*This page has been updated to reflect new rules
that apply from 1 November 2022.*
To find out what's changed, watch the
video - Key Rules You Need to Know
Measuring rock lobster
The length of the rock lobster's carapace (shell) is used to measure its size. To measure a rock lobster:
- Spread the antennal horns.
- Place the gauge tip hard into the middle notch.
- Measure from the notch to the end of the carapace.
If you are taking rock lobster close to minimum size, be sure your measuring device is accurate.
Tail-marking rock lobster
Rock lobster that you keep must be marked as recreationally-caught:
-
Southern Zone: Cut off at least a quarter of the central tail fan segment OR punch a 10 mm hole in it.
-
Northern Zone: Cut off at least a quarter of both outer tail fan segments OR punch a 10mm hole in them..
If fishing from a boat, mark the tail fan within 5 minutes of the lobster being brought to the boat, before retrieving another pot, moving the boat, and before landing.
If fishing from the shore, mark the tail fan within 5 minutes of landing and within 50 metres of where you are fishing.
Watch the video - Size limits and tail marking
Sexing rock lobster
- have large, overlapping pleopods (swimmerets/flaps) under the tail; and
- have a small nipper claw present on the end of each rear leg.
| - have small swimmerets under the tail;
- have no nipper claws on the rear legs.
|
Lobsters in berry
It is illegal to take female rock lobster in berry (with eggs) or to strip the eggs. If you catch a lobster in berry, return it to the water as soon as possible.
Female rock lobster in berry
Video - Female rock lobster in berry