Coral reef fin fish will be off limits from midnight this Tuesday 21 October, as part of the first of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Greg Bowness said the first closure would run from midnight 21 October to midnight 25 October and the second from midnight 19 November to midnight 23 November.

"The closures coincide with the new moon when key coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn,” Mr Bowness said.

"October and November have been found to be months of high effectiveness for closures to protect coral reef fin fish, particularly the key target species.

“The dates change slightly each year depending on the new moon phases, however closure dates for the next five years were announced in June to provide certainty and long-term planning for fishers.

Mr Bowness said the closed seasons were vital to allow stocks to replenish to ensure there are healthy fish stores for current and future generations of Queensland fishers.

"Coral reef fin fish are more susceptible to concentrated fishing when spawning so these closures help ensure the sustainability of the fishery,” he said.

“Coral reef fin fish include cods and groupers, emperors, parrotfishes, sweetlips, wrasses, coral trout, fusiliers, surgeonfishes, tropical snappers and seaperches.

“A reef fish web guide is available online at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au to help fishers identify fish listed as coral reef fin fish.

“Fishers caught doing the wrong thing during the coral reef fin fish closure risk on-the-spot fines of $440 for recreational fishers and $910 for commercial fishers and a maximum penalty in excess of $100,000.”

The closures are in place from the northern tip of Cape York to Bundaberg in the south (the southern boundary is at latitude 24º50'S).

The eastern boundary of the closure is the same as the eastern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.