Yellowtail kingfish
Yellowtail kingfish in South East Queensland: minimum 60 cm, 2 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: July to November.
Updated
Scientific name: Seriola lalandi. Also called kingfish, kingie, hoodlum and rat king.
| Scientific name | Seriola lalandi |
|---|---|
| Other names | kingfish, kingie, hoodlum, rat king |
| Minimum size | 60 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 2 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Jul–Nov |
| Also in season | May–Jun and Dec |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Daytime |
| Habitats | Offshore reefs |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Yellowtail kingfish size and bag limit in QLD
Min 60 cm. 2 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 yellowtail kingfish in South East Queensland
October 2026: Yellowtail kingfish 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: in 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Main area | Jul–Nov | May–Jun and Dec |
| Offshore Moreton | Also caught | Jul–Nov | May–Jun and Dec |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Main area | Jul–Nov | May–Jun and Dec |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Western Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island and Straddie & Jumpinpin.
Where to catch yellowtail kingfish in SEQ
Deep reefs, pinnacles and wrecks: the Barwon Banks and Outer Gneerings, Noosa wider grounds, Cape Moreton, Tempest and the Moreton offshore grounds, Gold Coast 42s and 50s; occasionally inside the Gold Coast Seaway.
Yellowtail kingfish is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate yellowtail kingfish: 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 |
| Narrowneck Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Hutchison Shoal | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| Gneering Shoals | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| 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 yellowtail kingfish (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 yellowtail kingfish: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Big live baits (yakka, slimy mackerel, bonito)
- Squid
Lures
- Heavy metal knife jigs worked fast
- Stickbaits over pinnacles
Yellowtail kingfish rig
PE 3-6 jig outfits or 15-24 kg live-bait gear, 60-80 lb leader; lock up hard near the reef.
Good to know about yellowtail kingfish
Most commonly caught in southern Queensland; Coastwatch mentions peak Jul-Nov (Gold Coast from June). Amberjack and samsonfish share the same grounds - identify before keeping.
Open in the forecast
See yellowtail kingfish 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.