Spanish mackerel and coral reef fin fish closures begin in northern Queensland

It's closed barra season in the Gulf © Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Spanish mackerel and coral reef fin fish closures begin in northern Queensland © Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

The first of this year's Spanish mackerel northern closures runs from 12 October until 11.59pm on 2 November.

The closure applies to east coast waters north of latitude 22°S — located slightly north of Stanage Bay (indicated in the shaded blue area on the map).

It's also the first of two five-day coral reef fin fish closures in waters north of 24° 50'S, and runs until 11.59pm on 16 October.

Exact map coordinates for the coral reef fin fish closure can be found here.

It’s closed barra season in the Gulf

A closed season for barramundi has begun in the Gulf of Carpentaria and runs through to 11.59pm on 31 January 2024.

During this time, it’s also prohibited to deliberately target barramundi for catch and release, as the stress of capture may prevent a fish from spawning.

However, the closure doesn’t apply in exempted stocked waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria, which include East Leichardt Dam, Belmore, Corella, Julius, Fred Tritton and Moondarra lakes, and to waterways upstream of these impoundments.

So grab yourself a stocked impoundment permit if you want to keep chasing this species.

For more information, download free Qld Fishing 2.0 app.

Current and upcoming closures

See the full list of closures in place to ensure sustainable and responsible fishing.