SA Fishing: Calamari and Garfish Now Closed
In short
Southern Calamari is now totally closed across Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf to all fishing - commercial, recreational and charter - effective May 1.
Garfish in Gulf St Vincent and King George Whiting across both gulfs are also closed, with the whiting spawning closure running until July 31.
What to watch
The algal bloom has largely cleared, but SARDI's stock assessments show severe population declines that will keep restrictions in place until at least June 30 - with snapper locked down until June 2027.
Three of South Australia's most targeted table fish species are now off the menu in the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf fisheries, following the worst algal bloom in the state's recorded history.
From May 1, 2026, Southern Calamari is subject to a total closure across both gulfs - no commercial, recreational or charter fishing permitted anywhere in the affected zone.
Southern Garfish in Gulf St Vincent are also closed to recreational and charter boat fishing, extending a commercial ban already in place.
King George Whiting across both gulfs enters a spawning closure running until July 31, protecting the species through its breeding season.
Snapper restrictions go further still, with existing limits extended through to June 30, 2027 - a full year beyond most of the current closures.
The measures were announced by Premier Peter Malinauskas at an April 27 press conference, described as the government being "very concerned" about calamari numbers in particular.
"Put simply, for a sustained period, we have not seen high levels of Karenia - in fact, in most instances, we've seen effectively zero Karenia throughout the state's coastline."
That statement from Malinauskas captures the central tension in the current situation: the bloom has largely cleared, but its ecological damage to fish populations has not.
Why the bloom clearing doesn't mean fishing can resume
Stock assessments by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) found severe declines in Gulf St Vincent across the key species.
Calamari populations are rated as being in severe decline in the gulf, while garfish show a similar pattern.
King George Whiting recorded severe localised declines in Gulf St Vincent, while the Spencer Gulf population has fared better - KG whiting limits there return to 100% from May 1.
Blue Swimmer Crabs have also declined in Gulf St Vincent, and abalone recorded localised high mortality.
Professor Mike Steer, executive director of SARDI, said the positive monitoring trends in water quality were not a signal that fish stocks had bounced back.
"We've learnt a lot over the past year, and there are still some research gaps that need to be filled to ensure that South Australia remains prepared in case this flares up again in the future," Steer said.
The bloom's driver, the harmful microalgae Karenia mikimotoi, swept through SA waters during 2025 and peaked catastrophically through summer.
At its worst in December 2025, clean-up crews were removing 9,400 kilograms of dead sea life from SA beaches each week.
By late April 2026, that figure had dropped to below 50 kilograms per week - a 99% reduction in visible marine mortality.
The only area still recording elevated Karenia concentrations is Bickers Island, off the southeast of the Eyre Peninsula, where readings of 16,490 cells per litre of seawater were detected.
Regular coastal testing will revert to monthly monitoring in non-active bloom areas, and the Beachsafe app that provided daily conditions updates is being scaled back to an automated hotline service.
What the restrictions mean for anglers planning SA trips
If you're heading to Gulf St Vincent or Kangaroo Island waters, calamari jigs stay at home - there is no legal take of Southern Calamari until further notice.
Garfish rigs are similarly off the table in the gulf, covering both dip nets and hook-and-line targeting of the species.
The King George Whiting closure affects the full run of both gulfs until July 31, which takes the species through its spawning season and should allow at least one full reproduction cycle before the fishery reopens.
Charter boat operators planning trips into Gulf St Vincent or Kangaroo Island should review their current itineraries - calamari and garfish sessions are not possible until restrictions lift.
A 50% reduction in bag and boat limits applies to all other species in the Gulf St Vincent and Kangaroo Island Fishing Zone - not just the named closures.
In Spencer Gulf, the 50% reduction applies specifically to calamari, garfish, Blue Crab and King George Whiting, with other species unaffected.
Support measures for affected anglers and operators
Boat registration discounts of 50% are in place for 12 months from December 2025, and state and council boat ramp access is free across affected coastal areas.
Commercial licence holders can access fee relief automatically applied for the remainder of the 2025-26 financial year, as well as industry grants up to $375,000 for business support and diversification.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the recovery of fisheries had been the "number one goal" throughout the algal bloom response.
The non-obvious reality: bloom gone, damage lingers
The government is simultaneously scaling back bloom monitoring - confident the Karenia threat has passed - while tightening fishing restrictions.
That dual move reflects a distinction that's easy to miss: the toxic organism can be gone while its effects on reproduction, recruitment and population structure persist for years.
Calamari are particularly vulnerable because they are annual species - most individuals spawn once and die, meaning a single failed season can remove an entire year-class from the population.
A severe decline in breeding adults this past season translates directly into far fewer juveniles recruiting into the fishery in 2026 and 2027.
King George Whiting, by contrast, are long-lived and multi-spawning, which is why a targeted spawning closure - rather than an outright ban - gives more confidence of a meaningful recovery by late winter.
For anglers planning SA trips: the gulf waters are cleaner, but fish populations need more time to rebuild before the catch is there again.
Keep an eye on PIRSA's regular science review updates - restrictions are subject to revision before the June 30 end date if stock recovery warrants it.
Track current SA fishing regulations and check the latest conditions before heading out via Seabreeze SA weather warnings .
Frequently asked questions
Can I still fish for squid in SA? No - Southern Calamari is totally closed across Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf until further notice, covering all fishing methods and sectors.
Is King George Whiting closed in Spencer Gulf? Only during the spawning closure running until July 31; from May 1 the daily bag limit in Spencer Gulf returned to 100% of normal.
Does the 50% bag limit reduction apply to all species? In Gulf St Vincent and Kangaroo Island, yes - all species except those subject to full closures have a 50% reduction applied to bag and boat limits.
When do the restrictions end? Most current closures are set until June 30, 2026, subject to regular SARDI science reviews. Snapper restrictions run until June 30, 2027.
Are there any free fishing areas unaffected? Spencer Gulf outside the named species restrictions remains more open - Blue Crab, garfish and calamari closures apply there too, but other species continue under normal limits.
