Fishing limits explained

Daily fishing limits apply all marine and freshwater species caught in South Australian waters.

All recreational fishing limits apply for a 24-hour period from midnight to midnight.

Once you have reached the limit for a particular species, you are not allowed to catch any more.

You cannot fillet any fish subject to size limits at sea (including crabs and sharks).

There are minimum and maximum legal size limits for some fish species.

Size limits let fish:

  • reach maturity
  • complete their breeding cycle
  • contribute to sustainable fish stocks.

Fish taken for use as bait must still meet size limits.

Discover the size limits for each fish species in the species search.

There are limits to the number of a particular fish species that you can be take.

Bag limits make sure fishing resources are shared and sustainable.

Once you have caught your daily bag limit for a particular species, you are not allowed to catch any more.

Discover the daily personal bag limits for each fish species in the species search.

Limits apply to how many fish you can land onto a boat.

Different boat limits apply for charter boat fishing.

The boat limit is usually set at 3 times the personal bag limit. This applies when there are 3 or more people fishing in the boat.

The personal bag limit applies to each person when there are 1 or 2 people fishing in a boat.

Abalone and Southern Rock Lobster have a boat limit set at twice the personal bag limit.

Discover the daily boat limits for each fish species in the species search.

There are limits to the quantity or total weight of fish that you can catch and keep.

Possession limits are a useful regulatory tool that prevents recreational fishers taking and stockpiling large quantities of fish.

These limits assist in:

  • controlling high levels of localised recreational fishing,
  • securing stock sustainability
  • giving equitable access to fish stocks
  • reducing the risk of localised depletion.

Limits apply per person where long-term storage is occurring through:

  • freezing
  • pickling
  • smoking.
Size limits

There are minimum and maximum legal size limits for some fish species.

Size limits let fish:

  • reach maturity
  • complete their breeding cycle
  • contribute to sustainable fish stocks.

Fish taken for use as bait must still meet size limits.

Discover the size limits for each fish species in the species search.

Personal bag limits

There are limits to the number of a particular fish species that you can be take.

Bag limits make sure fishing resources are shared and sustainable.

Once you have caught your daily bag limit for a particular species, you are not allowed to catch any more.

Discover the daily personal bag limits for each fish species in the species search.

Boat limits

Limits apply to how many fish you can land onto a boat.

Different boat limits apply for charter boat fishing.

The boat limit is usually set at 3 times the personal bag limit. This applies when there are 3 or more people fishing in the boat.

The personal bag limit applies to each person when there are 1 or 2 people fishing in a boat.

Abalone and Southern Rock Lobster have a boat limit set at twice the personal bag limit.

Discover the daily boat limits for each fish species in the species search.
Possession limits

There are limits to the quantity or total weight of fish that you can catch and keep.

Possession limits are a useful regulatory tool that prevents recreational fishers taking and stockpiling large quantities of fish.

These limits assist in:

  • controlling high levels of localised recreational fishing,
  • securing stock sustainability
  • giving equitable access to fish stocks
  • reducing the risk of localised depletion.

Limits apply per person where long-term storage is occurring through:

  • freezing
  • pickling
  • smoking.
Page last reviewed: 12 May 2022

 


Top of page