Hand fish spear/ spear gun / powerheads

Description

You can use hand fish spears or spear guns in most South Australian waters.

You do not need to register hand fish spears or spear guns. Restrictions apply in some areas.

Fish spear or hand spear restrictions

Fishing restrictions

Fishing with a hand fish spear or spear gun is not permitted:

• Within 200 m of the Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths.
• In the Gulf St Vincent within 600 m of the high water mark from:
  • 100 m immediately south of the southernmost Outer Harbor breakwater to the southernmost point of the southern car park of Kingston Coastal Reserve
  • the southernmost point of the Balboa Drive Carpark, Hallett Cove to Witton Bluff
    View areas on the map (PDF 249.1 KB)
• Within 100 m of:
  • jetties
  • landings
  • wharves including the adjacent foreshore areas.
• In the waters of Second Valley Bay (PDF 185.1 KB).
• In the Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone (formerly known as the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve).

You can carry a fish spear or unloaded spear in the above waters, but only if you are transporting it across the area.

Carry and use restrictions

Carrying and/or using a hand fish spear or a spear gun is not permitted in:

• the River Murray and all other South Australian freshwater rivers and streams, including the land up to 100 m from them
• all aquatic reserves
• all waters of the West Lakes system and the foreshore areas (including reserves for public use) adjacent to those waters.

You are not allowed to carry or use any form of fish spear (including spear guns) while using underwater breathing apparatus, such as hookah or SCUBA.

It is an offence to take, or attempt to take, Rock Lobster with a spear gun or any other pointed instrument.

Powerhead and explosive device restrictions

• A diver is not allowed to carry:
  • a hand spear
  • spear gun
  • device that operates by means of an explosive cartridge.
• You can carry powerheads but must not use them for fishing purposes.
• Powerheads are for protection only, and you must not attach them to a spear.
• Divers can only carry a device that uses an explosive cartridge if:
  • it is not attached to a hand fish spear or spear gun
  • you are carrying the device for protection only.
• You must leave any fish injured or killed with the device in the water.