Australian bonito (and leaping bonito)
Australian bonito in South East Queensland: no size limit, 20 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: June to October.
Updated
Pictured: Australian bonito, Sarda australis. Names this guide covers: bonito, bonnies and striped bonito.
| Species pictured | Australian bonito (Sarda australis) |
|---|---|
| Names covered | bonito, bonnies, striped bonito |
| Minimum size | None |
| Bag (possession) limit | 20 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Jun–Oct |
| Also in season | May and Nov |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Dawn and dusk |
| Habitats | The open bay and passages; offshore reefs; rocks, walls and bar entrances |
Australian bonito size and bag limit in QLD
Not listed on the tidal limits page: no size limit, general possession limit of 20.
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 Australian bonito in South East Queensland
October 2026: Australian bonito 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: off season | February: off season | March: off season | April: off season | May: in season | June: peak season | July: peak season | August: peak season | September: peak season | October: peak season | November: in season | December: off season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Time of day: Mornings when surface schools show.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumicestone Passage & Bribie | Also caught | Jun–Oct | May and Nov |
| Western Moreton Bay | Also caught | Jun–Oct | May and Nov |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Gold Coast | Also caught | Jun–Oct | May and Nov |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Northern Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Offshore Sunshine Coast, Offshore Moreton and Offshore Gold Coast.
Where to catch Australian bonito in SEQ
Bait schools in Bramble Bay and off the Redcliffe foreshores, the Caloundra reefs, the Gold Coast Seaway and close reefs.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate Australian bonito: Caloundra & northern Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island & southern Pumicestone Passage, Bramble Bay, Pine River & Sandgate, Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway & Nerang River, Burleigh to Point Danger.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Caloundra Head | Caloundra and northern Pumicestone Passage | Mooloolaba |
| Skirmish Point | Bribie Island and southern Pumicestone Passage | Woorim |
| Shorncliffe Pier | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Shorncliffe |
| 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 |
| Cabbage Tree Creek mouth (Cabbage Tree Head) | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Brisbane Bar |
| Gold Coast Seaway – north wall (South Stradbroke) | Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway and Nerang River | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Tallebudgera Creek training wall | Burleigh to Point Danger | Gold Coast Seaway |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits Australian bonito (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 Australian bonito: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Pilchards
Lures
- Small metal slugs and spinners
Australian bonito rig
Light spin, 15-20 lb leader.
Good to know about Australian bonito
Mostly valued as trolling and cut bait for Spanish mackerel, mulloway and crabs. Sparse reports (mostly Jun-Oct).
Open in the forecast
See Australian bonito 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 fish species guide (entries updated Mar-May 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
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.