Size and Bag Limits

*This page has been updated to reflect interim management arrangements for sand flathead, valid until 31 October 2023. Visit Flathead for the future​ page for more details.*

​​​​​​​​​​​​Recreational catch limits appear in the table below as a combined total for all species in a fish group.

All scalefish are measured from the nose to the end of the tail, except the following which are measured:

  • Shark - nose to tail (or back gill slit to base of tail if headed and tailed)
  • Banded morwong - nose to fork of the tail
  • Garfish - upper jaw to the end of the tail

Size and bag limits

​​Fish Group
​Bag Limit
​Possession Limit
​Boat Limit
​​​​​​​​Minimum Size​
​​​​Anglerfish​2​4​-​-
​​Bait species (combined, including anchovy, sardine, sprats, hardyheads)​50​100​-​-
​​Bait invertebrates (combined, including soldier crabs, marine worms and burrowing shrimp)
​​50​100​​-​-
Barracouta​15
​30​-​-​
​Boarfish (combined)
​2​4​-​45 cm
​Bream (in marine waters)5​​10​-​25 cm
​​Cod
​15​30​-​-
​​Flathead, Sand 
​10​30 (sand and tiger flathead combined)
​-​35 cm
​Flathead, Tiger
​20 (sand and tiger flathead combined, max. 10 sand flathead)
​30 (sand and tiger flathead combined)
​32 cm
​​Flathead, Bluespotted and Rock (combined)

​​5 (only 1 over 60cm)​10​-​40 cm
Flounder (combined)
​15​30​-​25 cm
​Garfish
​15​30​-​25 cm
Groper, Blue
​0​0​-​-
Gurnard and Ocean Perch (combined)
​15​30​-​-
​​Kingfish, Yellowtail
​5​10​-​45 cm
Leatherjacket (combined)​10​20​-​20 cm
Mackerel and Redbait (combined)
​30​60​-​-
​​Marlin​1​1​2​-
​​Morwong, Banded (season applies)
​2​4​-​Between 36-46 cm
​​Morwong, Other (combined)​
​10​20​-​25 cm
Mullet (combined)
​15​30​-​25 cm
​​Octopus (combined)
​​5​​10​​-​​-
​Pike, Longfin
​15​30​-​-
​Prawns
​50​100​-​-
​​Prowfish​2​4​-​-
​​Salmon, Atlantic (in marine waters)​​12​​24​-​-
​​Sea Urchins​​No limit​​No limit​​No limit​​No limit
​Shark - Elephantfish
​2​4​-​-
Shark - School and Gummy shark combined ​2​2​*see shark boat limit​​​75 cm whole or 45 cm headed & tailed
Shark, Mako and Blue​1​2​2​-
​Sharks, Skates and Rays - other, combined excluding elephantfish.
(No taking of skates and rays in Macquarie Harbour).
​2​4​*see shark boat limit​​​-
​*​Shark Boat Limit (all shark species combined).  All shark species - dorsal and pectoral fins must remain attached until landed. See the shark finning diagram.-​​-​5​-
Snapper​5​10​-​30 cm
​Snook
​5​10​-​-
​​Squid - Goulds​15​30​-​-
​​Squid - Southern Calamari​10​20​-​-
​Swordfish, Broadbill​1​1​2​-
Tailor​5​10​-​-
​​Trevalla, Blue-eye
​510​25​-
​​Trevally, Silver​10​20​-​20 cm
​​​Trout (in marine waters)​12​24​-​-
Trumpeter, Bastard​5​10​-​38 cm
Trumpeter, Striped (season applies)
Must be landed whole with head and tail attached or as fillets with frames.
​4​8​20​55 cm
Tuna (Bluefin, Yellowfin​, Bigeye)​2​2​​4 (only 2 over 1.5m)​-
Tuna, Albacore
​5​10​-​-
​Tuna, Skipjack
​10​20​-​-
​​Velvet Fish, Red​2​4​-​-
Warehou​10​20​-​25 cm
​​Whiting, King George​5​10​-​35 cm
Whiting, Other​15​30​-​-
Wrasse​5​10​-​30 cm
​Scalefish not listed above, other than protected species​5​10​-​-

Catch limits definitions

​The purpose of bag and possession limits is to leave enough mature fish so that species can continue to breed.

Daily Bag Limit​The maximum number or weight of a particular type of fish you as an individual fisher can take in any one day.
Possession Limit​The maximum number or weight of a particular type of fish you as an individual fisher can possess in a specified area in Tasmania. If no area is specified, it applies anywhere in Tasmania including in your home.
On Water Possession Limit​The maximum number of a particular type of fish you can possess whilst on the water.
Boat Limit​The maximum number or weight of a particular type of fish that can be possessed in one boat at any one time. Daily bag and possession limits apply.
Highgrading ​Highgrading your catch is not allowed.  You can't bring more than your daily bag limit back to the boat or shore and sort them there.  Fish are regarded as taken and in your possession as soon as collected or caught.

Cleaning and filleting fish at sea

You can clean and fillet fish at sea although special rules apply for striped trumpeter and shark - see above. For fish that have been filleted, two fillets are deemed to be the equivalent of one fish.


    Contact

    Recreational Fishing Enquiries
    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St
    Hobart TAS 7000
    Phone: 03 6165 3233, 1300 720 647
    Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Hotline

    Fishwatch Report illegal fishing

    0427 655 557

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    Contact us

    Recreational Fishing

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    Hobart TAS 7000

    Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

    Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries Licensing

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: fishing.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au