Challenger Fishery Management Area 

Rock Lobster

Daily limit

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

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.

Protected rock lobster

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

• Undersized rock lobster.
• 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).

It is an offence to remove external eggs or the egg-bearing appendages from any rock lobster.

General restrictions

It is an offence to:

• Use any spear or device which could puncture the shell when taking rock lobster, or possess any rock lobster which has been speared.
• Set a rock lobster pot unless the pot and the surface float are marked clearly, legibly and permanently with fishers initials and surname.
• Set or possess a rock lobster pot unless it has escape gaps with inside dimensions of at least 54 mm by 200 mm (see diagram).
• It is not permitted to use lasso’s to catch rock lobster.

Rock lobster pots - limits:

• Individuals may use, set, or possess up to three rock lobster pots in any one day.
• Two or more individuals fishing from a vessel may use, set, or possess up to six rock lobster pots in any one day.

How to measure 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 (see diagram).

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 or the tail.

Escape gaps restrictions

• Escape gaps or apertures are designed to allow undersized rock lobster to escape.
• Each aperture must have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
• Round or beehive pots must have at least 3 escape gaps or apertures (other than the mouth).
• 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.
• 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 but the pots must be used without covers or liners or with covers or liners that leave unencumbered at least 80% of the surface area of each of 2 opposite sides.