Blue swimmer crab (sand crab)
Blue swimmer crab in South East Queensland: males only, minimum 11.5 cm, 20 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: October to May.
Updated
Scientific name: Portunus armatus. Also called sand crab and blue swimmer.
| Scientific name | Portunus armatus |
|---|---|
| Other names | sand crab, blue swimmer |
| Who can be kept | Males only |
| Minimum size | 11.5 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 20 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Oct–May |
| Also in season | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Any time of day |
| Habitats | The open bay and passages; estuaries and creeks |
Blue swimmer crab size and bag limit in QLD
Males only. Min 11.5 cm (notch to notch in front of the big side spines). 20 per person. No shell-off or claws-only possession. No closed season.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch blue swimmer crab in South East Queensland
October 2026: Blue swimmer crab is in its peak season across South East Queensland.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: peak season | June: in season | July: off season | August: in season | September: in season | October: peak season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Tide: Many crabbers prefer the run-in.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noosa | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Sunshine Coast | Also caught | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Pumicestone Passage & Bribie | Main area | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Northern Moreton Bay | Main area | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Western Moreton Bay | Main area | Dec–May (local season) | Jun–Aug and Oct–Nov |
| Brisbane River | Also caught | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Southern Moreton Bay | Also caught | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Also caught | Oct–May | Jun and Aug–Sep |
| Gold Coast | Main area | Jan–May and Oct (local season) | Sep and Nov–Dec |
Not in our guide for Moreton Island, Offshore Sunshine Coast, Offshore Moreton and Offshore Gold Coast.
Around Scarborough and the Redcliffe Peninsula
Our local Redcliffe Peninsula notes come from local fishing columns and reports, and for blue swimmer crab they differ from the South East Queensland picture. Around Scarborough the best months are December to May, with June to August and October to November also worth a try.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarborough | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: peak season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: off season | October: in season | November: in season | December: peak season |
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: peak season | June: in season | July: off season | August: in season | September: in season | October: peak season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
Off Scarborough and Redcliffe, Deception and Bramble Bays, off Margate Beach and the eastern foreshores (boat); land-based from the Woody Point and Redcliffe jetties and the Ted Smout Bridge platforms. Males sit in deeper water and on the lower slopes of banks.
Spots in our local notes: Woody Point Jetty, Redcliffe Jetty, Ted Smout Bridge platforms.
Where to catch blue swimmer crab in SEQ
Sandy and muddy bottom in Moreton Bay (Deception and Bramble bays, off Redcliffe and Margate, Brisbane River mouth, southern bay), Pumicestone Passage, the Gold Coast Broadwater (one of the most reliable spots), Jumpinpin, and the lower Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate blue swimmer crab: Maroochy, Mooloolaba & Coolum, Caloundra & northern Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island & southern Pumicestone Passage, Redcliffe Peninsula & Deception Bay, Bramble Bay, Pine River & Sandgate, Brisbane River, Central bay & Moreton Island west, Wynnum, Manly & Wellington Point, Cleveland, Peel & Straddie west, Victoria Point, Redland Bay & bay islands, Jumpinpin, Jacobs Well & Pimpama, Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway & Nerang River, Burleigh to Point Danger, Ocean side of Straddie & Moreton.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Bulcock Beach (Pumicestone Passage mouth) | Caloundra and northern Pumicestone Passage | Brisbane Bar |
| Bongaree Jetty | Bribie Island and southern Pumicestone Passage | Bongaree |
| Woody Point Jetty | Redcliffe Peninsula and Deception Bay | Scarborough |
| Shorncliffe Pier | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Shorncliffe |
| Tangalooma Point | Central bay and Moreton Island west | Tangalooma |
| Gold Coast Seaway – south wall (The Spit) | Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway and Nerang River | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Burleigh Head | Burleigh to Point Danger | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Cotton Tree – Maroochy River mouth | Maroochy, Mooloolaba and Coolum | Mooloolaba |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits blue swimmer crab (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch blue swimmer crab: best bait and gear
- Mullet (the most popular bait in a Moreton Bay survey)
- Fish frames
Blue swimmer crab gear
Pots or dillies (max 4 per person, tagged and floated). Sort pot by pot and release females before moving on.
Good to know about blue swimmer crab
Deeper water gives better-quality crabs; females favour the tops of banks. July-August is the quiet time. Coastwatch mentions also show a strong Oct-Nov spring signal in the bay and Jan-May on the Gold Coast. Exempt from the white spot movement rules.
Open in the forecast
See blue swimmer crab in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Queensland Government: how to measure your catch
- Business Queensland: white spot disease movement restrictions (last updated 11 Jun 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
- Catch Signal’s own Redcliffe Peninsula notes (from local fishing columns and reports)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.