Fishing closures

Within the inner waterways of the Port Adelaide River system, southeast of a line from Pelican Point to the southern breakwater at St Kilda, it is not permitted to:

• use a fishing line (hand line or rod) within 50 metres of a visible dolphin
• use hooks with a shank length greater than 56 mm and a gape greater than 23 mm.

View the map of the impacted area (PNG 427.4 KB).

Areas of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are located within the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve where additional restrictions apply – see gear restricted areas.

Temporary closure: 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022

You cannot fish anywhere in the 5-hectare shellfish reef fishing closure site (PDF 287.6 KB or PNG 375.0 KB) during the closure period. This includes:

• line fishing
• crab netting
• spearfishing.

You must also not collect or remove any bottom dwelling organism from this area including:

• oysters
• seaweed
• crabs
• any type of shellfish.

This temporary closure protects the reef’s natural ecosystem while it is being established and allows marine life to settle.

No entry: 1 May 2022 to 31 October

This is a seasonal mammal protection zone. Vessels cannot enter the area during the closure time.

Find more access and use information via Australian Marine Parks.

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish in the area within 25 metres of any part of Horseshoe Reef that becomes exposed at low tide.

Horseshoe reef is located nearby Christies Beach. (35°8′14.6″ South, 138°27′49.1″ East).

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish or take anything from a national park zone including:

• marine animals
• plants
• seagrass
• shells.

Find more national marine park access and use information via Australian Marine Parks.

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish within 150 m of all locks and weirs in the River Murray.

South Australian marine parks are divided into zones. Permanent, temporary and seasonal closures apply within these different areas.

You must not fish or take anything from sanctuary zones, including:

• marine animals
• plants
• seagrass
• shells.

You must not enter any restricted access zones.

Find marine park zone information, maps, and coordinates via National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia.

Permanent fishing closure

You must not fish in the waters off the coast of Wirrina Cove (Fleurieu Reef).

It is bounded by a circle radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile around the point:

• latitude 35°28.9’S
• longitude 138°09.5’E.

Closure of Southern Zone abalone fishery

Due to the spread of AVG and depleted abalone stocks, from 5 pm on Thursday 6 March 2025, the take of any abalone (commercial or recreational) is prohibited from the River Murray Mouth to the Victorian Border – see map of the area prohibited to the take of abalone.

Commercial and recreational fishers cannot move equipment that has come into contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone – waters adjacent to South Australia east of the meridian of longitude 139° East – to other waters without full decontamination.

See Abalone viral ganglioneuritis for more information.

Intertidal reefs

Aquatic reserves

You must not take abalone from any aquatic reserve in South Australia.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Blacklip and Greenlip Abalone in permitted areas.

Bait

You cannot use abalone for bait or berley in South Australian waters.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking bivalve shellfish in permitted areas.

Discover the fishing limits for bivalve species in the fishing limits search.

Seasonal closure: 1 August 2024 to 31 January 2025 (inclusive)

Fishing and possession of Black Bream is not permitted in the Lakes and Coorong during the closure period.

This temporary closure is to protect the spawning aggregation of Black Bream.

There is an additional closure for all netting within 300 m of barrages located in the Coorong (Area 1) – see the map of the barrages in Coorong (PDF 618.4 KB)

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking bream in permitted areas.

Annual closure: 1 September to 30 November (inclusive)

You cannot fish for bream in the Onkaparinga River upstream of the Main South Road Bridge at Noarlunga during closure times.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking bream in permitted areas.

Permanent Cephalopod Exclusion Zone

You must not target or take cephalopods from False Bay, Spencer Gulf, within the waters north of:

• the lighthouse at Point Lowly to the southern end of the Point Bonython jetty
• south-west to the eastern most point of the BHP Jetty:
  • latitude 33°02’12.63”S
  • longitude 137°36’1.98”E
• then following a high water mark at the base of the jetty along the shoreline back to the Point Lowly lighthouse.

Permanent cuttlefish fishing closure

Following a temporary closure in 2022–23, from 1 May 2023 a permanent cuttlefish fishing closure is in place in the waters of Upper Spencer Gulf.

You must not target or take any cuttlefish species in the waters north of a line from:

• the Mean High Water Springs closest to 33°55’39.892”S 136°34’20.163”E (near Arno Bay), to
• the Mean High Water Springs closest to 33°55’39.896”S 137°37’14.557”E (Wallaroo Jetty).

Closure map

View the map of cephalopod fishing closure area (PDF 477.9 KB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking cephalopods in permitted areas.

Discover the fishing limits cephalopods species in the fishing limits search.

All bottom dwelling organisms

Permanent closure

You must not take Murray Cod at any time within:

• River Murray proper
• Lake Albert
• Lake Alexandrina.

This excludes the waters of the Coorong.

Catch and release only from 1 January to 31 July

You can catch and release Murray Cod between 1 January to 31 July each year in:

• River Murray proper, excluding the Chowilla floodplain north of the River Murray between 34°9'46.65" South, 140°45'30.41" East (Ral Ral Creek) upstream to the River Murray at 34°1'14.55" South, 141°0’9.72" East (South Australia and New South Wales border) – see Murray cod closure map (PDF 280.0 KB)
• Lake Albert
• Lake Alexandrina, excluding the waters of the Coorong.

Catch and release of Murray Cod is permitted all year round when reservoir fishing.

See the safe catching and handling practices as well as how to release your catch.

Intertidal reefs

This closure is in place to reduce the risk of spreading the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) virus.

The Younghusband Peninsula (Coorong Beach)

Permanent closures

The Younghusband Peninsula (Coorong Beach) is a commercial fishing zone only.

You must not take Pipi in this area between Murray Mouth and 28 Mile Crossing.

Statewide

Annual seasonal closure from 1 June to 31 October.

You must not take Pipis from any area or waters within South Australia during this closure period.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Pipis in permitted areas.

Permanent species closure

You must not take prawns at any time from any South Australian waters less than 10 m deep.

Upper Spencer Gulf

Seasonal closure from 1 October to last day of February inclusive (the following year)

You must not take Razorfish from Upper Spencer Gulf between Commissariat Point and Blanche Harbour during the closure period.

View the closure area on the Upper Spencer Gulf map (PDF 1.0 MB).

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking razorfish in permitted areas.

Moving rock lobster pots

Commercial and recreational fishers cannot move equipment that has come into contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone – waters adjacent to South Australia east of the meridian of longitude 139° East and shallower than 30 metres – to other waters without full decontamination. See Abalone viral ganglioneuritis for requirements.

Northern zone seasonal closure

From 6:00 pm 31 May to 12 noon 1 November

You must not take rock lobster from the northern zone. This area extends from west from longitude 139°0’4.80” to the Western Australian border.

View the northern zone closure area on the map (JPG 162.2 KB).

Southern zone seasonal closure

From 6:00 pm 31 May to 6:00 am 1 October

You must not take rock lobster from the southern zone. This area extends from east from longitude 139°0’4.80” to the Victorian border.

View the southern zone closure area on the map (JPG 162.2 KB).

Permanent species closure

Rock lobsters are completely protected at all times within rock lobster sanctuaries.

A maximum penalty of $35,000 applies to taking rock lobster within these protected areas.

Cape Jaffa Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.4 MB)

View the sanctuary boundary points in Google Maps.

Margaret Brock Reef Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.4 MB)

View the sanctuary boundaries in Google Maps.

Gleeson's Landing

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.3 MB)

View the sanctuary boundaries in Google Maps.

Rivoli Bay Rock Lobster Sanctuary

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map. (PDF 1.3 MB)

Port McDonnell Breakwater

Learn more about the sanctuary and view on the map (PDF 1.1 MB)

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking rock lobster in permitted areas.

West Coast / Spencer Gulf / Gulf St Vincent

Total species closure until 30 June 2026

Snapper fishing closures are in place to help Snapper stocks recover.

The targeting, take and possession of snapper is prohibited in closed waters.

You must not transit through a Snapper closure area if you have legally caught Snapper on board. This means it is prohibited to bring Snapper back to any boat ramp in a closed area, such as Cape Jervis, Wirrina and Penneshaw.

Fines and penalties may apply.

Closures

View the Snapper closure area on the map (PDF 440.7 KB).

Fishing limits

Find out the daily fishing limits for Snapper in South East waters.

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Vongole in permitted areas.

Permanent closure

You cannot fish for Western Blue Groper at any time in:

• Spencer Gulf
• Gulf St Vincent
• Investigator Straight
• Backstairs Passage.

This includes all waters north from a line from:

• Newland Head to Cape Willoughby
• West Bay to Cape Carnot on southern Eyre Peninsula.

View the Blue Groper closure area on the map (PDF 632.8 KB)

Fishing limits

Daily fishing limits apply to taking Western Blue Groper in permitted areas.

Within the inner waterways of the Port Adelaide River system, southeast of a line from Pelican Point to the southern breakwater at St Kilda, it is not permitted to:

• use a fishing line (hand line or rod) within 50 metres of a visible dolphin
• use hooks with a shank length greater than 56 mm and a gape greater than 23 mm.

View the map of the impacted area (PNG 427.4 KB).

Areas of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are located within the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve where additional restrictions apply – see gear restricted areas.

Line fishing only

You can only use the below fishing gear in the reserve:

• fish using a rod and line or handline
• collect bloodworms using a hand net.

You are strictly prohibited from:

• collecting or removing any marine organism other than a fish
• crabbing or using a crab net.

You must not use any other fishing gear. A maximum penalty of $20,000 applies.

Closure area

View the closure area on the map (PDF 2.0 MB).

Areas of the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve are located within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary where additional restrictions apply – see Gear restricted areas.

Line fishing only

Inside the reserve you are restricted to only:

• fish using a rod and line or handline
• collect bait from the shore.

Learn more about permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 1.2 MB).

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

Mesh net use restrictions

You can only use mesh nets with an existing registration in the Coorong. New registrations are no longer available for mesh net use in:

• the Coorong
• Lake Albert
• Lake Alexandrina.

You can apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George only.

Mesh net closures

There are restrictions on the use of mesh nets in some areas of the Coorong.

The waters of the Coorong are divided into Area 1 and Area 2 – see the Lakes and Coorong recreational fishing mesh net areas map (PDF 618.4 KB).

Area 1

Seasonal closure: 1 November to 31 March inclusive – you cannot use a mesh net between the closure dates each year.

All netting within 300 m of barrages located in the Coorong Area 1 is not permitted for Black Bream fishing.

Area 2

Mesh net use permitted – you can use a registered mesh net in Area 2 at all times of the year.

Goolwa channel

You cannot use a mesh net from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday, between Goolwa barrage and the Goolwa channel.

The Goolwa channel extends from:

• A.G.A. light on Mundoo Island across to Hindmarsh Island
• upstream to the south east corner of Allotment 109, section 601 Hundred of Nangkita
• across the Murray Mouth to Younghusband Peninsula then back to the A.G.A. light.

Permanent closures

You cannot use a mesh net within:

• 150 m of all barrages
• 100 m of any jetty, pier or wharf.

Mesh net use restrictions

You must register mesh nets before use.

Apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George.

Mesh net closures

You cannot use mesh nets in the Lake George closure areas:

• the Lake George Southern Lagoon
• the drainage channel connecting Lake George to Tivoli Bay
• any other waters that feed into Lake George.

Permitted gear

You are allowed to:

• line fish in the closure area
• use registered mesh nets in the open waters in Lake George.

Permanent closures

You cannot use mesh nets within:

• 100 m of any jetty, pier or wharf
• 150 m of all barrages.

Mesh net use restrictions

You can only use mesh nets with an existing registration.

New registrations are no longer available for mesh net use in:

• the Coorong
• Lake Albert
• Lake Alexandrina.

You can apply to register or renew registration for mesh net use in Lake George only.

Daily fishing gear restrictions

Daily restrictions apply from 5 am to 9 pm from the southernmost breakwater at Outer Harbor to Lady Bay Shacks, south of Normanville, from Mean High Water Springs to a distance of 500 metres seaward.

During these times you cannot use:

• any wire trace
• a monofilament trace exceeding 1 mm in diameter
• hooks with a length greater than 56 mm or a gape greater than 23 mm
• combination or gang of hooks joined by threading the point of one through the eye of another.

View the restriction area on the map (PDF 206.5 KB).

Statewide restrictions on hook size and trace size

At all other times and anywhere in South Australia you cannot use the following gear together:

• wire trace with a gauge of 2 mm or greater
• fishing hooks of size 12/0 or greater.

Find out more about fishing for sharks and rays.

Line fishing and hand nets only

You can fish for:

• fish using a handline or rod and line
• shrimp using a hand net.

No other fishing gear is permitted in these waters.

Line fishing only

You can fish using a handline or rod and line.

You cannot use any other fishing gear in these waters.

Shore-based line fishing closures

Restrictions apply to shore based line fishing in the Far West Coast at different times of the year.

For more Far West Coast marine park information visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website

Commercial and recreational fishers cannot move equipment that has come into contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone – waters adjacent to South Australia east of the meridian of longitude 139° East and shallower than 30 metres – to other waters without full decontamination. See Abalone viral ganglioneuritis for requirements.

Diving equipment includes: wetsuits, fins, masks, weight vests and belts, hookah gear and diving accessories including but not limited to knives, bags and nets.

Fishing equipment includes but is not limited to: rods, reels, lines, hooks, sinkers, lures, jigs, bins, baskets, buckets, nets, pots, bags, spearguns and knives.

You must not fish using a hand fish spear or spear gun in the areas below.

Statewide

You cannot spearfish within 100 m of all:

• jetties
• landings
• wharves including the adjacent foreshore areas.

Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths

You cannot spearfish within 200 m of the Hindmarsh and Inman River mouths.

Gulf St Vincent

You cannot spearfish 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 the closure area on the map (PDF 249.1 KB).

Second Valley

You cannot spearfish in the waters of Second Valley Bay (PDF 185.1 KB) (PDF 185.1 KB).

Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone

You cannot spearfish in the Port Noarlunga Sanctuary Zone. This area was formerly known as the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve.

Line fishing and crab fishing restrictions

Fishing gear restrictions apply inside the St Kilda - Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserve.

You can:

• only take blue swimmer crabs by hand, crab rake or hoop net
• land-based line fishing on the the northern side of the breakwater.

The following is not permitted:

• bait digging
• fishing (other than land-based line fish from the breakwater)
• collecting or removing any marine organism (other than blue swimmer crabs).

Penalties apply to prohibited activities.

Learn more about permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 1.9 MB)

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

Line fishing only

You can only fish the Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve using rod and line or handline.

You cannot use any other fishing devices or gear in this area.

Learn more about the permitted activities and view the reserve map (PDF 958.0 KB).

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.

Line fishing only

You can only fish in the West Island Aquatic Reserve Area 1 using a rod and line or handline.

You cannot use Rock Lobster pots or any other fishing gear in this area.

There is strictly no entry in Area 2 of the reserve.

Learn more about permitted activities and view Areas 1 and 2 on the reserve map. (PDF 1.2 MB)

View the aquatic reserve boundaries in Google Maps.