Fishing and boating guidelines

Use the below information to guide your responsible fishing practices.

Take only what you need

It is important to protect our fish stocks by not overfishing. Taking only the catch that you need leaves more fish in the water to breed and increase the population.

You should release any fish that you don't intend to consume or use as bait. Learn how to correctly:

• handle your catch
• release fish back to the water.

These skills increase the fish's chance of survival, especially if it is affected by barotrauma.

Practise safe boating and anchoring

You are responsible the safety of your passengers and yourself while boating. Prepare for your fishing trip as follows:

1. Make sure the vessel and conditions are suitable for your trip.
2. Check that the necessary safety equipment is onboard, and all regulatory requirements are met.
3. Learn what to do in case of an emergency.

Find out about shark safety precautions you can take while fishing.

Avoid environmental damage

You need to be considerate of the aquatic environment by:

• staying vigilant while boating so you don’t hurt wildlife
• not disturbing wildlife by making excessive noise or harassing them while boating
• refuelling on land – do not discharge wastes, oils, or sewerage into the water
• following boat speed limits to minimise riverbank erosion and wave action
• taking care when anchoring, particularly over sensitive areas
• not modifying or moving anything when diving.

Find out more about boating and marine safety.

Follow fishing rules

Learn the South Australian recreational fishing rules and regulations that manage the fishing community. Before going fishing, make sure you know the:

• catch limits for each fished species
• restrictions for protected species, including sharks
• areas and species closed to fishing which may be permanent, seasonal or temporary
• permitting fishing gear in different areas
• guidelines for using bait and berley
• laws against releasing aquatic pests and selling your catch
• permits needed for reservoir fishing.

You must adhere to these rules to avoid significant fines.