Javelin / grunter
Barred javelin in South East Queensland: minimum 40 cm, 10 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: October to April.
Updated
Pictured: barred javelin, Pomadasys kaakan. Names this guide covers: grunter, grunter bream, barred javelin, silver javelin and spotted grunter.
| Species pictured | Barred javelin (Pomadasys kaakan) |
|---|---|
| Names covered | grunter, grunter bream, barred javelin, silver javelin, spotted grunter |
| Limits shown for | Barred javelin |
| Minimum size | 40 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 10 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Oct–Apr |
| Also in season | May and Sep |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Any time of day |
| Habitats | Estuaries and creeks; the open bay and passages |
Javelin / grunter size and bag limit in QLD
Barred javelin ("spotted grunter"): min 40 cm (or 26 cm fillet with skin on), 10. Silver javelin ("small spotted grunter"): min 30 cm, 10. Identify carefully.
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 javelin / grunter in South East Queensland
October 2026: Javelin / grunter 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: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off 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
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain and runoff help.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noosa | Main area | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Sunshine Coast | Also caught | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Pumicestone Passage & Bribie | Main area | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Northern Moreton Bay | Main area | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Western Moreton Bay | Main area | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Brisbane River | Also caught | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Also caught | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
| Gold Coast | Also caught | Oct–Apr | May and Sep |
Not in our guide for Southern Moreton Bay, 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 javelin / grunter they differ from the South East Queensland picture. Around Scarborough the best months are October to March, with April, May and September 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: in season | May: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: in season | October: peak season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: in season | October: peak season | November: peak season | December: peak season |
Barred javelin on the inshore reefs around Redcliffe and Scarborough Reef; the silver ("spotted") javelin in estuaries and at canal mouths; also off the eastern beaches and jetties.
Spots in our local notes: Reef Point / North Reef, Redcliffe Jetty, Scarborough Beach.
Where to catch javelin / grunter in SEQ
Moreton Bay inshore reefs and canal mouths (Redcliffe, Scarborough), the Pine and Caboolture river mouths, Pumicestone Passage (Ningi Creek mouth, Turners Camp), Noosa River (Harbourtown marina, Woods Bay), the Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers, and the Brisbane River mouth wall.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate javelin / grunter: Noosa River & Noosa Heads, Laguna Bay & Noosa offshore, 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, Jumpinpin, Jacobs Well & Pimpama, Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway & Nerang River, Burleigh to Point Danger, Ocean side of Straddie & Moreton.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Noosa River mouth groyne | Noosa River and Noosa Heads | Noosa River mouth |
| Bulcock Beach (Pumicestone Passage mouth) | Caloundra and northern Pumicestone Passage | Brisbane Bar |
| Bongaree Jetty | Bribie Island and southern Pumicestone Passage | Bongaree |
| Reef Point / North Reef | Redcliffe Peninsula and Deception Bay | Scarborough |
| Shorncliffe Pier | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Shorncliffe |
| Tangalooma Point | Central bay and Moreton Island west | Tangalooma |
| Cotton Tree – Maroochy River mouth | Maroochy, Mooloolaba and Coolum | Mooloolaba |
| Boat Passage (river mouth) | Brisbane River | Brisbane Bar |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits javelin / grunter (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 javelin / grunter: best bait and rig
- Yabbies
- Bloodworms
- Fresh prawns
- Pilchard and flesh baits (barred javelin)
Javelin / grunter rig
Light bait rigs as for bream and whiting.
Good to know about javelin / grunter
Rain washes them out of the creeks into the bay. Very quiet in winter (Jun-Aug).
Open in the forecast
See javelin / grunter 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)
- 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.