Pearl perch
Pearl perch in South East Queensland: minimum 38 cm, 4 per person, closed 15 July to 15 August each year. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: September to January.
Updated
Scientific name: Glaucosoma scapulare. Also called pearlies and pearly.
| Scientific name | Glaucosoma scapulare |
|---|---|
| Other names | pearlies, pearly |
| Minimum size | 38 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 4 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | 15 July to 15 August every year |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Sep–Jan (outside the closed season) |
| Also in season | Feb–Jun |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Any time of day |
| Habitats | Offshore reefs |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Pearl perch size and bag limit in QLD
Min 38 cm. 4 per person. Closed 15 July-15 August each year (with snapper).
Closed season in South East Queensland: 15 July to 15 August every year. Pearl perch caught on a closed day must be released.
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 pearl perch in South East Queensland
October 2026: Pearl perch 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: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: closed season 17 days, otherwise in season | August: closed season 15 days, otherwise in season | September: peak 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
The closed season (15 July to 15 August) cuts into July and August: those months show as closed in the table, and pearl perch cannot be kept on any closed day.
Time of day: Day; they also feed in mid-water at night.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Main area | Sep–Jan | Feb–Jun |
| Offshore Moreton | Main area | Sep–Jan | Feb–Jun |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Also caught | Sep–Jan | Feb–Jun |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Western Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Straddie & Jumpinpin and Gold Coast.
Where to catch pearl perch in SEQ
Strictly offshore, most common in 60-90 m (smaller fish from about 30 m) over rocky reef and "wire weed": the Hards and Barwon Banks, Caloundra Wide and 12 Mile, Noosa North Reef and Chardons, Double Island Point grounds, off Cape Moreton and the Moreton 35-80 m grounds, Gold Coast 24s-50s.
Pearl perch is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate pearl perch: Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra, Offshore: Cape Moreton & Point Lookout, Offshore: Gold Coast.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Hutchison Shoal | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| Narrowneck Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Gneering Shoals | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Smith Rock | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Arkwright Shoal | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Brennan Shoal | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits pearl perch (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 pearl perch: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Squid
- Pilchards and pilchard cubes
- Mullet and yakka fillets
Lures
- Octopus (octo) jigs and slow-pitch jigs
- Soft plastics on heavy jig heads
Pearl perch rig
Paternoster (two droppers) with 5/0-7/0 hooks and enough lead to hold bottom in current, 40-60 lb leader.
Good to know about pearl perch
Stock assessed well below target (2022 assessment). Spawn summer-autumn, likely peak February, often in 170 m+ water. They survive release physiologically, but sharks and dolphins take many released fish. Reported all year; closure in the middle of winter.
Open in the forecast
See pearl perch 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)
- Fisheries Queensland: closed seasons in tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- FRDC project 2018-074 on pearl perch spawning (Qld DAF) and the 2022 pearl perch stock assessment
- Moreton Daily, Ask Dr Dazza: Where you can catch pearl perch
- 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.