King George Whiting closure lifted for recreational fishers

Recreational fishers will be able to catch King George Whiting in all South Australian waters these school holidays following changes to the species' spatial closure period.

The King George Whiting closure amendment was introduced to support the recovery of the species from the algal bloom.

The King George Whiting spawning spatial closure, covering southern Gulf St Vincent, Investigator Strait and parts of eastern and southern Spencer Gulf and Yorke Peninsula, was introduced on 1 May under the Algal Bloom Fish Recovery Program to protect fish during their spawning period.

Originally due to end on 31 July, the closure has been brought forward following industry feedback and updated advice from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), which indicates that a closure from 1 March to 30 June better aligns with the peak reproductive and spawning period.

From 2027, the King George Whiting spawning spatial closure for commercial, recreational and charter fishers will apply from 1 March to 30 June.

Recreational fishing for King George Whiting can now resume within the closure area, subject to existing bag and boat limits:

• Spencer Gulf: 10 fish daily bag limit, 30 fish daily boat limit (three or more people on board).
• Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island: 5 fish daily bag limit, 15 fish daily boat limit.

A closure on the commercial take of marine scalefish species, including King George Whiting, remains in the Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island Fishing Zone until 30 April 2027. Commercial fishing for King George Whiting continues in Spencer Gulf.

The temporary closure on the commercial take of bloodworms, beachworms and tubeworms in the Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island Fishing Zone will remain in place until 30 April 2027 following SARDI advice that stocks may still be recovering from the algal bloom. This closure does not impact the recreational fishing sector, where 50 per cent bag and boat limits remain for these species.

For more information, visit algal bloom or see updated recreational fishing limits on the PIRSA website or on the free SA Fishing app.