Gear combination rules

Fishing gear combinations are subject to rules according to the waters you are fishing in.

If you are combining fishing gear you must follow the rules outlined below.

Marine waters

Rods and handlines

Each person can use up to 2 rods or 2 handlines, or one of each.

Each line can have one of the below:

  • up to 3 hooks attached
  • up to 5 hooks joined eye to shank or threaded together (this is considered as 1 hook).

Other gear

You can use your rod and handline with one of the below devices or gear combinations:

  • hand net
  • 1 crab rake or cockle net
  • drop nets
  • 10 hoop nets if no other fishing device is being used. Up to 3 hoop nets if other fishing gear is being used (for example, fishing rod/handline).
  • 1 bait pump
  • 1 bait fork or spade
  • 1 razorfish tongs
  • 1 rock lobster snare

You can only use:

  • a combined total of 3 hoop nets or drop nets at the same time.

Some gear requires tagging and buoying – see registering and marking your gear. All permitted fishing gear must conform to legal specifications.

Closures

View all gear restrictions and fishing closures.

Inland waters

This area refers to the River Murray proper and other inland waters.

Rods and handlines

Each person can use up to 2 rods or 2 handlines, or one of each.

Each line can have one of the below:

  • up to 3 hooks attached
  • up to 5 hooks joined eye to shank or threaded together (this is considered as 1 hook).

Other gear

You can use your rod and handline with one of the below devices or gear combinations:

You can only use a drop net if pyramid nets are not being used at the same time.

Some gear requires tagging and buoying – see registering and marking your gear. All permitted fishing gear must conform to legal specifications.

Closures

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

View all gear restrictions and fishing closures.

Lakes Albert and Alexandrina

Rods and handlines

Each person can use up to 2 rods or 2 handlines, or one of each.

Each line can have one of the below:

  • up to 3 hooks attached
  • up to 5 hooks joined eye to shank or threaded together (this is considered as 1 hook).

Other gear

You can use a rod and handline with only one of the below devices or gear combinations:

You can only use a drop net if pyramid nets are not being used at the same time.

Mesh nets must be registered in your name.

Some gear requires tagging and buoying – see registering and marking your gear. All permitted fishing gear must conform to legal specifications.

Closures

You cannot use nets within:

  • 150 m of barrages
  • 100 m of jetties.

View all gear restrictions and fishing closures.

The Coorong

Rods and handlines

Each person can use up to 2 rods or 2 handlines, or one of each.

Each line can have one of the below:

  • up to 3 hooks attached
  • up to 5 hooks joined eye to shank or threaded together (this is considered as 1 hook).

Other gear

You can use your rod and handline with one of the below devices or gear combinations:

Recreational fishers are not permitted to use a hauling net.

Mesh nets must be registered in your name.

Some gear requires tagging and buoying – see registering and marking your gear. All permitted fishing gear must conform to legal specifications.

Closures

You cannot use nets within:

  • 150 m of barrages
  • 100 m of jetties.

View all gear restrictions and fishing closures.

Lake George

Rods and handlines

Each person can use up to 2 rods or 2 handlines, or one of each.

Each line can have one of the below:

  • up to 3 hooks attached
  • up to 5 hooks joined eye to shank or threaded together (this is considered as 1 hook).

Other gear

You can use your rod and handline with one of the below devices or gear combinations:

Mesh nets must be registered in your name.

All permitted fishing gear must conform to legal specifications.

Closures

View all gear restrictions and fishing closures.

Rock lobster fishing

To take rock lobster you can use one of the below devices or gear combinations:

You can also use a rock lobster snare.

Rock lobster pots must be registered in your name.

All permitted gear must conform to legal specifications.

Prohibited devices

  • Pots and drop nets cannot be used at the same time.
  • It is an offence to take or attempt to take rock lobster using a spear, hook or other pointed instrument.
  • The use of corfs to keep a rock lobster alive in the water is prohibited.

It is also illegal to return a rock lobster pot to the water where it contains a rock lobster.

Closures

Closures apply to fishing for rock lobster in some areas.

Page last reviewed: 09 Oct 2023

 


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