Catch Signal

South East Queensland fishing species guide

What to catch from Noosa to the Gold Coast, and when: seasons, where to fish, baits, rigs and the Queensland size and bag limits for 39 fish, crabs, prawns and squid. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026.

Updated

In season in October 2026

At their peak: dusky flathead, summer whiting, snapper, school mackerel, mangrove jack, blue swimmer crab, javelin / grunter, cobia, flounder, pearl perch, teraglin, tuskfish, Moses perch, yellowtail kingfish, amberjack and samsonfish, yellowfin tuna, Australian bonito.

Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, grass sweetlip, longtail tuna, mac tuna, estuary cod, mud crab, trevally, mulloway, swallowtail dart, tarwhine, luderick, mahi mahi, wahoo, spanner crab, king threadfin.

Seasons are South East Queensland-wide; the area tables on each guide show where a species runs earlier or later, and months that include a closed day are never counted as in season.

For the month's outlook, with the closed seasons that start or end soon and how to fish each species at its peak, see what's biting.

Species guides

Species photos are used under Creative Commons or public-domain terms; see photo credits for each photographer and licence.

Season calendar

Season by month, South East Queensland
SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Yellowfin breamSSSSPPPPSSSS
Dusky flatheadSSSSSSSPPPPS
Summer whitingPSSSSSSSPPPP
Diver whiting–––SPPPPS–––
SnapperSSSSPPCCPPSS
Tailor––SSPPPPPSSS
Grass sweetlipPPPPSSSSSSPP
Tiger squid–––SPPPPS–––
School mackerelSSSPPPSSSPPS
Spotted mackerelPPPSS–––––SP
Longtail tuna–SPPPPPSSSS–
Mac tuna–––SSPPPSSS–
Mangrove jackPPPS––––SPPP
Estuary codPPPSS–––SSPP
Mud crabPPPPSS–––SPP
Blue swimmer crabPPPPPS–SSPPP
Banana prawnsSPPPSSS–––––
TrevallyPPPPSSSSSSPP
Javelin / grunterPPPPS–––SPPP
MullowaySSSSPPPPPSSS
CobiaPSSSSSSSPPPP
Swallowtail dartPPPPPPSSSSPP
TarwhineSSSPPPPPSSS–
Luderick–––SPPPPSS––
FlounderS––SSPPPPPS–
Pearl perchPSSSSSCCPPPP
TeraglinSS–SSSPSPPPP
TuskfishSSSSSPPPPPPS
Moses perchSSSSSSPPPPPP
Spanish mackerelPCCPPSSS––SP
Mahi mahiPPSS––––SSPP
WahooPPPPS––––SSP
Yellowtail kingfish––––SSPPPPPS
Amberjack and samsonfishSSSSSSPPPPPS
Yellowfin tuna––PPPS–SPPS–
Australian bonito––––SPPPPPS–
MarlinPPSSS–––––SP
Spanner crab–––SSPPPPSCC
King threadfinPPPPPPPSSSSS
  • peak season
  • in season
  • off season
  • closed season for at least part of the month

Months come from the sources listed on each guide: fisheries publications, local newspaper columns and Coastwatch report mentions (not catch numbers); fish don’t read calendars.

Size and bag limits

Each guide starts with the Queensland size and possession limits for that species, checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages for size and possession limits and closed seasons. Closed seasons in South East Queensland: snapper and pearl perch (15 July to 15 August); Spanish mackerel (1 February to 21 February and 1 March to 21 March); spanner crab (1 November to 15 December). All QLD fishing rules

The limits on this page and in each guide are short, dated summaries: the official rules win, so check qld.gov.au or the Qld Fishing 2.0 app before you keep a fish.

Photos are credited on each guide and on the photo credits page.