Tuskfish (venus, blackspot, purple)
All tuskfish in South East Queensland: minimum 30 cm, 6 per person in total across all tuskfish species (inside the combined coral reef fin fish limit of 20), no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: June to November.
Updated
Pictured: blackspot tuskfish, Choerodon schoenleinii. Names this guide covers: tuskie, parrot, blue parrot, grassy parrot and venus tuskfish.
| Species pictured | Blackspot tuskfish (Choerodon schoenleinii) |
|---|---|
| Names covered | tuskie, parrot, blue parrot, grassy parrot, venus tuskfish |
| Limits shown for | All tuskfish |
| Minimum size | 30 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 6 per person in total across all tuskfish species (inside the combined coral reef fin fish limit of 20) |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Jun–Nov |
| Also in season | Dec–May |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Daytime |
| Habitats | Offshore reefs; the open bay and passages |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Tuskfish size and bag limit in QLD
All tuskfish: min 30 cm, 6 in total of all tuskfish species (also inside the coral reef fin fish combined limit of 20). The coral reef fin fish closures (Oct/Nov) apply only north of 24°50′S, not in SEQ.
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 tuskfish in South East Queensland
October 2026: Tuskfish 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: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: peak season | July: peak season | August: peak season | September: peak season | October: peak season | November: peak season | December: in season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Time of day: Daytime: tuskfish feed only during the day.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Moreton Bay | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Southern Moreton Bay | Also caught | Jun–Nov | Dec–May |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Also caught | Jun–Nov | Dec–May |
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Main area | Jun–Nov | Dec–May |
| Offshore Moreton | Main area | Jun–Nov | Dec–May |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Also caught | Jun–Nov | Dec–May |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Moreton Island and Gold Coast.
Where to catch tuskfish in SEQ
Venus tuskfish offshore on rocky reef and coral in 10-80 m (Barwon Banks, the Hards, Noosa and Caloundra reefs, Cape Moreton/Point Lookout grounds, Gold Coast 24s-36s); juveniles at Amity Point and the Seaway. Blackspot ("blue parrot") in Moreton Bay structure such as the Bulwer wrecks. Purple tuskfish ("grassy parrot") on inshore bay reef and seagrass (Mud Island, Wellington Point, Peel Island, Redcliffe).
Tuskfish is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate tuskfish: Wynnum, Manly & Wellington Point, Cleveland, Peel & Straddie west, Victoria Point, Redland Bay & bay islands, Jumpinpin, Jacobs Well & Pimpama, Ocean side of Straddie & Moreton, 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 |
| Wynnum Jetty (Pandanus Beach) | Wynnum, Manly and Wellington Point | Manly |
| Cleveland Point | Cleveland, Peel and Straddie west | Cleveland Point |
| Victoria Point jetty | Victoria Point, Redland Bay and bay islands | Victoria Point |
| North Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Ocean side of Straddie and Moreton | Brisbane Bar |
| Narrowneck Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Gneering Shoals | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits tuskfish (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 tuskfish: best bait and rig
- Crabs (three-spot and other small rock crabs) for blackspot
- Squid (purple tuskfish love it)
- Prawn, pilchard cubes and yakka fillet offshore
Tuskfish rig
Paternoster or short running sinker with strong 3/0-5/0 hooks; heavy mono and a stout rod for blackspot near structure.
Good to know about tuskfish
Locals call them "parrot" but they are not parrotfish (true parrotfish have fused beaks and are rarely caught; 25 cm/5 per species). Coastwatch mentions peak Jun-Nov.
Open in the forecast
See tuskfish 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)
- Fisheries Queensland: closed seasons in tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Moreton Daily, Ask Dr Dazza: Tuskfish
- 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.