1. Home »
  2. Rec fishing » Rules » Fishing limits search »
  3. Fishing limits explained

Fishing limits explained

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

Once you have reached the limit for a particular species, you are not allowed to catch any more. All recreational fishing limits apply for a 24-hour period from midnight to midnight.

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.

Find out the size limits for each species in the fishing limits search.

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

Find out the daily personal bag limits for each species in the fishing limits search.

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

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. Different boat limits apply for charter boat fishing.

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.

Find out the daily boat limits for each species in the fishing limits 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, or 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.

Find out the size limits for each species in the fishing limits search.

Personal bag limits

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

Find out the daily personal bag limits for each species in the fishing limits search.

Boat limits

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

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. Different boat limits apply for charter boat fishing.

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.

Find out the daily boat limits for each species in the fishing limits 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, or smoking.

Page last reviewed: 12 May 2022

 

Top of page