Illegal fishing equipment

You must not use or possess illegal equipment in, on or next to Victorian waters, including private waters.

Explosives, firearms and bows and arrows cannot be used to take, attempt to take, injure or destroy fish.

You may not tow, drag or haul any net behind a motor boat under propulsion in any Victorian waters.

The following equipment is illegal to use in Victoria:

• Set lines
• Mesh nets, cast nets
• Drum nets
• Snares
• Snoods
• Explosives
• Firearms
• Mussel rakes
• Harpoons
• Crab pots
• Bow and arrows
• Open top lift nets (illegal in marine waters only)
• Opera house nets (from 1 July 2019 their use was prohibited in public and private waters in Victoria). Click here for more information on these changes.
• Any equipment that does not conform to the size and shape of the legal equipment detailed here