.

View the map of the impacted area.

Areas of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are located within the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve where additional restrictions apply – see Gear restricted areas.

Glenelg and O’Sullivan Beach Shellfish Reef

Temporary closure: 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022

You cannot fish anywhere in the 5 hectare site (PDF 287.6 KB or PNG 375.0 KB) during the closure period.

This includes:

  • line fishing
  • crab netting
  • spearfishing.

You must also not collect or remove any bottom dwelling organism from this area including:

  • oysters
  • seaweed
  • crabs
  • any type of shellfish.

This temporary closure protects the reef’s natural ecosystem while it is being established and allows marine life to settle.

Great Australian Bight Marine Park

No entry: 1 May 2022 to 31 October

This is a seasonal mammal protection zone.

Vessels cannot enter this area during the closure time.

For more access and use information visit the Australian Marine Parks website.

Horseshoe Reef

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish in the area within 25 metres of any part of Horseshoe Reef that becomes exposed at low tide.

Horseshoe reef is located nearby Christies Beach. (35°8′14.6″ South, 138°27′49.1″ East).

National park zones

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish or take anything from a national park zone including:

  • marine animals
  • plants
  • seagrass
  • shells.

For national marine park access and use information visit the Australian Marine Park website.

River Murray locks and weirs

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish within 150 m of all locks and weirs in the River Murray.

SA marine parks

Multiple closures apply

Permanent, temporary and seasonal closures apply within different areas of South Australian marine parks.

Marine park areas are divided into zones.

You must not fish or take anything from sanctuary zones.

This includes:

  • marine animals
  • plants
  • seagrass
  • shells.

You must not enter any restricted access zones.

For marine park zone information, maps and coordinates visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website

Wirrina Cove

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish in the waters off the coast of Wirrina Cove (Fleurieu Reef).

It is bounded by a circle radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile around the point:

  • latitude 35°28.9’S
  • longitude 138°09.5’E.

Species closures

Species closure may be permanent, temporary or seasonal to protect marine life or help fish stocks replenish.

Some closures are in place as a precautionary health and safety measure.

Abalone

Control Area

Due to an outbreak of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG), a Control Area is in place from Southend to the Victorian border. Fishing for abalone in the Control Area is not permitted – see map of the Control Area (PDF 1.8 MB).

Intertidal reefs

Permanent closure

Intertidal reefs are those rocky areas of our coastline extending up to the high tide mark.

It is illegal to remove any bottom dwelling organisms from any intertidal rocky reef in South Australia out to a depth of 2 m.

This includes:

  • abalone
  • barnacles
  • coral
  • crabs
  • limpets
  • mussels
  • sea urchins
  • shrimps
  • snails
  • worms.

Learn more about protecting intertidal reefs (PDF 275.8 KB).

Aquatic reserves

You must not take abalone from any aquatic reserve in South Australia.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Blacklip and Greenlip Abalone in permitted areas.

Bivalve shellfish - Port River system

Port River system and surrounding waters (from West Lakes to Port Gawler, including Section Bank)

Permanent closure

You cannot take any bivalve shellfish (bivalve molluscs) from the Port River system and surrounding waters under further notice.

This includes:

View a map of the bivalve shellfish closure area (PDF 244.4 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking bivalve shellfish in permitted areas.

Discover the fishing limits for bivalve species in the fishing limits search.

Black bream - Lakes and Coorong

Seasonal closure: 4 August 2023 to 31 January 2024 (inclusive)

You cannot fish for or possess bream in the Lakes and Coorong.

This temporary closure is to protect the spawning aggregation of black bream.

Using mesh nets within 300 metres of these barrages in the Coorong (Area 1) is prohibited:

  • Goolwa barrage
  • Mundoo barrage
  • Boundary Creek barrage
  • Ewe Island barrage
  • Tauwitchere barrage

This closure applies to commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

View map of the barrages in Coorong (PNG 839.4 KB)

Bream - Onkaparinga River

Annual closure: 1 September to 30 November (inclusive)

You cannot fish for bream in the Onkaparinga River upstream of the Main South Road Bridge at Noarlunga during closure times.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking bream in permitted areas.

Cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid and octopus)

Permanent Cephalopod Exclusion Zone

You must not target or take cephalopods from False Bay, Spencer Gulf, within the waters north of:

  • the lighthouse at Point Lowly to the southern end of the Point Bonython jetty
  • south-west to the eastern most point of the BHP Jetty:
    • latitude 33°02’12.63”S
    • longitude 137°36’1.98”E
  • then following a high water mark at the base of the jetty along the shoreline back to the Point Lowly lighthouse.

Permanent cuttlefish fishing closure

Following a temporary closure in 2022–23, from 1 May 2023 a permanent cuttlefish fishing closure is in place in the waters of Upper Spencer Gulf.

You must not target or take any cuttlefish species in the waters north of a line from:

  • the Mean High Water Springs closest to 33°55’39.892”S 136°34’20.163”E (near Arno Bay), to
  • the Mean High Water Springs closest to 33°55’39.896”S 137°37’14.557”E (Wallaroo Jetty).

Closure map

View the map of cephalopod fishing closure area (PDF 477.9 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking cephalopods in permitted areas.

Discover the fishing limits cephalopods species in the fishing limits search.

Crabs

Port Pirie zone 1 – South area of Germein Bay, including First Creek, Second Creek, Port Pirie River, and Shag Creek

You must not take the following species from this area:

  • crabs
  • razorfish
  • mussels.
Permanent fishing closure for certain species

View the Port Pirie zone 1 and zone 2 closure area map (PDF 265.4 KB).

These closures apply to recreational fishing, to reduce community exposure to heavy metals. The advice does not apply to commercially caught seafood outside the 2 closure zones, adjacent to the town and estuary area.

These closures supersede the temporary bans imposed in September 2020.

For more information about the health risks of recreational fishing in Port Pirie, visit Fishing | SA Health.

Intertidal reef species

All bottom dwelling organisms

Permanent closure

Intertidal reefs are those rocky areas of our coastline extending up to the high tide mark.

It is illegal to remove any bottom dwelling organisms from any intertidal rocky reef in South Australia out to a depth of 2 m.

This includes:

  • abalone
  • barnacles
  • coral
  • crabs
  • limpets
  • mussels
  • sea urchins
  • shrimps
  • snails
  • worms.

Learn more about protecting intertidal reefs (PDF 275.8 KB).

Murray Cod

Permanent closure

You must not take Murray Cod at any time within:

  • River Murray proper
  • Lake Albert
  • Lake Alexandrina.

This excludes the waters of the Coorong.

Catch and release only from 1 January to 31 July

You can catch and release Murray Cod between 1 January to 31 July each year in:

  • River Murray proper (excluding the Chowilla floodplain north of the River Murray between 34°9'46.65" South, 140°45'30.41" East (Ral Ral Creek) upstream to the River Murray at 34°1'14.55" South, 141°0’9.72" East (South Australia and New South Wales border)) – see Murray cod closure map (PDF 280.0 KB)
  • Lake Albert
  • Lake Alexandrina (excluding the waters of the Coorong)

Catch and release of Murray Cod is permitted all year round when reservoir fishing.

View safe handling and release practices.

Mussels

Port River system and surrounding waters (from West Lakes to Port Gawler, including Section Bank)

Permanent closure

You cannot take any bivalve shellfish (bivalve molluscs) from the Port River system and surrounding waters under further notice.

This includes:

View a map of the bivalve shellfish closure area (PDF 244.4 KB).

Port Pirie zone 1 – South area of Germein Bay, including First Creek, Second Creek, Port Pirie River, and Shag Creek

You must not take the following species from this area:

  • crabs
  • razorfish
  • mussels.
Permanent fishing closure for certain species

View the Port Pirie zone 1 and zone 2 closure area map (PDF 265.4 KB).

These closures apply to recreational fishing, to reduce community exposure to heavy metals. The advice does not apply to commercially caught seafood outside the 2 closure zones, adjacent to the town and estuary area.

These closures supersede the temporary bans imposed in September 2020.

For more information about the health risks of recreational fishing in Port Pirie, visit Fishing | SA Health.

Intertidal reefs

Permanent closure

Intertidal reefs are those rocky areas of our coastline extending up to the high tide mark.

It is illegal to remove any bottom dwelling organisms from any intertidal rocky reef in South Australia out to a depth of 2 m.

This includes:

  • abalone
  • barnacles
  • coral
  • crabs
  • limpets
  • mussels
  • sea urchins
  • shrimps
  • snails
  • worms.

Learn more about protecting intertidal reefs (PDF 275.8 KB).

Oysters

Port River system and surrounding waters (from West Lakes to Port Gawler, including Section Bank)

Permanent closure

You cannot take any bivalve shellfish (bivalve molluscs) from the Port River system and surrounding waters under further notice.

This includes:

View a map of the bivalve shellfish closure area (PDF 244.4 KB).

This closure is in place to reduce the risk of spreading the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) virus.

Pipi (Goolwa Cockle)

The Younghusband Peninsula (Coorong Beach)

Permanent closures

The Younghusband Peninsula (Coorong Beach) is a commercial fishing zone only.

You must not take Pipi in this area between Murray Mouth and 28 Mile Crossing.

View the map of the Coorong Beach Pipi closure area (PDF 2.6 MB).

Statewide

Annual seasonal closure from 1 June to 31 October – with the exception of Goolwa Beach (Murray Mouth to Middleton Point) which will be closed for 2023 from 24 August to 31 October.

You must not take Pipis from any area or waters within South Australia during this closure period.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Pipis in permitted areas.

Prawns

Permanent species closure

You must not take prawns at any time from any South Australian waters less than 10 m deep.

Razorfish

Upper Spencer Gulf

Seasonal closure from 1 October to last day of February inclusive (the following year)

You must not take Razorfish from Upper Spencer Gulf between Commissariat Point and Blanche Harbour during the closure period.

View the closure area on the Upper Spencer Gulf map (PDF 1.0 MB).

Port River system and surrounding waters (from West Lakes to Port Gawler, including Section Bank)

Permanent closure

You cannot take any bivalve shellfish (bivalve molluscs) from the Port River system and surrounding waters under further notice.

This includes:

View a map of the bivalve shellfish closure area (PDF 244.4 KB).

Port Pirie zone 1 – South area of Germein Bay, including First Creek, Second Creek, Port Pirie River, and Shag Creek

You must not take the following species from this area:

  • crabs
  • razorfish
  • mussels.
Permanent fishing closure for certain species

View the Port Pirie zone 1 and zone 2 closure area map (PDF 265.4 KB).

Port Pirie zone 2 – North area of Germein Bay

You must not take razorfish from this area.

These closures apply to recreational fishing, to reduce community exposure to heavy metals. The advice does not apply to commercially caught seafood outside the 2 closure zones, adjacent to the town and estuary area.

These closures supersede the temporary bans imposed in September 2020.

For more information about the health risks of recreational fishing in Port Pirie, visit Fishing | SA Health.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking razorfish in permitted areas.

Rock lobster sanctuaries

Permanent species closure

Rock Lobsters are completely protected at all times within Rock Lobster sanctuaries.

A maximum penalty of $35,000 applies to taking Rock Lobster within these protected areas.

Cape Jaffa Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.4 MB)

View the sanctuary boundary points in Google Maps.

Margaret Brock Reef Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.4 MB)

View the sanctuary boundaries in Google Maps.

Gleeson's Landing

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.3 MB)

View the sanctuary boundaries in Google Maps.

Rivoli Bay Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.3 MB)

Port McDonnell Breakwater

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map (JPG 185.4 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Rock Lobster in permitted areas.

Rock lobster closure zones

AVG Control Area

Due to an outbreak of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG), a Control Area is in place from Southend to the Victorian border. Fishing for rock lobster in the Control Area is not permitted – see map of the Control Area (PDF 1.8 MB).

Northern zone seasonal closure

From 6:00 pm 31 May to 12 noon 1 November

You must not take Rock Lobster from the northern zone. This area extends from west from longitude 139°0’4.80” to the Western Australian border.

View the northern zone closure area on the map (JPG 162.2 KB).

Southern zone seasonal closure

From 6:00 pm 31 May to 6:00 am 1 October

You must not take Rock Lobster from the southern zone. This area extends from east from longitude 139°0’4.80” to the Victorian border.

View the southern zone closure area on the map (JPG 162.2 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Rock Lobster in permitted areas.

Scallops

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking scallop in permitted areas.

Snapper

West Coast / Spencer Gulf / Gulf St Vincent

Total species closure until 30 June 2026

Snapper fishing closures are in place to help Snapper stocks recover.

The targeting, take and possession of snapper is prohibited in closed waters. Fines and penalties may apply.

Closures

View the Snapper closure area on the map (PDF 440.7 KB).

Fishing limits

Find out the daily fishing limits for Snapper in South East waters.

Vongole (mud cockle)

Port River system and surrounding waters (from West Lakes to Port Gawler, including Section Bank)

Permanent closure

You cannot take any bivalve shellfish (bivalve molluscs) from the Port River system and surrounding waters under further notice.

This includes:

View a map of the bivalve shellfish closure area (PDF 244.4 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Vongole in permitted areas.

Western blue groper

Permanent closure

You cannot fish for Western Blue Groper at any time in:

  • Spencer Gulf
  • Gulf St Vincent
  • Investigator Straight
  • Backstairs Passage.

This includes all waters north from a line from:

  • Newland Head to Cape Willoughby
  • West Bay to Cape Carnot on southern Eyre Peninsula.

View the Blue Groper closure area on the map (PDF 632.8 KB)

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Western Blue Groper in permitted areas.

Gear restricted areas

Restrictions apply to the gear you can use in certain waters. Penalties can apply if you do not follow the rules in closure areas.

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (inner waterways)

Within the inner waterways of the Port Adelaide River system, southeast of a line from Pelican Point to the southern breakwater at St Kilda, it is not permitted to:

  • use a fishing line (hand line or rod) within 50 metres of a visible dolphin
  • use hooks with a shank length greater than 56 mm and a gape greater than 23 mm.

View the map of the impacted area.

Areas of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are located within the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve where additional restrictions apply – see Gear restricted areas.

Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve

Line fishing only

You can only use the below fishing gear in the reserve:

You are strictly prohibited from:

  • collecting or removing any marine organism other than a fish
  • crabbing or using a crab net.

You must not use any other fishing gear. A maximum penalty of $20,000 applies.

Closure area

View the closure area on the map (PDF 2.0 MB).

Areas of the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve are located within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary where additional restrictions apply – see Gear restricted areas.

Coobowie Aquatic Reserve

Line fishing only

Inside the reserve you are restricted to only:

Learn more about permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 1.2 MB).

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

The Coorong

Mesh net use restrictions

You can only use mesh nets with an existing registration in the Coorong.

New registrations are no longer available for mesh net use in:

  • the Coorong
  • Lake Albert
  • Lake Alexandrina.

You can apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George only.

Mesh net closures

There are restrictions on the use of mesh nets in some areas of the waters of the Coorong.

The waters of the Coorong are divided into Area 1 and Area 2.

Area 1:
Seasonal closure: 1 November to 31 March inclusive

You cannot use a mesh net between the closure dates each year.

View the Coorong Area 1 on the map (PDF 618.4 KB).

Area 2
Mesh net use permitted

You can use a registered mesh net in Area 2 at all times of the year.

View the Coorong Area 2 on the map (PDF 618.4 KB).

Goolwa channel

You cannot use a mesh net between 12 midnight Friday and 12 midnight Sunday between Goolwa barrage and the Goolwa channel.

The Goolwa channel extends from

  • A.G.A. light on Mundoo Island across to Hindmarsh Island
  • upstream to the south east corner of Allotment 109, section 601 Hundred of Nangkita
  • across the Murray Mouth to Younghusband Peninsula then back to the A.G.A. light.

Permanent closures

You cannot use a mesh net within:

  • 150 m of all barrages
  • 100 m of any jetty, pier or wharf

Lake George

Mesh net use restrictions

You must register mesh nets before use.

Apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George.

Mesh net closures

You cannot use mesh nets in the Lake George closure areas:

  • the Lake George Southern Lagoon
  • the drainage channel connecting Lake George to Tivoli Bay
  • any other waters that feed into Lake George.

Permitted gear

You are allowed to:

Lakes Albert and Alexandrina

Permanent closures

You cannot use mesh nets within:

  • 100 m of any jetty, pier or wharf
  • 150 m of all barrages.

Mesh net use restrictions

You can only use mesh nets with an existing registration.

New registrations are no longer available for mesh net use in:

  • the Coorong
  • Lake Albert
  • Lake Alexandrina.

You can apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George only.

Metropolitan shark fishing

Daily fishing gear restrictions

Daily restrictions apply from 5 am to 9 pm from the southernmost breakwater at Outer Harbor to Lady Bay Shacks, south of Normanville.

During these times you cannot use:

  • any wire trace
  • a monofilament trace exceeding 1 mm in diameter
  • hooks with a length greater than 56 mm or a gape greater than 23 mm
  • combination or gang of hooks joined by threading the point of one through the eye of another.

View the restriction area on the map (PDF 206.5 KB).

Statewide restrictions on hook size and trace size

At all other times and anywhere in South Australia you cannot use the following gear together:

  • wire trace with a gauge of 2 mm or greater
  • fishing hooks of size 12/0 or greater.

Onkaparinga River

Line fishing and hand nets only

You can fish for:

No other fishing gear is permitted in these waters.

Port McDonnell Breakwater

Line fishing only

You can fish using a handline or rod and line.

You cannot use any other fishing gear in these waters.

SA marine park - Far West Coast special purpose areas

Shore-based line fishing closures

Restrictions apply to shore based line fishing in the Far West Coast at different times of the year.

For more Far West Coast marine park information visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website

Spearfishing - Adelaide metropolitan coastline

You must not fish using a hand fish spear or spear gun in the areas below.

Statewide

You cannot spearfish within 100 m of all:

  • jetties
  • landings
  • wharves including the adjacent foreshore areas.

Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths

You cannot spearfish within 200 m of the Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths.

Gulf St Vincent

You cannot spearfish within 600 m of the high water mark from:

  • 100 m immediately south of the southernmost Outer Harbor breakwater to the southernmost point of the southern car park of Kingston Coastal Reserve
  • the southernmost point of the Balboa Drive Carpark, Hallett Cove to Witton Bluff

View the closure area on the map (PDF 249.1 KB).

Second Valley

You cannot spearfish in the waters of Second Valley Bay (PDF 185.1 KB) (PDF 185.1 KB).

Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone

You cannot spearfish in the Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone. This area was formerly known as the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve.

St Kilda - Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserve

Line fishing and crab fishing restrictions

Fishing gear restrictions apply inside the St Kilda - Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserve.

You can:

The following is not permitted:

  • bait digging
  • fishing (other than land-based line fish from the breakwater)
  • collecting or removing any marine organism (other than blue swimmer crabs).

Penalties apply to prohibited activities.

Learn more about permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 1.9 MB)

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve

Line fishing only

You can only fish the Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve using rod and line or handline.

You cannot use any other fishing devices or gear in this area.

Learn more about the permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 958.0 KB).

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

West Island Aquatic Reserve

Line fishing only

You can only fish in the West Island Aquatic Reserve Area 1 using a rod and line or handline.

You cannot use Rock Lobster pots or any other fishing gear in this area.

There is strictly no entry in Area 2 of the reserve.

Learn more about permitted activities and view Areas 1 and 2 on the reserve map. (PDF 1.2 MB)

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

Page last reviewed: 26 Oct 2023

 


Top of page