Recreational

fishing guide
2023

Includes Statewide bag and size limits

for Western Australia, and Recreational
Fishing from Boat Licence information.

Edition 2 – published March 2023

 Report shark sightings Contents
to Water Police on
9442 8600 Fish for the future....................................... 1
Download the
Using this guide.......................................... 1
SharkSmart WA app
Changes to the rules – 1 February 2023..... 2
SHARKSMART.COM.A U Care for your catch..................................... 4
Shark depredation and mitigation.............. 7
Your licence fees at work........................... 8
Bag and size limits explained................... 10
Demersal scalefish............................. 14
Important disclaimer Large pelagic finfish............................ 20
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Nearshore/estuarine finfish................. 24
Primary Industries and Regional Development and
Freshwater finfish............................... 30
the State of Western Australia accept no liability
whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise All other species of finfish................... 32
arising from the use or release of this information Baitfish................................................ 33
or any part of it.
Crustaceans........................................ 34
This publication is to provide assistance or
information. It is only a guide and does not replace Molluscs and other invertebrates........ 38
the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 or the Protected species............................... 40
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995.
FishWatch – 1800 815 507...................... 42
It cannot be used as a defence in a court of law.
The information provided is current at the date of Finfish possession limits.......................... 44
printing but may be subject to change. For the most Cooking and storing recreationally
up-to-date information on fishing and full details of caught fish on commercial premises........ 48
legislation contact select DPIRD offices or visit
dpird.wa.gov.au Crabs, prawns and molluscs.................... 49
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Fishing licences........................................ 53
Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2023.
Closed seasons and protected areas...... 55
General fishing rules................................ 62
Department of Primary Industries and
Fishing safety........................................... 65
Regional Development
1300 374 731 (13 DPIRD1) Get involved! ........................................... 69
enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au
dpird.wa.gov.au

ii iii
 Fish for the future
Western Australia is home to some of the
most exciting and varied recreational fishing
opportunities in the world. With around 620,000
people fishing recreationally, it is part of our
lifestyle. It also makes a contribution to our
economy and attracts thousands of visitors to
regional WA each year.
With growing fishing and environmental pressures,
we need to manage our highly valued aquatic
resources sustainably to ensure there are fish for
the future. You can play your part by sticking to the
rules, which are based on extensive research and
monitoring.
Please note that penalties apply for fishing
offences.
Interfering with another person’s fishing gear or
catch, selling recreationally caught fish and other
similar offences can result in penalties of up to
$400,000, imprisonment for four years and loss
of boats, vehicles and equipment. Offenders may
also lose the privilege of engaging in a licensed
fishing activity.

Using this guide

Throughout this guide we identify when additional
information is available. You can obtain it from:
• select DPIRD offices (see back cover); and
• the recreational fishing section of the DPIRD
Photo: Tourism WA

website at fish.wa.gov.au/recfishing
Please contact us to request information in
alternative formats.

iv 1
Changes to the rules –
1 February 2023
The following rule changes are designed to • A maximum of one bait or lure attached to a
provide greater protection of our vulnerable line can be used when fishing for demersal
demersal scalefish stocks in the West Coast scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion.
Bioregion and assist in recovering stocks • Extend the timing of the pink snapper spawning
by 2030. closure in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds from
1 August to 31 January (inclusive).
• Annual demersal fishing closed seasons in the • Realign the baldchin groper spawning closure
West Coast Bioregion: at the Abrolhos Islands from
– 1 February to 31* March (inclusive); 1 October to 31 December (inclusive).
– 1 August to the beginning of the September/
October school holidays (22 September Abrolhos Islands:
2023); and The following changes to bag and possession
– end of the September/October school limits at the Abrolhos Islands contribute to the
holidays (9 October 2023) to 15 December recovery of demersal scalefish stocks in the West
(inclusive). Coast Bioregion;
• bag limit of one demersal scalefish
Note: this does not apply to land-based
line fishers, charter fishers, or commercial • possession limit of:
fishers. – 5 kg of fillets from any species, plus 5 kg
of fillets from large pelagic finfish. All fillets
• Demersal scalefish boat limit of four (excludes must have skin attached for identification
charter boats). purposes; OR
• Bag limit of two WA dhufish within the mixed – one day’s bag limit of whole fish.
species bag limit of two demersal scalefish in Note: the west coast demersal scalefish
the West Coast Bioregion. boat limit applies within the Abrolhos
• Remove the WA dhufish boat limit. Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area
• Remove size limits for WA dhufish, baldchin (FHPA). If you fillet your demersal
groper and breaksea cod. scalefish, the boat possession limit still
applies, and two fillets of fish equal one
whole fish.

* to 28 March in 2024 to accommodate Easter

2 3
Care for your catch Don’t discard a smaller fish for a
bigger one
If you choose not to return a fish to the water
Releasing fish and catch care
immediately, you have taken that fish and it counts
You can help ensure there will be fish for the towards your daily bag limit. Discarding a smaller
future by taking care of the fish you catch, and retained fish for a bigger one is known as ‘high-
releasing all undersize or protected fish as grading’.
carefully and as quickly as possible. To ensure a
High-grading is not a responsible use of our fish
fish’s healthy return to the water:
resources – and if you have already taken your
• Avoid deep-hooking fish by using an daily bag limit, it will result in you exceeding the
appropriate size and pattern of hook, and avoid daily bag limit.
treble hooks. Consider using barbless hooks or
crushing hook barbs using a pair of pliers. Poisonous and venomous fish
• Use long-nosed pliers to remove hooks. But if Some species have venomous spines or
gut-hooked, leave the hook in place and cut the poisonous flesh. Handle any fish with caution and
line as close to the mouth or eye of the hook as avoid direct contact with the fish’s spines and
possible before releasing the fish. gill plates.
• If possible avoid lifting fish from the water to Several WA fish species are highly poisonous
unhook them. Use a knotless landing net or to eat, such as members of the blowfish or
place a wet rag under the fish’s stomach to pufferfish family.
support its vital organs. Return captured blowfish to the water!
• Use a wet rag or wet your hands to handle fish. Please do not leave any dead or dying blowfish
• Treat fish gently to reduce stress and injury to you catch on the shore where you are fishing – put
fragile scales and protective slime. them back in the water alive instead. Discarded
• Release fish as soon as possible. blowfish are poisonous and pose a threat to dogs,
• Revive spent fish by holding them from above, other animals and small children who might pick
behind the head, moving them through the them up and put them in their mouths.
water repeatedly until they ‘flick’ showing they
are ready to be released.
If you intend to eat the fish, store your catch out of
the sun in either a seawater ice slurry (one bucket
of seawater to two of ice) in an esky, or a damp
open-weave bag.

4 5
Barotrauma and using a release weight
The term ‘barotrauma’ refers to damage that
Shark depredation
occurs to fish when captured in deep water. Gases and mitigation
in a fish’s body expand due to a sudden decrease
in pressure, causing the stomach to push out
through the mouth or gills and the eyes to appear
popped out. Barotrauma may also damage
the fish’s internal organs, which may not be so
noticeable.
To minimise the effects of barotrauma, ‘prevention
is better than cure’. To avoid catching undersize
or excess fish, stop fishing once you’ve reached
your bag or boat limit. Demersal fish species
are particularly susceptible to barotrauma; and
mortality levels as a result of barotrauma are
known to increase with depth. Minimum size limits
no longer apply to WA dhufish, baldchin groper
Shark depredation (or bite-offs) occur when a
and breaksea cod for this reason.
shark partially or completely consumes a fish
If you need to release a demersal fish, a caught by fishing gear before it can be landed.
release weight may help to reduce the effects of
Shark bite-offs can have detrimental economic
barotrauma.
and social impacts on commercial, charter
Fish suffering from barotrauma may not be able to
return to the bottom when released if their swim and recreational fishers across WA and
bladder remains inflated. developing mitigation measures is complex.

A release weight is a Some ways you can mitigate bite-offs:

weighted barbless hook • if depredation starts to occur, move fishing
for releasing deep- spots immediately.
water fish suffering • consider using deterrent devices to increase
from barotrauma. It is your chance of landing a fish.
attached to the fish’s • avoid areas known to be depredation hotspots
upper lip and designed as sharks can learn where to get an easy feed.
to be easily detached • use lures and jigs instead of bait as bait may
by tugging the line attract more sharks.
once the fish is back on
• avoid catch and release fishing.
the seabed.
Photo courtesy of Recfishwest • don’t clean fish at sea, bring your fish waste
back to land for composting.

6 7
Your licence fees
at work
Each year, recreational fishing licence fees
contribute about $8 million to managing
recreational fishing in Western Australia. The State
Government contributes a similar amount.
The revenue from recreational fishing licences is
spent on a range of projects that benefit recreational
fishers, with 25 per cent set aside for new initiatives
and 15 per cent going towards funding Recfishwest,
WA’s peak recreational fishing body, to represent
the interests of the WA recreational fishing
community. The rest is spent on recreational fishing
management, research, education and compliance.
Recreational fishing initiatives funded from licence
Recreational fishing licence fees contribute
fees include:
towards artificial reefs to provide premium
• artificial reefs and Fish Aggregating Devices quality recreational fishing opportunities for
(FADs); small boat owners. Several have been installed
• restocking projects for marron, snapper and throughout the state, all receiving funding from
barramundi; recreational fishing licence revenue.
• the future fisheries leaders program;
• trout stocking;
• research projects into popular recreational
species such as blue swimmer crabs, black
bream and squid; and
• the Statewide recreational boat fishing survey.

8 9
 Bag and size limits Western Australia’s marine bioregions

explained 114° 50' E

North Coast
(Pilbara/Kimberley)
Kununurra
Gascoyne
Bag and size limits help ensure our aquatic Coast Broome
resources remain sustainable for future generations.
Bag limits assist in sharing the resource and
Port Hedland
contribute to the sustainable management of the Karratha
21 °4 6 ' S
State’s fish stocks. Size limits allow fish with low or Onslow
As
moderate post-release mortality to reach maturity to Exmouth hbu
r ton
Rive
r
complete their breeding cycle. Carnarvon
Measure all fish with a size limit and return any Denham
undersize or otherwise protected fish to the water 27° S

Kalbarri
immediately upon capture, with the least possible Geraldton
injury (see ‘care for your catch’ on page 4).
West
Finfish categories Coast
Perth
Eucla

For bag and size limits, finfish are categorised

Esperance
according to their aquatic environment, although Augusta
Black Point
some finfish are present in multiple environments Albany South Coast
115 ° 30' E
(see diagram below).

200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone Mixed species daily bag limit
The boundary of WA’s legal control
of marine resources This is the combined maximum number of
fish of any species within one category (such
Pelagic as demersal or large pelagic) that a fisher
Freshwater
may take or bring on to land in any 24-hour
Estuarine period (from midnight to midnight, except from
20m midday to midday for marron, prawns and when
Nearshore
recreationally set netting).
Demersal For example, demersal scalefish in the West Coast
Bioregion has a total mixed daily bag limit of two fish.

In some cases there are rules that apply to specific 2 fish = 1 baldchin groper + 1 pink snapper
biological regions – the North Coast Bioregion, OR
Gascoyne Coast Bioregion, West Coast Bioregion 2 fish = 2 pink snapper (but no other demersal scalefish)
and South Coast Bioregion (see map on page 10).

10 11
 Note: Within the mixed daily bag limit, Possession limits and transporting fish
you cannot exceed the stated individual A possession limit is the maximum quantity of fish
species limit (see below). For example, that a person may have in their control/ownership.
you may only take a maximum of one Possession limits apply to all (see page 44), as
coral trout per day. well as rock lobster, marron and abalone (see bag
and size limit tables).
Individual species daily bag limit
Recreationally caught fish cannot be transported
This is the maximum number of an individual
unaccompanied (see page 47).
species you may take within your total mixed
species daily bag limit.
Size limits
Boat limit To check if your catch is of a legal size, measure
A boat limit is the maximum number of fish of a finfish from the point of the snout to the tip of the
species or group of species that may be on a boat tail. Pick up a free fish ruler sticker from select
or attached to a boat (including tender vessels) at DPIRD offices or participating retail outlets.
any one time. This limit applies regardless of
how long the vessel is at sea.
Boat limits apply statewide for blue swimmer
crabs, mud crabs, squid, octopus, cuttlefish,
greenlip/brownlip abalone, rock lobster and
in the West Coast Bioregion for demersal
scalefish. The boat limit for these species or
species groups is calculated by multiplying the
relevant daily bag limit by the number of people on
the boat, up to the maximum boat possession limit
(see bag and size limit tables on pages 14–41 for
more information). The master of the boat must
ensure these rules are followed.
For example, the boat limit for western rock
lobsters is 8 when there is one person on board,
16 when there are two people on board, and
up to a maximum of 24 when there are three or
more people on board the boat, regardless of
how long the vessel is at sea. You must still hold
a recreational rock lobster licence to fish for rock
lobsters and only take a daily bag limit. See pages
53–54 for information about other recreational
fishing licence requirements.

12 13
14

Demersal scalefish – bag and size limits

Boat limit of 4 applies in the West Coast Bioregion South Coast,
West Coast Abrolhos Islands Gascoyne, North
(Abrolhos Islands included) Bioregion Coast Bioregions

2 1 5
TOTAL mixed species daily bag limit per fisher. This is the
combined number of demersal scalefish you can take
(see page 11 for details).

Boat limit (excludes charter boats)

4 N/A

Closed season - Applies to all demersal scalefish in the West Closed: 1 Feb to 31 Mar (inclusive); 1 Aug to No demersal closed
Coast Bioregion unless otherwise excepted. Does not apply to beginning of Sept/Oct school holidays; and end of season in these
land-based line fishing, charter or commercial fishers. Sept/Oct school holidays to 15 Dec (inclusive). Bioregions.

Individual species daily bag limit per fisher Individual species

This is the maximum number of individual species you may take within your total mixed bag limit. daily bag limit

Species Minimum legal size West Abrolhos Other

Coast Islands Bioregions
Baldchin groper
Choerodon rubescens. Additional closed N/A 2 1 3
seasons apply – see page 61

Tuskfish*
Blackspot and blue tuskfish: 400 mm 2 1 3
Choerodon spp. (Pictured: Blackspot tuskfish)

Barramundi cod
N/A 2 1 3
Cromileptes altivelis

Blue morwong (queen snapper)

410 mm 2 1 3
Nemadactylus valenciennesi

Rockcods*
Family Ephinephelidae and Serranidae
Goldspotted rockcod: 400 mm
(Pictured top to bottom: Breaksea cod,
Goldspotted and Blackspotted rockcod
goldspotted rockcod [Estuary cod],
over 1,000 mm or 30 kg are protected 2 1 3
blackspotted rockcod [Malabar cod], western
Goldspotted and Blackspotted rockcod
wirrah, harlequin fish). All species including
must be landed as whole fish
eightbar grouper and Rankin cod except
Chinaman rockcod

Release weight required when line fishing for demersal scalefish – see page 6 * Bag limit applies to each individual species in this
group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
15
16

Demersal scalefish – West

Coast
Abrolhos Other
Islands Bioregions

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species

daily bag limit per fisher 2 1 5 Individual species
daily bag limit

Species Minimum legal size West Abrolhos Other

Coast Islands Bioregions

Coral trout*
Plectropomus spp.
450 mm 1 1 1
(Pictured top to bottom: Common coral trout,
barcheek coral trout, vermicular cod)

Coronation trout
N/A 1 1 1
Variola spp.

Dhufish, West Australian

N/A 2 1 2
Glaucosoma hebraicum

Boarfish*†
N/A 2 1 3
Family Pentacerotidae (Pictured: Giant boarfish)

Dory, John†
N/A 2 1 3
Zeus faber

Dory, mirror†
N/A 2 1 3
Zenopsis nebulosus

Emperors and seabream*

Lethrinus spp.
Spangled: 410 mm
All species including spangled emperor 2 1 3
Other emperor: 280 mm
(pictured), red throat and Robinson’s sea bream
except grass emperor (black snapper)

Emperor, grass (black snapper/blue-lined

320 mm 2 1 5
emperor) Lethrinus laticaudis

Foxfish*
N/A 2 1 3
Bodianus spp.

Pigfish*
N/A 2 1 3
Bodianus spp. (Pictured: Goldspot pigfish)
Release weight required when line fishing for demersal scalefish – see page 6 * Bag limit applies to each individual species in this
group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules. † May be taken during the closed season.
17
18

Demersal scalefish – West

Coast
Abrolhos Other
Islands Bioregions

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species

daily bag limit per fisher 2 1 5 Individual species
daily bag limit

Species Minimum legal size West Abrolhos Other

Coast Islands Bioregions

Hapuku
N/A 2 1 3
Polyprion oxygeneios

Bass groper
N/A 2 1 3
Polyprion americanus

Blue-eye trevalla(s)*
Family Centrolophidae N/A 2 1 3
(Pictured: Blue-eyed trevalla)
300 mm
#
Except for the South Coast where you may
Bight redfish (Nannygai, red snapper) –
*
take 8 Bight redfish, 8 yelloweye redfish 2 1 N/A
pictured, yelloweye redfish and swallowtail
and 8 swallowtail, PLUS a mixed daily bag
limit of 5 other demersal scalefish

Pearl perch*
Glaucosoma spp. (other than Glaucosoma N/A 2 1 3
hebraicum – West Australian dhufish)

500 mm
Snapper (Pink snapper) Applies in the West Coast Bioregion south 2
Chrysophrys auratus 2 1 (Shark
of 31˚S latitude (just north of Lancelin) and
Additional rules apply – see pages 58–61 Bay)
in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay.
for details
All other areas: 410 mm 2 1 3
Tropical snappers *

Family Lutjanidae
All species including red emperor (top),
crimson snapper, saddletail snapper,
Red emperor: 410 mm 2 1 3
Chinaman fish (upper middle), jobfish, ruby
snapper (lower middle) and goldband snapper
(bottom) except golden snapper (fingermark),
mangrove jack and stripey snapper

Western blue groper

500 mm 1 1 1
Achoerodus gouldii
Release weight required when line fishing for demersal scalefish – see page 6 * Bag limit applies to each individual species in this
group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
19
20

Large pelagic finfish – bag and size limits

Moderate vulnerability
Statewide

3
TOTAL mixed species
daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number of large pelagic
finfish you can take (see page 11 for details).

For example, 3 fish = 2 Spanish mackerel and 1 Mahi Mahi

OR 3 Spanish mackerel OR 2 Mahi Mahi and 1 yellowfin tuna.

Species Minimum Species Minimum

legal size legal size
Mackerel, school
Amberjack
600 mm Scomberomorus 500 mm
Seriola dumerili
queenslandicus

Samsonfish Mackerel, shark

Seriola hippos 600 mm Grammatorcynus 500 mm
bicarinatus

Yellowtail kingfish Mackerel, Spanish

600 mm
Seriola lalandi Scomberomorus 900 mm
commerson
Great barracuda
N/A Mackerel, spotted
Sphyaena barracuda 500 mm
Scomberomorus munroi

Cobia Mahi Mahi (dolphinfish)

750 mm 500 mm
Rachycentron canadum Coryphaena spp.

Barracouta (Gemfish) Billfish* (marlins,

N/A
Family Gempylidae sailfish, spearfish)
Family Istiophoridae N/A
Mackerel, grey (Pictured: Blue marlin)
Scomberomorus 750 mm Individual species
semifasciatus daily bag limit = 1

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
21
22

Large pelagic finfish – Statewide

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species

daily bag limit per fisher 3
Species Minimum Species Minimum
legal size legal size

Swordfish Trevally, golden

Xiphias gladius Gnathanodon N/A
N/A
Individual species speciosus
daily bag limit = 1
West and South Tuna, big eye N/A
Sharks and rays Coast Bioregions: Thunnus obesus
Class Chondrichthyes Whaler sharks
(Pictured: Gummy max. size 700 mm
shark) (interdorsal fin Tuna, dogtooth
N/A
length†) Gymnosarda unicolor

Trevally, giant
N/A Tuna, longtail
Caranx ignoblis N/A
Thunnus tonggol

† Whaler sharks: ‘Interdorsal fin length’ is the Tuna, mackerel

N/A
measurement from the front of the first dorsal fin to Euthynnus affinis
the insertion of the second (rear) dorsal fin. Due to
concentrations of heavy metals, large sharks over this
length are unsuitable for human consumption.
Tuna, skipjack
Common whaler shark species include dusky shark, bronze N/A
whaler and bull sharks. Katsuwonis pelamis

700 mm
maximum size limit Tuna, southern bluefin
N/A
Thunnus maccoyii

Tuna, yellowfin
N/A
Thunnus albacares

Insertion of the second

(rear) dorsal fin. Wahoo
900 mm
Acanthocybium solandri

NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
23
24

Nearshore/estuarine finfish – bag and size limits 

Moderate vulnerability
Statewide

16
TOTAL mixed species
daily bag limit per fisher
Photo: Shannon Conway

This is the combined number of

nearshore/estuarine finfish you
can take (see page 11 for details).

For example, 16 fish = 8 tailor (individual species limit = 8), 4

Western Australian salmon (individual species limit = 4) and
4 snook.

Individual species
Species Minimum legal size daily bag limit
550 mm 2
Barramundi (Max. size 800 mm Possession
Lates calcarifer must be landed as whole fish) limit = 2

250 mm
Bream, black (pictured top), tarwhine (pictured
Western yellowfin: 300 mm
bottom), northwest black, western yellowfin, etc.* 6
(Only 2 black bream over 400 mm in
Acanthopagrus spp., Rhabdosargus sarba
Swan and Canning rivers)

Bonito (all species) and albacore*

Cybiosarda elegans, Sarda orientalis (pictured), N/A 8
Thunnus alelunga
Catfish and Estuary Cobbler 8
Estuary cobbler (pictured): 430 mm
Families Ariidae and Plotosidae
Rockcod, Chinaman (Charlie Court) 4
N/A
Epinephelus rivulatus

Dart* N/A 8
Trachinotus spp.

Golden snapper (fingermark)

300 mm 4
Lutjanus johnii

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
25
26

Nearshore/estuarine finfish – Statewide

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species daily

bag limit per fisher 16
Individual species
Species Minimum legal size daily bag limit

Flathead*
300 mm 8
Platycephalus spp.

Flounder*
Families Pleuronectidae, Bothidae and
250 mm 8
Paralichthyidae
(Pictured: Smalltoothed flounder)

Javelinfish* 8
300 mm
Family Haemulidae (Pictured: Spotted javelinfish)

Sweetlips*
300 mm 8
Family Haemulidae (Pictured: Painted sweetlips)

Leatherjacket*
Family Monacanthidae 250 mm 8
(Pictured: Six-spined leatherjacket)

Mulloway (caught primarily south of Exmouth Gulf) 2

500 mm
Argyrosomus japonicas

Black jewfish 2
700 mm
Protonibea diacanthus

Mangrove jack 2
300 mm
Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Pike, longfin 8
300 mm
Dinolestes lewini

Sea sweep 4
N/A
Scorpis aequipinnis

Snook and striped barracuda 8

300 mm
Sphyraena novaehollandiae and S. obtusata

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
27
28

Nearshore/estuarine finfish – Statewide

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species daily

bag limit per fisher 16
Individual species
Species Minimum legal size daily bag limit

Stripey snapper 300 mm 4

Lutjanus carponotatus

Tailor 300 mm
8
Pomatomus saltatrix (Only 2 fish over 500 mm)

Threadfin, king 450 mm 2

Polydactylus macrochir

Threadfin, other species*

Family Polynemidae – other than Polydactylus N/A 4
macrochir (Pictured: Blue threadfin)

Trevally and queenfish (all other species not

specifically mentioned in these tables* except
needleskin queenfish and yellowtail scad) Silver trevally: 250 mm 8
Family Carangidae (Pictured top to bottom:
Silver trevally (skipjack/skippy), queenfish)

Tripletail 300 mm 2
Lobotes surinamensis

Western Australian salmon 300 mm 4

Arripis truttaceus

Whiting, King George 280 mm 12

Sillaginodes punctata

Wrasse (Subfamily Labrinae) and parrotfish

(Subfamily Scarinae) (all other species not
specifically mentioned in these tables)* (Pictured top N/A 8
to bottom: female western king wrasse, male western
king wrasse)

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
29
30

Freshwater finfish – bag and size limits

Statewide

4
TOTAL mixed species
daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number of freshwater
finfish you can take (see page 11 for details).

Species Minimum legal size

Trout, rainbow (pictured top), brown (pictured bottom)

Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salmo trutta 300 mm
(see our Recreational freshwater angling guide for more details)

Catfish and freshwater cobbler

Families Plotosidae and Ariidae N/A
(see our Recreational freshwater angling guide for more details)

Striped perch (all freshwater species) Sooty grunter

Family Terapontidae (Pictured: Sooty grunter) (Hephaestus fuliginosus): 250 mm

NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.

Freshwater pest species

Families Cyprinidae and Cichlidae, such as carp, tilapia, cichlids and goldfish, and redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis,
pictured). No bag limit – it is recommended that they are not returned to the water and are humanely euthanased
with dead fish not left on the shore.
31
32

All other species of finfish – bag and size limits

Statewide

30
TOTAL mixed species daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number of all other unlisted
species of fish (not in the previous four categories or in
the protected species table) you can take.

No minimum size limits apply to these species.

This category excludes baitfish and feral freshwater species.

Species includes Individual species daily bag limit

Australian herring
20
Arripis georgianus

Blue mackerel
30
Scomber australasicus

Whiting (excluding King George)*

30
Family Sillaginidae (Pictured: Yellowfin whiting)

Garfish* 30
Family Hemiramphidae Perth metropolitan southern garfish closure –
(Pictured top to bottom: southern garfish, robust garfish) see page 61

Mullet*
30
Family Mugilidae (Pictured: Yelloweye mullet)

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.

Baitfish
Species Daily bag limit
Baitfish – sardine, anchovy and hardy head (pictured top)
A combined daily bag limit of
Families Clupeidae, Engraulidae and Atherinidae
9 litres
(mulies, whitebait, scaly mackerel – pictured bottom)

NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
33
34

Crustaceans – bag and size limits

Species Minimum legal size Daily bag limit Boat limit
Freshwater Prawn (Cherabin)
N/A 9 litres N/A
Macrobrachium spp.

Crab, blue swimmer# 40

Portunus armatus; and P. pelagicus (See 20 (At least two people
127 mm
pages 53–54 & 56-57 and our recreational must be on board)
(carapace width)
crabbing guides for more details about West Coast: 20
closed seasons and other specific rules West Coast: 10 (At least two people
that apply to these species) must be on board)
Geographe Bay: 10 of Geographe Bay: 20
which no more than of which no more than
5 may be female 10 may be female
(At least two people
must be on board)

Swan and Canning Swan and Canning

Rivers: 5 Rivers: 20
(At least four people
must be on board)

Crab, mud (all species combined) Green: 150 mm 10

Scylla spp. Brown: 120 mm 5 (At least two people
(Pictured: Brown mud crab) (carapace width) must be on board)

Marron#
Cherax spp. (See our Recreational fishing 80 mm
for marron guide for more details about (carapace length) 8
closed seasons, possession limits and N/A
Trophy waters: Trophy waters: 5
other specific rules that apply to these 90 mm
species)

Prawns (all species combined)#

Family Penaeidae (Pictured: Western king N/A 9 litres N/A
prawn) (See page 51 for more details)

# Closed seasons apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
35
36

Crustaceans – bag and size limits (continued)

Species Minimum legal size Daily bag limit Boat limit

Pest species, including yabbies, have no bag

Redclaw or boat limit. It is recommended that they are
N/A
Cherax quadricarinatus not returned to the water but are humanely
euthanased.

Rock lobster (all species)

Panulirus and Jasus spp. 8 24
(Possession limit of 24 rock lobster per 76 mm of which no more than of which no more than
person applies - see our Recreational Southern rock 4 may be tropical 12 may be tropical
fishing for rock lobster guide for more lobster: lobsters. lobsters
details about specific rules that apply to 98.5 mm (At least three people
these species) (Pictured: western rock must be on board)
lobster)

10 N/A
Other crustacean species not specifically N/A
mentioned (combined) (Pictured: Gilgie) Pest species, including yabbies, have no bag or
boat limit. Do not return to the water.

# Closed seasons apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
37
38

Molluscs and other invertebrates – bag and size limits

Minimum Daily
Species Boat limit
legal size bag limit
Abalone, Roe’s# Haliotis roei (See our Recreational fishing for 20
abalone guide about closed seasons, possession limits and other 60 mm N/A
specific rules that apply to this species) West Coast: 15

Abalone, greenlip Haliotis laevigata (pictured)/brownlip Haliotis 10

conicopora (combined)# (See our Recreational fishing for abalone (At least two
140 mm 5
guide about closed seasons, possession limits and other specific people must
rules that apply to this species) be on board)

Ark shells, cockles and pipis (pictured) and venus clam (combined)
N/A 2 litres N/A
Families Arcidae, Donacidae and Veneridae

Clams
N/A 2 N/A
Tridacna spp.

Mussels 9 litres
N/A N/A
Family Mytilidae (shell on)

Oysters
Family Ostreidae (Pictured: Native oyster) Recreational harvesting of N/A 20 N/A
pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) is prohibited
Razorshell
N/A 20 N/A
Family Pinnidae
Scallops
N/A 20 N/A
Family Pectinidae
Sea urchins#
N/A 20 N/A
Class Echinoidea
Specimen shell (cowries, bailer shell, conch) (combined)
N/A 10 N/A
Families Cypraeidae, Volutidae and Strombidae
Squid, cuttlefish and octopus (combined) 30
(At least two
Family Cephalopoda N/A 15
people must
(Refer to the website for further information on octopus trigger traps)
be on board)
Bloodworms (bait) N/A 1 litre N/A

Other molluscs and invertebrate species not mentioned above,

Trochus:
including snails, periwinkle, limpet, turban, mud whelk and trochus 10 N/A
65 mm
(combined) (Pictured: Mud whelk)
# Closed seasons and additional rules apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 53–54 for licence rules.
39
40

Protected species
These species are protected and may NOT be taken

Grey nurse shark Potato rockcod

Carcharius taurus Epinephelus tukula

White shark Queensland groper

Carcharodon carcharias Epinephelus lanceolatus
Juvenile

Speartooth shark Humphead Maori wrasse

Glyphis spp. Cheilinus undulatus

Whale shark Common seadragon

Rhincodon typus Phyllopterxy taeniolatus

Sawfish – all species Leafy seadragon

Family Pristidae Phycodurus eques

Rays and skates – Hamelin Bay Native freshwater fish species

Protection Area only (from top to bottom)
All ray and skate species are
Balston’s pygmy perch
protected in Hamelin Bay.
Nannatherina balstoni,
western trout minnow
Black stingray (left) Galaxias truttaceus,
Dasyatis thetidis and smooth mud minnow
stingray (right) Galaxiella munda,
Dasyatis brevicaudata
black-stripe minnow
Protected from recreational
fishing in the South Coast and Galaxiella nigrostriata,
West Coast Bioregions. pouch lamprey
Geotria australis,
salamanderfish
Coral and live rock Lepidogalaxias salamandroides,
Order Scleractinia little pygmy perch
(Pictured: Goniopora tenuidens) Nannoperca pygmaea
41
FishWatch – • What they were doing.
• Where it happened; the nearest known
1800 815 507 landmark or intersection of the closest road.
• What type of equipment, cars or boats,
The FishWatch phone line provides a quick and registration numbers and descriptions.
easy way to report sightings or evidence of: • When it happened – time and date. Is it
• illegal fishing; something that is happening right now, while
you are making a report, or was it something
• aquatic pests and diseases; and
you observed previously?
• fish kills.
Your reports are treated in strict confidence.
You can also submit a report online to We recommend you do not approach anyone
crimestopperswa.com.au/organisation-report/ you think is involved in illegal activity relating
fishwatch/ to fish or fishing.
If you don’t wish to contact us through FishWatch
you can pass information to select DPIRD offices
or to Fisheries officers.

Aquatic pests, diseases and fish kills

To help keep WA’s waters pest and disease free,
please practice good vessel maintenance and
Scan to report thoroughly clean and dry all boating and fishing
gear before fishing another waterway or area. You
illegal fishing can help protect our waters by reporting aquatic
pests, diseases and fish kills to FishWatch,
through WA PestWatch on our website, via
Illegal fishing or activity the free WA PestWatch app, our Biosecurity
Illegal fishing or activity could include someone Branch on 1300 374 731 or your local DPIRD
netting in the river, exceeding their bag or office. Please note where, when and what you
possession limits, taking undersize fish, fishing saw including the location (GPS co-ordinates if
in a closed area, having more fishing gear in possible), photographs and numbers of pests or
the water than they should, or illegally selling affected fish. (If you collect samples, please report
recreationally caught fish. it to FishWatch immediately.)
Before you call FishWatch or make a report online,
note:
• How many people you saw.
• Who they were. Did you hear/know any of their
names?

42 43
Finfish possession Note: All fish must be labelled with the
person’s full name, the name of the charter
limits boat and the date that the tour ended.
Abrolhos Islands
The finfish possession limit is the maximum The finfish possession limit at the Abrolhos Islands
quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that (including charter passengers) is;
a person may have in their control/ownership. • 5 kg of fillets from any species, plus 5 kg of
The following general finfish possession limit fillets from large pelagic finfish (must have skin
applies anywhere throughout WA, except in the attached for identification purposes); OR
specific situations outlined on pages 44–45. • one day’s bag limit of whole fish.
• 10 kg of fillets from any species, plus 10 kg of Note: the west coast demersal scalefish
fillets of large pelagic finfish such as mackerel, boat limit applies within the Abrolhos
tuna and shark (must have skin attached for Islands FHPA. If you fillet your demersal
identification purposes); OR scalefish, the boat possession limit still
• 10 kg of fillets and one day’s bag limit of whole applies, and two fillets of fish equal one
fish or fish trunks; OR whole fish.
• 2 days’ bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
Shark Bay’s Freycinet Estuary
Note: You may accumulate up to 20 kg of The finfish possession limit in the Freycinet
fillets of any species (no skin required) at Estuary Management zone is;
your principal place of residence.
• 5 kg of fillets (all species, not just snapper); OR
Exceptions to the general finfish • one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
possession limit For more information and a map, visit the DPIRD
website.
Overnight charter trip
The finfish possession limit if you are on, or have Lalang-garram / Camden Sound Marine Park
just completed, an extended fishing tour involving The finfish possession limit in the Jungulu Special
overnight accommodation on a charter boat and Purpose Zone is;
the fish were taken during the course of the tour, is; • 1 whole fish; OR
• 20 kg of fillets of any species; OR • 2 fillets of fish.
• 10 kg of fillets and one day’s bag limit of whole
fish or fish trunks; OR
• 2 days’ bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.

44 45
Other information be legibly written on the label and be clearly
‘Fillet’ means any particular piece of a finfish, visible for inspection.
other than a whole fish, fish trunk, head, tail, fin, Labels are not needed if:
backbone or wing. For the head, tail, fin, backbone • You are within your daily bag limit and still on
or wing to be excluded from the possession limit your fishing trip.
they must be entirely removed from the fillet.
• The fish are in the possession and under
‘Trunk’ means a fish that has had its head and tail the direct physical control of the person who
removed. took the fish and are not stored with anyone
For storage purposes, a large pelagic fish can be else’s fish (unless the fish were taken as part of
cut into two pieces and still be considered one an extended charter fishing tour - see above).
whole fish.
Landing filleted or processed fish
The following baitfish are not included in the
finfish possession limit: hardyhead (Atherinidae), Fish can be carried at sea and landed:
sardines/pilchards (Clupeidae), whitebait • as fillets with skin on;
(Engraulidae), garfish (Hemiramphidae) and • trunked with skin on; OR
mullet (Mugilidae). Commercially purchased fish • whole (can be gutted and gilled).
are not included, but you may be asked for proof
Unless they are being prepared for immediate
of purchase.
consumption or being eaten, goldspotted rockcod
Some species have a specific possession limit (estuary cod), blackspotted rockcod (Malabar cod)
(see bag and size limit tables on pages 14–41). and barramundi (which all have a maximum size
Unless it can be proven otherwise, you are limit) must be carried whole at sea, on estuaries
assumed to be in possession/control of the fish and on rivers, and landed whole (although can be
if you are using/in control of a vessel, vehicle, gutted and gilled).
refrigerator, freezer, icebox or other storage device
If filleting your fish at sea, two fillets or pieces
in which fish are found.
of fish equals one whole fish for the purpose of
Labelling stored fish enforcing bag and boat limits.
If the quantity of fish stored in a single container/ Note: These rules also apply if you are
freezer exceeds one person’s possession limit, or if returning from an island.
the fish were taken as part of an extended charter
fishing tour, the fish must be clearly labelled with Transporting of unaccompanied fish
the name of the owner(s), the name of the charter Unaccompanied recreationally caught fish, no
boat and the date the tour ended if applicable. matter what the species, (including rock lobsters,
Labels, of at least 75 mm long and 25 mm wide, crabs, prawns, marron and abalone etc.) cannot
must be securely attached to each container or be transported by commercial couriers (or by any
package of fish. The full name of the owner must other person). You must accompany your fish if
transporting it by land, sea or air.

46 47
Cooking and storing Crabs, prawns and
recreationally caught molluscs
fish on commercial
Crabs
premises You can legally catch crabs by:
• hand;
Recreationally caught fish can be stored and
• wire hook – you can use a hand-held blunt
cooked at commercial premises that provide
wire hook to catch crabs. Hooks must not be
accommodation and meals, such as resorts
capable of piercing the crab;
and hotels.
• drop net – they must be no wider than
This allows tourists and holiday-makers who
1.5 metres in diameter. There is a maximum
are staying at the premises to have their
limit of 10 drop nets per person or 10 drop nets
recreationally caught fish cooked by a chef in their
per boat, regardless of how many people are
accommodation’s restaurant.
aboard; OR
The restaurant may charge for the storage and
• scoop net – using hand-held rigid (e.g. wire)
preparation of the fish, but cannot on-sell any of
scoop nets. These must be bowl-shaped, made
that fish or its parts to other people.
of rigid mesh that is not capable of entangling a
A general prohibition on recreationally caught crab, have an internal diameter no bigger than
fish (including invertebrates like lobster and 375 mm, and a depth of no more than 210 mm.
abalone) being on commercial premises where
Catching crabs by any method other than those
fish are purchased, sold, processed, transported
listed above is illegal.
or where aquaculture is undertaken still applies
to all commercial premises other than those that How to measure a crab
provide accommodation and meals. Crabs must be measured
All recreationally caught fish stored on commercial across the widest part of the
premises must be labelled with the owner’s full shell, from tip to tip of the
127 mm

name and address – see page 46 for more details carapace spikes.
on labelling requirements. The fish must not be
stored in the same fridge, freezer, icebox or similar Keeping crabs
as any commercially caught fish. All uncooked crabs must be kept in whole form,
Standard possession limits also apply to fish unless being prepared for immediate consumption.
stored at your accommodation.

48 49
Cleaning crabs Identifying mud crabs
It is recommended to remove the head, guts The two species of mud crab caught in WA are the
(mustard) and gills from blue swimmer crabs green mud crab and the brown mud crab. You
caught in the Swan and Canning rivers before need to be able to tell them apart as they have
freezing, cooking or eating them, to prevent different legal sizes.
potential for a biotoxin produced by Alexandrium,
Claw spines Claw spines

GREEN MUD CRAB

BROWN MUD CRAB

a type of alga. large and reduced or blunt
distinct prominences
Toxic algal bloom events have been detected
in the Swan and Canning rivers at elevated
levels previously, and could become an annual
occurrence. Alexandrium cysts exist in the rivers
sediment and climatic conditions can activate their
next life stage, so a bloom can occur relatively
quickly.
Consumption of affected blue swimmer crabs
may be dangerous. If you become ill after eating
crabs or mussels, seek medical attention. More than one prominent One small blunt spine or no
Visit fish.wa.gov.au/alerts for more information. sharp spine on the elbow spines at all on the elbow

Totally protected crabs

Freshwater prawns (Cherabin) found in
Undersize or ‘berried’ (egg-carrying, see picture)
crabs are totally protected. They must be returned the North Coast Bioregion
to the water immediately. Can be legally caught using:
• no more than six drop nets;
• a single pole snare;
• a single hand-scoop net; OR
• a single throw net that is no longer than
three metres (measured from the centre
retrieval line to the lead line) and a mesh of not
more than 25 mm.
For rules relating to fishing for redclaw (freshwater
crayfish) in Lake Kununurra visit select DPIRD
offices.
You must release any protected crabs you have
caught before attempting to catch another crab.

50 51
Prawns
Can be legally caught using:
Fishing licences
• single hand-dip net; In WA, licences are required for:
• single hand-scoop net; • use of a powered boat to fish or to transport
• single hand-throw net. your catch or fishing gear to or from a land-
Note: throw nets are not permitted in some based fishing location (Recreational Fishing
areas such as the Swan and Canning from Boat Licence – RFBL);
rivers – see our recreational net fishing • rock lobster;
guide for details; OR • abalone;
• single prawn hand-trawl (drag) net that is not • marron;
more than four metres across with a mesh of • South-west (south of 29°S) freshwater angling;
not less than 16 mm, and must not be attached and
to a boat or set.
• net fishing (set, haul and throw nets).
Any crabs caught when fishing for prawns must be
With the exception of the above, you do
returned to the water immediately.
not require a licence to fish from the shore.
You may not use, or leave unattended, a prawn Separate brochures covering five of the licensed
hand-trawl net in these areas (all in the West recreational fisheries listed above are available
Coast Bioregion): from select DPIRD offices or the website. For the
• Harvey Estuary and its tributaries; RFBL, the details are below.
• Peel Inlet and its tributaries; Apply for a new licence, or renew an existing
• Peel Inlet channel entrance; licence online through the DPIRD website.
• Dawesville Cut; Alternatively, application forms are available from
select DPIRD offices and the website.
• Leschenault Estuary and its tributaries; and
• Swan River within 100 metres of any part of the Note: Fishing licences issued in other
Pelican Point Nature Reserve; or within 100 states are not valid in WA.
metres of the Milyu Nature Reserve.
Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence
Landing molluscs You need a Recreational Fishing from Boat
All edible molluscs (except oysters) must be Licence (RFBL) for any fishing activity from a
landed whole and kept in the shell until you are powered boat including:
more than 200 metres inland from the high water • line fishing (handline, rod and line, squid
mark. jigging);
Note: It is illegal to use abalone as bait due
to the risk of spreading disease.

52 53
• catching crabs;
• spearfishing;
Closed seasons and
• catching octopus; protected areas
• dip-netting for prawns; and
• fishing by diving and/or snorkelling. Seasonal closures
You require an RFBL for these fishing activities Seasonal spawning closures provide additional
even if you are returning your catch to the water. protection for fish species that are vulnerable
You also require an RFBL when a powered boat during times when they aggregate (group
is used to transport your catch or fishing gear to together) to reproduce. Large-scale effort closures
or from a land-based fishing location, including an are used to reduce the total time spent fishing and
island or sandbar. You must produce your licence therefore the total number of fish captured.
when requested by a Fisheries and Marine Officer.
You don’t need an RFBL if you are: Demersal scalefish
• fishing from a boat without a motor, such as a Demersal scalefish live on or near the ocean
row boat; floor usually in depths of more than 20 metres,
• fishing from a licensed fishing tour operator’s although they can be found in other areas.
vessel or fishing charter boat; West Coast Bioregion:
• fishing with a person who holds an RFBL Closed: 1 February to 31 March (inclusive);
provided the total catch of everyone on board 1 August to the beginning of the September /
the boat stays within the bag limit(s) of the one October school holidays; (22 September 2023) and
or more fishers who hold an RFBL; OR end of the September / October school holidays (9
• taking part in a fishing activity for which you October 2023) to 15 December (inclusive).
already hold a current licence, such as rock The take, possession on a boat or landing of
lobster or abalone fishing. For example, if you certain demersal scalefish (listed on pages 14–19)
have a licence to fish for rock lobster and that is prohibited within the West Coast Bioregion (north
is the only fishing activity that is taking place on of Kalbarri to east of Augusta) during this period. If
the boat, you don’t need an RFBL. you accidentally catch a demersal scalefish from a
The RFBL database of boat fishers helps us boat in this area during the closed season you must
determine who is fishing, where and what they are return it to the water as soon as possible. You may
catching. This information assists us in managing not take, possess or land demersal scalefish during
our fisheries so there are fish for the future. the closure from kayak or similar vessel or by
The RFBL covers a 12-month period from the date spearfishing (including shore-based spearfishing).
of issue. See page 53 for details on applying for or This closure does not apply to land-based line
renewing your licence. fishers, charter fishers, or commercial fishers.
Unlike the Cockburn Sound snapper (pink
snapper) closure and the Abrolhos Island baldchin

54 55
groper closure, which are designed to protect It is illegal to fish for blue swimmer crabs or be in
aggregations of spawning fish, the demersal possession of blue swimmer crabs in the closed
scalefish closure is one of several management areas during closed seasons.
measures designed to manage the recreational
Woodman
catch to sustainable levels. This measure was Carnac Point
required following independently reviewed Island
research that showed demersal species, like Cockburn
dhufish, snapper (pink snapper) and baldchin Sound closed
groper, were not recovering fast enough. to crab fishing
The seasonal closure and other management year round
measures will be periodically reviewed as
new stock assessment and catch information Garden
Island
becomes available. Rous Head
Harbour
Causeway
Blue swimmer crabs North Mole
Fremantle

Cockburn Sound: Perth

Closed until further notice. 32° 03.23´

Fremantle
The Cockburn Sound crab fishery was closed in
May 2014 after research showed a significant
decline in the number of crabs. The fishery will
th
ba
iso
remain closed until stocks recover.
0m
15

Swan River to Minninup Beach: Mandurah

Closed season 1 September – 30 November

(inclusive).
All waters, rivers and estuaries from the Swan and
Canning rivers to Minninup Beach (15km south of Swan and Canning rivers to
Bunbury) are closed to all crab fishing between Minninup Beach closed to crab
1 September and 30 November each year (see fishing between 1 September
map on page 57). and 30 November
These management measures will help protect
breeding stocks across the blue swimmer crab
resource in the South West, particularly when Bunbury

they are mated and vulnerable to capture. This Rich Rd

will improve the resilience and ensure ongoing 33° 27.11´

performance of our highly valued crab resource Geographe Bay

into the future.

56 57
Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds:
pink snapper spawning closure Closed season 1 August – 31 January (inclusive).
extension
To provide additional protection for spawning pink 32° 04.25′ S 32° 04.25′ S
snapper, the date and area for the Cockburn and 115° 36.30′ E 115° 45′ E
Warnbro Sound’s pink snapper spawning closure
has been extended from 1 August to 31 January.
The closure now runs north to Fremantle Fishing
Boat Harbour and west to the inside of Five
Fathom Bank (see map on page 59).
It is illegal to fish for pink snapper, or be in
possession of pink snapper while line fishing, in
the closed waters during the closed season. Line
fishing for other species from a boat is allowed
as long as there is no pink snapper on board.
However, pink snapper taken outside the closed COCKBURN
SOUND
area may be transported through the closure area
as long as no line fishing is undertaken. Garden
This closure applies to all recreational, charter and Island
commercial fishers.
Note: The take or landing of pink snapper
in the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds
Closed to pink snapper fishing
is also prohibited during the West Coast
1 August - 31 January
Bioregion closed season for demersal
scalefish (see page 55).

WARNBRO
SOUND
Becher point

32° 22.67′ S 32° 22.67′ S

115° 39.10′ E 115° 43.36′ E

58 59
Snapper (pink snapper) The following closed seasons apply in the
Shark Bay and Cockburn Sound are known to Gascoyne Coast Bioregion:
be important breeding aggregation areas for • Northern Bernier Island: Closed season
snapper (pink snapper) stocks in the Gascoyne 1 June – 31 August (inclusive).
and West Coast Bioregions. Providing protection • Eastern Gulf: Closed season
for these aggregations is critical for sustaining 1 May – 31 July (inclusive).
adequate breeding stock of these long lived and • Freycinet Estuary: Closed season
slow growing fish. Being in possession of or 15 August – 30 September (inclusive).
landing pink snapper in the Shark Bay areas is not
permitted during the closure. Baldchin groper

24°40'S 24°40'S Abrolhos Islands:

113°05'E 113°18'E
Closed season 1 October - 31 December (inclusive).
Closed to pink snapper
fishing 1 June – 31 August Taking, landing or possessing baldchin groper is
24°50'S 24°50'S
prohibited within the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat
113°05'E 113°18'E
Carnarvon
Protection Area during the closed season. These
Bernier Island
fish aggregate in shallow areas in the Abrolhos
Dorre Island
area to spawn as the water temperature rises.
25° 16.6' S This closure applies to all recreational, charter and
113° 30.6' E Closed to pink
snapper fishing commercial fishers.
1 May – 31 July
Shark Bay Eastern
Note: The take or landing of baldchin
Gulf groper at the Abrolhos Islands is also
prohibited during the West Coast Bioregion
closed season for demersal scalefish
Denham
Sound
(see page 55).
Denham
25° 59' S Southern garfish
Dirk Hartog Hamelin Pool
Island Marine reserve
Metropolitan waters:
26° 13' S
Closed until further notice.
No fishing
Freycinet
Taking southern garfish (also known as
Closed to
pink snapper fishing Estuary ‘southern sea garfish’) is prohibited in Perth’s
15 August – 30 September Metropolitan waters between 31° south just north
of Lancelin) and 33° south (near Lake Preston/
Myalup) until further notice to protect the breeding
stock. The closure has been introduced to ease
fishing pressure on southern garfish and allow
them to rebuild.

60 61
Marine protected areas • Rock lobster pots – fishers (including divers)
Marine protected areas include fish habitat must not remove from the water or interfere
protection areas, other fishing closures such as with any rock lobster pot that does not belong
wreck sites and marine reserves which include to them. It is also illegal to interfere with any
marine nature reserves, marine parks and marine other type of fishing or aquaculture gear not
management areas. Most of these areas are owned by the person. Fishers who come across
subject to additional rules. someone else’s pot that appears snagged or
with unmarked floats or without a rope and float
Fish habitat protection areas and other closed
attached, are encouraged to record the GPS
areas are managed by DPIRD.
coordinates and report it to a Fisheries officer
Inshore marine reserves are managed by the or through FishWatch (see page 42).
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
• Spearfishing – generally allowed in ocean
Attractions (DBCA). Information is available from
waters, except in some marine protected areas,
DBCA offices and their website at dbca.wa.gov.au
around dive wrecks and during the demersal
Offshore marine parks are managed by Parks scalefish closures in the West Coast Bioregion.
Australia and information is available from their Spearfishing is prohibited in the Ningaloo
website at parksaustralia.gov.au/marine Marine Park between Tantabiddi Well and
Further information about fishing activity allowed Winderabandi Point. Spearfishing for rockcod
in all marine protected areas is available from (Families Epinephelidae and Serranidae) and
select DPIRD offices or the website. wrasse (Subfamily Labrinae) is also prohibited
in all other waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
Further information on specific restrictions in
General fishing rules marine protected areas is available from select
DPIRD offices or the website.
• All inland waters (rivers, tributaries and dams)
Fishing gear are closed to spearfishing. However, the use
Legal fishing gear is outlined below; everything of a hand spear (gidgie) is permitted to take
else is illegal. estuarine cobbler in estuaries.
• Rods, lines and hooks – you can only use a • Haul, set and throw fishing nets – most of the
maximum of one bait or lure on each line in State is closed to set and haul netting. See our
the West Coast Bioregion when fishing for Recreational net fishing guide (fish.wa.gov.au/
demersal scalefish, three baits or lures on each Documents/recreational_fishing/licences/
line in all other areas and for other categories rec_licence_netting.pdf) for details, available
of fish. from select DPIRD offices or the website.
• Shore-based fishers may use a maximum • Release weights – required if fishing by line
of two fishing lines. Rods and lines must be from a boat for demersal scalefish species
attended. statewide (see page 6).

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Protecting fish and their habitats
To protect fish and their habitats in key
Fishing safety
environments, some activities are banned.
In particular you are not allowed to: Boat fishing safety
• use fish/opera house traps or ‘pots’ of any kind Make sure you are properly prepared when fishing
(except lobster pots, octopus trigger traps and from a boat.
complying drop net for marron and crabs – see Check your boat is seaworthy and that the motor
the website for further information); and other equipment is in good working order.
• use berley containing any blood, flesh, offal or Check your safety gear is correct and accessible,
skin from a mammal or from a bird; including distress beacon (EPIRB), marine radio
• use dredges; transceiver, flares, effective anchor and line,
bailer or bilge pump, fresh water, first aid kit, rope,
• obstruct any bay, inlet, river, creek or any tidal
toolkit, torch, signalling mirror, fire extinguisher
or inland waters so that fish are enclosed, left
and alternative power source/spare motor.
stranded, destroyed or wasted;
It is strongly suggested lifejackets are worn while
• carry on, or in, a boat, any explosives or
on the water as it increases the chance of survival
noxious substances (for example, fish poisons);
in an emergency.
• ‘jag’ (deliberately foul-hook) fish;
Note: New rules for recreational boating
• use commercial fishing gear of any kind;
are being introduced in 2023. Check with
• use set-lines; OR the Department of Transport for the latest
• attach fish hooks to lobster pots, anchors and information.
anchor lines or moorings.
Conditions can change quickly. If you are going
Note: Fishing tackle stores may carry gear to an unfamiliar location, treat the ocean with
that does not meet WA legal requirements. respect. Carry a chart of the area where you
In particular, the use of crab traps, ‘opera intend to fish; study it, and familiarise yourself with
house’ traps and bait jigs with more than the position of navigational markers and potential
three hooks is illegal in WA waters. hazards.
Check before you make a purchase.
Check the weather forecast, tide predictions and
watch out for unexpected changes. Take the time
to plan your trip to make sure it’s a safe one.
Before you leave:
• tell a responsible person of your intended trip
plan;
• notify them immediately if plans change during
the voyage;

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• always report in when you return; OR Dive safety
• log on and log off with the local volunteer Diving on compressed air or free diving is a
marine rescue. popular way to fish for species such as rock
Bureau of Meteorology: bom.gov.au/wa lobster, abalone and finfish. Follow these tips
Department of Transport – marine information: when diving to ensure you come home safely.
transport.wa.gov.au/imarine • Always dive with a buddy and never dive alone.
WA Coastal Marine Warnings: 1300 659 223 • Know your own ability and don’t take
WA Marine Service: 1900 926 150 unnecessary risks.
Volunteer Sea Rescue: These groups use VHF • Use a dive flag.
channel 16 and HF channel 4125. Full details and • Watch out for boats and jet skis.
alternative channels: vmrwa.org.au • Wear a shark deterrent device.
More important advice about dive safety is also
Rock fishing safety
available from recfishwest.org.au
Fishing from rocks can be particularly dangerous.
A number of fishers in WA have drowned in recent Shark safety
years after being swept off rocks by large or Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed
unexpected waves. If you intend to fish from rocks: of shark activity information by downloading the
• wear a life jacket; SharkSmart WA app or checking the SharkSmart
• never fish alone; website and Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.
• observe where you plan to fish before you Help others stay informed, report shark
actually start; and sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.
• wear appropriate footwear. Shark sightings are posted to SharkSmart and
Further important advice about rock fishing sent to land managers so beaches can be closed
safety is available from recfishwest.org.au if needed.
Follow our Sea Sense safety tips when using
Abalone safety the water.
Fishing for abalone can also be dangerous. Study Remember, not all sharks are tagged or
the waves before you get into the water and keep sightings reported. Visit sharksmart.com.au for
an eye on the swell while fishing – it is easy to be more information.
injured on reefs.
Wear protective footwear and a wetsuit or light
clothing that will not become too heavy when wet.
If you are unsure whether conditions are too
rough, don’t go in. For more safety tips, visit
mybeach.com.au/safety-rescue-services/
coastal-recreation/abalone/

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Beach Emergency Numbers
The Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) system
Get involved!
– is a coding system that aims to improve
You can give something back and help ensure
emergency response times by installing signs with
there will be fish for the future by assisting some
unique codes at public beach access points.
of our research programs. For more information
These signs provide specific location information, on these opportunities visit fish.wa.gov.au and
vital when emergency services are deployed in the search under ‘volunteers’.
event of a shark sighting, attack or other beach
emergencies. Send us your skeletons
You can help with
vital long-term
monitoring of
our valuable fish
stocks by sending
us your fish frames
(skeletons with the heads and guts intact).
fish.wa.gov.au/frames

Anglers log books

Use the log book we provide to record your ocean,
estuary or freshwater fishing activities. Your
information will assist scientists with a number of
projects.

Fish tagging
Scientists tag and release fish to better
understand population structure, movement,
growth and mortality. We need people to report
recaptures.

Redmap
Help scientists determine whether marine
species are on the move due to warming oceans.
Report photos of any unusual marine species
to the Redmap website redmap.org.au or the
phone app.

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 Hook up to the
rec fishing rules
It’s easy to keep up to date with
Western Australia’s recreational fishing
rules. Whether it’s for bag and size
limits, seasonal closures or licences, all
the rules are at your fingertips.

Go to fish.wa.gov.au/rules
for rules covering more than
180 fish species. Use the
interactive maps to discover
Recfishwest information about
Love your fishing? So do we! marine protected
As the peak body for rec fishing, areas and common
our purpose is to ensure great species by region.
fishing experiences for all in the
WA community forever.
The free Recfishwest app
Visit our website to find out about provides access to the rules
some great fishing initiatives.
even if you’re out of phone
recfishwest.org.au range and has an easy fish
identification feature.

Grab a copy or
download from
Check out our, free, upgraded fish.wa.gov.au/guide
fishing rules app!

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Contact us

1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1)

enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au
Albany Office Geraldton Office
444 Albany Highway, 20 Gregory Street,
Albany WA 6330 Geraldton WA 6530
(08) 9845 7400 (08) 9956 8555
Broome Office Hillarys Office
401 Port Drive, 39 Northside Drive,
Broome WA 6725 Hillarys WA 6025
(08) 9193 8600 (08) 9203 0111
Busselton Office Mandurah Office
48A Bussell Highway, 107 Breakwater Parade,
Busselton WA 6280 Mandurah Ocean Marina
(08) 9752 2152 Mandurah WA 6210
(08) 9583 7800
Carnarvon Office
262 South River Road,
Carnarvon WA 6701
(08) 9956 3333
PB001-23-02 MAR 2023 Illustrations © R.Swainston/www.anima.net.au

Fremantle Office
14 Capo D’Orlando Drive,
South Fremantle WA 6162
(08) 9432 8000

dpird.wa.gov.au
Scan to
ABN: 18 951 343 745 report online