October 23, 2025
Following formal public consultation in September, the Victorian Fisheries Authority have announced a reduction in the bag limit for yellowtail kingfish from five to two fish per person, per day.
Our recent kingfish survey of 1,023 recreational fishers found that 72% of respondents were supportive of the reduction in bag limit and 28% of respondents were opposed.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s (VFA) formal consultation process found strong support after receiving more than 190 formal responses to the consultation. According to the VFA, 79% of submissions were supportive of the proposal, including casual to avid recreational fishers, angling clubs, charter boat operators, spearfishing organisations and the tackle sector. 17% of submissions were opposed to the proposal and 4% of submissions did not provide a position on the proposal.
As part of the consultation process, the Victorian Fisheries Authority stated that they expect that the changes to the bag limit will:
- Better reflect recreational fisher views of a reasonable day’s harvest
- Better share the catch amongst more fishers
- Reduce local depletion of the species during peak fishing periods
- Potentially improve the fishery quality through better sized fish
- Align with the bag limit of other offshore species such as gummy and school shark
The new bag limit of 2 yellowtail kingfish is now in effect. A minimum legal size of 60 centimetres also remains in place for kingfish. To view the rules and regulations, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority Yellowtail Kingfish webpage.
Recreational fishers will be re-consulted in 2026 on maintaining these regulations.
View the Fisheries Notice via the Victorian Fisheries Authority.
