Advanced
Search
 Home | About Us | Feedback | Help | Site Map
Sea Fishing & Aquaculture
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Home > Sea Fishing & Aquaculture > Fishing > Recreational Fishing > Fish Species and Catch Information > Possession Limits

Bag and Possession Limits

The purpose of bag and possession limits is to leave enough mature fish to ensure that the species can continue to breed. Bag limits help to ensure that fishing resources are shared among the many users and that the catch is not wasted. Remember only take what you need for a feed.

Although one or two extra or undersized fish doesn't seem much, it is important to remember that there are lots of fishers and, if everyone took one or two, this is too many. All undersized fish should be carefully returned to the water and given the best possible chance to survive. Go to top of page

Scalefish

Daily bag limits no longer apply and have been replaced by a personal possession limit for each species. Possession limits apply everywhere, including the home. Unless otherwise stated, a personal possession limit of 15 fish applies for any species.

You may clean fish at sea, however, it is preferable that you take your whole catch home and dispose of any waste shells or offal with your household rubbish.

For fish that have been filleted, two fillets are deemed to be the equivalent of one fish. A fillet is defined as a longitudinal section of flesh removed from a fish, not including the head or gut. Proof of purchase is required if you have fish in excess of the possession limit.

A possession limit of two school and gummy shark (combined) applies. You may also have possession of two other shark species (excluding elephant fish). A boat limit of 5 shark carcasses applies.

The dorsal and pectoral fins must remain attached to all shark until they are landed.

Bait species such as anchovy, pilchard, sprat, blue sprat and hardyhead have a combined possession limit of 5kg per person.

Below is a summary of the possession limits. Please note that if there is not a specified possession limit (shown below) a possession limit of 15 fish of any one species applies. For more information on individual species see the fish species and information pages of this site.


Scalefish Species
On Water Possession Limit
Possession Limit
Albacore
-
10
Atlantic salmon (in marine waters)
-
-
Australian salmon
-
15
Banded morwong (season applies)
-
2
Bastard trumpeter
-
10
Blue mackerel
-
30
Blue warehou (snotty trevally)
-
20
Blue-eye trevalla
5
8
Boarfish (species combined)
-
2
Bream
-
10
Cod (species combined)
-
30
Elephant Fish
-
2
Flathead (species combined)
-
30
Flounder (species combined)
-
30
Garfish
-
30
Jack mackerel
-
30
Leatherjacket (species combined)
-
15
Mullet (species combined)
-
15
Redbait
-
30
Silver trevally
-
15
Shark - school and gummy shark combined
(boat limit of 5 shark combined)*
-
2
Sharks and rays - other combined excluding elephantfish (boat limit 5)*
-
2
Snapper
-
5
Striped trumpeter (season applies)
4
8
Tuna (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye)
-
2
Whiting (species combined)
-
30
Wrasse
-
10
Yellowtail Kingfish
-
5
Species not specified above
-
15
*A boat limit of 5 sharks/rays applies for all species.

Go to top of page

Other species

Below is a summary of the bag and possession limits for most other fish species. For more information on individual species see the fish species and information pages of this site.

Other Fish Species
Daily Bag Limit
Possession Limit
Abalone (licence holder)
10 abalone
20 abalone
Abalone (non-licence holder)
-
5 abalone
Rock Lobster (licence holder)
5 lobster
10 lobster
Rock Lobster (non-licence holder)
-
5 lobster
Scallops (licence holder) - species combined (on water possession limit of 50)
50 scallops
100 scallops
Scallops (non-licence holder)
-
100 scallops
Prawns (species combined)
-
2kg
Squid (southern calamari) on water possesion limit of 10 in South East Waters-
15
Squid (Goulds arrow)
-
15
Octopus (Eaglehawk Bay)
5 octopus
5 octopus
Octopus (other waters)
100kg
100kg
Giant crabs
-
1 giant crab
Other crabs
Crab red velvet and speedies crab
Crab - Other than Giant crab, red velvet and speedies

No limit
No limit

15
No limit
Clams/cockles/pipis (combined)
100 clams/cockles/pipis
-
Mussels
100 mussels
-
Wedge shells
200 wedge shells
Periwinkles
100 periwinkles
-
Pacific oysters
unlimited pacific oysters
Native oysters
50 native oysters
-
Other shellfish (combined species not mentioned above)
20 other shellfish
-


See the following pages for more information on recreational fishing rules and regulations:
Licences
Fishing Seasons
Size Limits
Bag and Possession Limits
Gear Restrictions
Area Restrictions

Go to top of page

Fish for the future logo


Tasmania Online


Tasmania Online | Service Tasmania

This page - http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/HMUY-5TA4EU?open - was last published on 15 October 2009 by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Questions concerning its content can be sent to Fishing Enquiries by using the feedback form, by mail to GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001, or by telephone to 03 6233 2147.

Please read our disclaimer and copyright statements governing the information we provide on this site.

A text version of this page is also available.