Fishing limits

  • Size limit: Maximum size limit of 80 cm total length
  • Bag limit: A combined limit of 2 per day for the below shark and ray species.
  • Daily boat limit when 3 or more people are fishing on board: 6 (combined)

Species with combined daily fishing limits

Learn about the rules and handling guidelines for fishing for sharks and rays.


Identification

Southern Fiddler Rays have:

  • a slightly pointed snout
  • an oval-like disc shaped body
  • a white to cream underside
  • small, reduced bony spines on the dorsal side of tail that are not harmful (no poisonous barbs)
  • 2 dorsal fins on tail, similar in size to upper lobe of tail.

They have 2 colour morphs:

  • mustard yellow to brown colouration with a combination of creamy white stripes and spots
  • a rarer morph of blue-black to chocolate-brown with irregular white stripes or spots (formerly known as Magpie Fiddler).

Southern Fiddler Rays are born at 25 cm and grow to at least 1.5 m in length.


Habitat

This species lives in patchy seagrass, sand, and shallow reef habitats.

They can be found in shallow intertidal areas up to 200 m depths in:

  • both South Australian gulfs
  • saline rivers
  • mangrove habitats
  • continental shelf waters.