Fishing limits
- Minimum legal length within per the Rock Lobster fishing areas (
):
- Northern zone: 10.5 cm
- Southern zone: 9.85 cm
Measurements are taken along the middle and on the top of the carapace (the main body shell), from the front edge of the groove between the antennae (frontal tubercule) to the rear edge of the carapace. This does not include any hairs attached to the carapace. The measuring device must fit firmly into the groove between the antennae.
| Fishing zone | Daily bag limit | Daily boat limit |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer Gulf | 4 | 8 |
| Gulf St Vincent and Kangaroo Island | 4 | 8 |
| All other waters | 4 | 8 |
Restrictions
Females with external eggs are totally protected and must be returned to the water immediately if caught.
Fishing rules
Before being brought ashore or landed, all Rock Lobster (of any species) caught by recreational fishers must have either:
- the middle tail fan clipped in half horizontally
- a round hole of no less than 10 mm in diameter punched in the distal end of the middle tail fan.
Failure to clip the tail fan or punch a round hole in the middle tail fan may result in prosecution.
Rock Lobster pots must:
- meet the fishing gear regulations
- be registered before use and renewed each year.
From 1 October 2026, everyone on board a recreational vessel must wear a level 100 or higher lifejacket when:
- handling Southern Rock Lobster (crayfish) traps or pots
- lifting or hauling crayfish traps or pots
- carrying crayfish traps or pots onboard a vessel.
The requirement applies to all people on recreational vessels engaged in crayfishing, regardless of vessel length, age, experience or swimming ability. For more infomation please read lifejacket requirement for recreational crayfishing.
Closures
See Fishing closures for more information.
Northern zone
You must not take Rock Lobster from the northern zone, from 6 pm on 31 May to 12 noon on 1 November.
This area extends west from longitude 139°0'4.80" to the Western Australian border.
Southern zone
You must not take Rock Lobster from the southern zone, from 6 pm on 31 May to 6 am on 1 October.
This area extends east from longitude 139°0'4.80" to the Victorian border.
More information
Southern Rock Lobster – Southern Australian Recreational Fishing Guide ( )