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Catch Limits and Closed Seasons - Marine and Estuarine Scale Fish

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Commercial quantity limits for priority species

Abalone, Murray cod, Southern bluefin tuna and rock lobster have been regulated as priority species. There is an 'absolute' state-wide possession limit, regardless of if you are at home or in, on or next to Victorian waters. Serious penalties apply for offences committed in relation to possessing commercial quantities of these species.

The commercial quantity limit for southern bluefin tuna is 3 fish or more in carcass form or in excess of 160 kg in any other form. A person in possession of any more than 2 southern bluefin tuna can be charged with possession of a commercial quantity of a priority species (Section 111C(1) Fisheries Act) which attracts serious penalties.

The commercial quantity limit for Murray cod is 3 times the catch limit in carcass form or 30 kg in any other form.

Scale fish

Measuring your catch

Scale fish: The legal size of fish must be checked at the first available opportunity. Undersize fish must be released immediately. Measure fish from tip of snout with mouth closed, to tip of tail.

See carcass definition.

For each species of fish not listed a bag/possession limit of 5 applies.

A-E
	Albacore and skipjack tuna Scientific name: Thunnus alalunga and Katsuwonus pelamis Catch Limits	Anchovy, sardine (pilchard) and sprat Scientific name: Clupeidae / Engraulidae Catch Limits
	Australian herring (Tommy rough) Scientific name: Arripis georgianus Catch Limits	Australian salmon Scientific name: Arripis spp. Catch Limits
	Barracouta Scientific name: Thyrsites atun Catch Limits	Boarfish (all species) Scientific name: Pentacerotidae Catch Limits
	Blue Groper Scientific name: Achoerodus viridis and Achoerodus gouldii Catch Limits	Bream (all species) Scientific name: Acanthopagrus spp. Catch Limits
	Estuary perch Scientific name: Macquaria colonorum Catch Limits
F-L
	Flathead (all species except dusky flathead) Scientific name: Platycephalidae Catch Limits	Dusky flathead Scientific name: Platycephalus fuscus Catch Limits
	Flounder (all species) Catch Limits	Garfish (all species) Scientific name: Hemiramphidae Catch Limits
	Gurnard (all species) Scientific name: Triglidae Catch Limits	King George whiting Scientific name: Sillaginodes punctata Catch Limits
	Leatherjacket (all species) Scientific name: Monacanthidae Catch Limits	Ling (all species) Scientific name: Genypterus spp. Catch Limits
	Longfin pike and snook Scientific name: Dinolestes lewini and Sphyraena novaehollandiae Catch Limits	Luderick Scientific name: Girella tricuspidata Catch Limits
M-S
	Mackerel Scientific name: Trachurus declivis and Scomber australasicus Catch Limits	Marlin (all species) Scientific name: Istiophoridae Catch Limits
	Morwong (all species) Scientific name: Cheilodactylidae Catch Limits	Mullet (all species) Scientific name: Mugilidae Catch Limits
	Mulloway Scientific name: Argyrosomus japonicus Catch Limits	Seahorses, seadragons and pipefish Scientific name: Syngnathidae Catch Limits
	Silver trevally Scientific names: Pseudocaranx spp. Catch Limits	Snapper Scientific name: Pagrus auratus Catch Limits
	Southern rock cod (rock cod all species) Scientific name: Lotella & Pseudophycis spp. Catch Limits	Sweep (all species) Scientific name: Scorpidadae Catch Limits
	Swordfish Scientific name: Xiphias gladius Catch Limits
T-Z
	Tailor (skipjack) Scientific name: Pomatomus saltatrix Catch Limits	Tuna (southern bluefin, yellowfin and big eye) Scientific name: Thunnus spp. Catch Limits
	Warehou (haddock) Scientific name: Seriolella spp. Catch Limits	Whiting (other than King George) Scientific name: Sillaginidae/Odacidae Catch Limits
	Wrasse (parrot fish) (all species except bluethroat wrasse) Scientific name: Labridae Catch Limits	Bluethroat wrasse Scientific name: Notolabrus tetricus Catch Limits
	Yellowtail kingfish Scientific name: Seriola lalandi Catch Limits	Yellowtail scad Scientific name: Trachurus novaezelandiae Catch Limits

Department of Primary Industries

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Catch Limits and Closed Seasons - Marine and Estuarine Scale Fish

Commercial quantity limits for priority species

Measuring your catch