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Fishing — Mallacoota

Fish ruler & bag limits

Current Victorian Fisheries Authority size and bag limits for the 12 species you'll target in Mallacoota Inlet. Use the rulers as an at-a-glance reference on the boat, and always release fish under the minimum legal length.

Source: Victorian Fisheries Authority (vfa.vic.gov.au). Last verified: 6 May 2026. Limits and rules can change without notice — always check VFA before keeping fish.

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BreamAcanthopagrus butcherimin 28cmbag 10
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Min legal: 28cm
  • ·Combined limit across all bream species and tarwhine.
  • ·Mallacoota — Mallacoota Inlet is outside the Gippsland Lakes special-area rules, so the standard 28cm minimum and bag of 10 apply (Gippsland Lakes proper has a 38cm max + bag of 7 — does not affect Mallacoota).
  • ·Cannot be filleted on or in Victorian waters — keep whole until off the water (boat-ramp cleaning tables OK).
VFA: Bream →
Dusky FlatheadPlatycephalus fuscusmin 30cmbag 5
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Min legal: 30cmSlot upper: 55cm
  • ·Slot rule — Slot limit 30–55cm — release fish below 30cm and above 55cm.
  • ·Mallacoota — All flathead caught in any estuary east of Lake Tyers (including Mallacoota Inlet) are treated as Dusky Flathead under VFA rules.
  • ·Cannot be filleted on or in Victorian waters — keep whole until off the water (boat-ramp cleaning tables OK).
VFA: Dusky Flathead →
TailorPomatomus saltatrixmin 23cmbag 20
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Min legal: 23cm
VFA: Tailor →
MullowayArgyrosomus japonicusmin 60cmbag 5
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Min legal: 60cm
VFA: Mulloway →
King George WhitingSillaginodes punctatusmin 27cmbag 20
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Min legal: 27cm
  • ·Cannot be filleted on or in Victorian waters — keep whole until off the water (boat-ramp cleaning tables OK).
VFA: King George Whiting →
SnapperChrysophrys auratusmin 28cmbag 10
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Min legal: 28cm
  • ·Slot rule — Maximum 3 fish in your bag may be 40cm or over.
  • ·Cannot be filleted on or in Victorian waters — keep whole until off the water (boat-ramp cleaning tables OK).
VFA: Snapper →
GarfishHyporhamphus melanochirno minbag 40
No minimum legal length under Victorian regulations — no ruler shown.
  • ·Combined limit across all garfish species.
VFA: Garfish →
Estuary PerchMacquaria colonorummin 27cmbag 5
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Min legal: 27cm
  • ·Combined limit of 5 with Australian bass — no more than 2 can be Australian bass.
  • ·Cannot be filleted on or in Victorian waters — keep whole until off the water (boat-ramp cleaning tables OK).
  • ·Closed season — Check VFA before each season — spawning closures have applied historically.
VFA: Estuary Perch →
LuderickGirella tricuspidatamin 23cmbag 10
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Min legal: 23cm
VFA: Luderick →
Sea MulletMugil cephalusno minbag 40
No minimum legal length under Victorian regulations — no ruler shown.
  • ·Combined limit across all mullet species.
VFA: Sea Mullet →
Australian SalmonArripis trutta / Arripis truttaceamin 21cmbag 20
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Min legal: 21cm
  • ·Combined limit with Australian herring.
VFA: Australian Salmon →
GurnardTriglidae spp.no minbag 10
No minimum legal length under Victorian regulations — no ruler shown.
  • ·Combined limit across all gurnard species.
VFA: Gurnard →

Disclaimer. Bag limits and size rules change. Data on this page was verified against vfa.vic.gov.au on 6 May 2026. Possession limits and other rules not listed here may apply — see VFA before keeping fish. A current recreational fishing licence is required to fish in Victoria.

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