The following gear may be used by a licence holder to take
southern rock lobster (also referred to as crayfish) and eastern (green) rock lobster. If gear is not listed here it cannot be used (e.g. it is illegal to take rock lobster by a hook and line, or a net).
The licence holder must personally set and retrieve any rock lobster fishing gear. Another person can assist them if needed, for example, to set or haul the pot, including when the licence holder is operating the boat.
The licence holder must be on board the boat, and is responsible for the gear and sorting the catch.
On a commercial fishing trip, you cannot recreationally fish for rock lobster or have a recreational pot or ring.
Rock lobster pot
Licence: A rock lobster pot licence is required to use a rock lobster pot.
Rules:
- You can only possess and use one recreational rock lobster pot (cray pot) on State waters.
- A person in charge of a boat must not allow more than 5 rock lobster pots to be on or used from their boat, and all licence holders must be present.
- You cannot leave your pot in the water for longer than 48 hours.
- There are restrictions on what you can use for bait when fishing, including when using lobster pots.
Rings and pots can be used from a boat being used by divers, however personal bag and possession limits apply to the total rock lobster taken by any method that day.
Specifications: A rock lobster pot must:
- be no larger than 1250 mm x 1250 mm at base and 750 mm high;
- have only one neck or entrance at least 200mm in diameter;
- have escape gaps at least 57 mm high and the lower inside edge no more than 150 mm up from the floor of the pot. If there is only one escape gap, it must be at least 400 mm wide and if there are two, they must each be at least 200 mm wide;
- have no objects, such as bait or sticks, obstructing the escape gaps.
- not contain anything likely to entangle the rock lobster in the pot; and
- Be marked with a buoy with the licence number and letter 'P' for pot.
Rock lobster rings
Licence: A rock lobster ring licence is required to use a rock lobster ring.
Rules:
- You may possess and use up to 4 rock lobster rings on state waters.
- A person in charge of a boat must not allow more than 20 rock lobster rings to be on or used from their boat and all license holders must be present.
Specifications: A rock lobster ring or hoop must comply with the following dimensions:
- must be a single ring or hoop of no more than 1 metre in diameter, covered with mesh; and
- if left unattended, each ring must have a buoy attached marked with the licence number and letter 'R' for ring.
Diving for rock lobster
Licence: A rock lobster dive licence is required to take rock lobster by SCUBA, surface air or snorkelling.
Rules:
- The only aid that can be used for taking rock lobster is a gloved hand.
- Nooses, gaffs, nets, hooks and spears are not permitted for taking lobster.
- It is illegal to possess a noose on a boat unless it is being used for game fishing.
Rings and pots may be used from a boat that is being used by divers, however personal bag and possession limits apply to the total rock lobster taken by any method that day.
Rock lobster caufs
A rock lobster cauf is a device for holding rock lobster in the water.
Rules:
- A person may only use one cauf at a time.
- All rock lobster in a cauf must be tail-clipped and count towards the fishers possession limit.
- A cauf must have a yellow buoy attached marked with the fisher's licence number.
- A cauf can be used by more than one licensed fisher but lobsters held in a shared cauf must be separated from other fishers' lobster into their own compartments.
- Each fisher must have their own yellow marker buoy marked with their recreational fishing licence number attached to their compartment of the cauf.
Aboriginal fishers
Aboriginal fishers are exempt from holding a fishing licence, but must comply with all other rules.
Where rock lobster gear must be marked with a licence number, Aboriginal fishers should use their unique identifying code.
More information on
Aboriginal fishing.
Lost, stolen or irretrievable rock lobster gear
If you leave your rock lobster pot in the water for longer than allowed due to bad weather, illness or theft, call the Recreational Fishing Reporting Service on 1300 720 647 and provide them with your licence number.
You can also report your lost, stolen or irretrievable rock lobster gear online:
Lost or irretrievable gear report | Fishing Tasmania