Rock Lobster

Daily limit

No person may take or possess more than 6 rock lobsters (both species combined) taken on any one day.

Possession

Rock lobster may not be possessed seaward of the high water mark in an unmeasurable state.

Protected rock lobster

The following types of rock lobster are protected by law and must be returned immediately to the water:

• Undersized rock lobsters.
• Any female rock lobster carrying external eggs (these are carried between the pleopods on the underside of the tail).
• Any rock lobster in the soft shell stage.
• Any rock lobster that cannot be measured (e.g. because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement).

General restrictions

It is an offence to:

• Remove external eggs or the egg-bearing appendages from any rock lobster.
• Use a spear or device which could puncture the shell when taking rock lobster, or possess any rock lobster which has been speared.

Lassoes

Only hand operated loops or lassoes may be used to take rock lobster. It is prohibited to use a spring loaded loop or lasso.

Escape gap restrictions

All rock lobster pots must have an escape gap as detailed below:

• Round or Beehive pots must have at least 3 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth). Each aperture must have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
  
• Square or rectangular pots must have at least 2 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth) in opposite faces of the pot. Each aperture shall not be less than 80% of the height or length of the face of the pot in which the apertures are contained. Each aperture shall have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
  

No escape gap or aperture shall be incorporated in either the top or the bottom of any pot.

• Any rock lobster pot constructed entirely of unaltered spot welded mesh with inside dimensions of 54 mm x 140 mm does not require escape gaps or apertures.
• Pots may be used with covers or liners providing they leave unencumbered at least 80% of the surface area of each of 2 opposite sides.
• Escape gaps or apertures are designed to allow undersized rock lobster to escape.

Minimum sizes

No person may take or possess

• Male red rock lobster with a tail width less than 54 mm.
• Female red rock lobster with a tail width less than 60 mm.
• Packhorse rock lobster (either sex) with a tail length shorter than 216 mm.

How to measure a red rock lobster

The tail width is measured in a straight line between the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the second segment of the tail, as shown in the diagram which follows:


The sex is easily determined:

• Females have small pincers on the rear pair of legs.
• Pleopods are in paired form on each side of the underside of female tails, and are in single form in male tails.

If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60 mm measurement and you will be safe.

How to measure packhorse rock lobster

The tail length is measured along the underside in a straight line from the rear of the calcified bar on the first segment to the tip of the middle fan of the tail.