Queensland fishers are being urged to learn how to tell teraglin from mulloway.

Queensland fishers are being urged to learn how to tell teraglin from mulloway.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol District Officer Karl Roebuck said misidentification of these species was more common in the south east of the state.

"In South East Queensland we see fishers mistaking teraglin for mulloway," he said.

"Since March this year fishing rules changed. There is now a size limit for teraglin of 38 cm minimum and a bag limit of five. Mulloway rules have also changed with an increased size limit of 75 cm and a bag limit of two.

"Teraglin are a deep water species and can be easily identified by their crescent shaped tail, whereas mulloway has an ´S´ shaped tail.

"In estuary areas, river perch or ´little jewfish´ can often be misidentified as juvenile mulloway.

"River perch only grow to a maximum of 30 cm and do not have a bag limit. The tail is rhomboid in shape and the inside of the fish´s mouth is bright orange."

Mr Roebuck said the best way to identify fish was to invest in a good quality fish identification guide.

"Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries have produced a small identification card available from your local Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers," he said.

"However, if you are in doubt about the species of fish you have caught you should always release it."