Rules & Regulations

Waters Closed to Netting (eg Cast Nets)

Hervey Bay: From the eastern tip of Point Vernon to the seaward end of the Scarness Jetty to the seaward end of the Urangan Pier to the seaward end of the rock wall of the Urangan Boat Harbour then west to the mainland shore.

Australian bass

All Queensland tidal waters: Australian bass closed season – 1 June to 31 August

Barramundi

Queensland east coast: barramundi closed season – 1 November to 31 January

Gulf of Carpentaria: barramundi closed season – 7 October to 31 January

You can’t target barramundi for catch and release during these closed seasons, as the stress of capture may prevent a fish from spawning.

Coral reef fin fish

Two five-day coral reef fin fish closed seasons in October and November each year.

Indicative closure dates for 2023–2028:

12 to 16 October 2023
10 to 14 November 2023

30 September to 4 October 2024
29 October to 2 November 2024

18 to 22 October 2025
17 to 21 November 2025

8 to 12 October 2026
6 to 10 November 2026

26 to 30 October 2027
25 to 29 November 2027

15 to 19 October 2028
13 to 17 November 2028

Closed seasons apply in tidal waters from the northern tip of Cape York along latitude 10°41' south to:

along latitude 24°50' south to the mainland shore

East coast Spanish mackerel

Northern Spanish mackerel closed seasons

Indicative dates for 2023–2028:

12 October to 2 November 2023
10 November to 1 December 2023

30 September to 21 October 2024
29 October to 19 November 2024

18 October to 8 November 2025
17 November to 8 December 2025

Northern closure dates are aligned with new moon periods.

The northern closures apply to east coast waters north of latitude 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon).

Southern Spanish mackerel closed seasons

The southern Spanish mackerel closed seasons are:

1 to 21 February
1 to 21 March

The southern closures apply each year to east coast waters south of latitude 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon).

Snapper and pearl perch

All Queensland tidal waters: snapper and pearl perch closed season – 15 July to 15 August

Spanner crab

All Queensland tidal waters: spanner crab closed season – 1 November to 15 December