Teraglin
Teraglin in South East Queensland: minimum 38 cm, 5 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: July and September to December.
Updated
Scientific name: Atractoscion atelodus. Also called trag, trag jew and teraglin jew.
| Scientific name | Atractoscion atelodus |
|---|---|
| Other names | trag, trag jew, teraglin jew |
| Minimum size | 38 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 5 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Jul and Sep–Dec |
| Also in season | Jan–Feb, Apr–Jun and Aug |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Night |
| Habitats | Offshore reefs |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Teraglin size and bag limit in QLD
Min 38 cm. 5 per person. 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 teraglin in South East Queensland
October 2026: Teraglin 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: in season | February: in season | March: off season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: peak season | August: 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
Time of day: Traditionally a night and low-light fish; reported on daytime paternosters too.
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 | Also caught | Jul and Sep–Dec | Jan–Feb, Apr–Jun and Aug |
| Offshore Moreton | Also caught | Jul and Sep–Dec | Jan–Feb, Apr–Jun and Aug |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Main area | Jul and Sep–Dec | Jan–Feb, Apr–Jun and Aug |
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 teraglin in SEQ
Offshore reefs and gravel in 30-80 m: the Gold Coast 24s and 36s (most reports), the Moreton 80 m grounds, the Hards; occasionally the Noosa grounds. Double Island Point and south only.
Teraglin is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate teraglin: Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra, Offshore: Cape Moreton & Point Lookout, Offshore: Gold Coast.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Narrowneck Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Hutchison Shoal | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Gneering Shoals | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Smith Rock | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| 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 teraglin (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 teraglin: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Pilchard and squid strips
- Yakka and slimy mackerel fillets
- Live yakka
Lures
- Soft plastics and jigs worked near the bottom
Teraglin rig
Paternoster rig with 4/0-6/0 hooks just off the bottom.
Good to know about teraglin
Schools; where you get one there are usually more. Concave (crescent) tail and yellow inside the mouth tell it from mulloway (75 cm minimum).
Open in the forecast
See teraglin 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.