Recreational

fishing guide
2024

Includes Statewide bag and size limits

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

February 2024
 Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development and
the State of Western Australia accept no liability
whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise
arising from the use or release of this information
or any part of it.
This publication is to provide assistance or
information. It is only a guide and does not replace
the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 or the
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995.
It cannot be used as a defence in a court of law.
The information provided is current at the date of
printing but may be subject to change. For the most
up-to-date information on fishing and full details of
legislation contact select DPIRD offices or visit
dpird.wa.gov.au
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2024.

Department of Primary Industries and

Regional Development
1300 374 731 (13 DPIRD1)
enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au
dpird.wa.gov.au

ii
Contents
Fish for the future ................................................. 1
Using this guide..................................................... 1
New rules.............................................................. 2
Care for your catch................................................ 4
Shark depredation and mitigation......................... 7
Fishing licences..................................................... 8
Your licence fees at work.................................... 10
Bag and size limits explained.............................. 12
Demersal scalefish........................................ 17
Large pelagic finfish....................................... 22
Nearshore/estuarine finfish............................ 26
Freshwater finfish.......................................... 32
All other species of finfish.............................. 34
Baitfish........................................................... 35
Crustaceans................................................... 36
Molluscs and other invertebrates................... 41
Protected species.......................................... 42
Finfish possession limits..................................... 44
Cooking and storing recreationally
caught fish on commercial premises................... 48
Crabs, prawns and molluscs............................... 49
Closed seasons and protected areas................. 53
General fishing rules........................................... 62
FishWatch – 1800 815 507................................. 65
Fishing safety...................................................... 67
Get involved!....................................................... 72

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iv
Photo: Tourism WA
Fish for the future
Western Australia is home to some of the
most exciting and varied recreational fishing
opportunities in the world. With around 633,000
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 4 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
website at fish.wa.gov.au/recfishing
Please contact us to request information in
alternative formats.

1
New rules
West Coast demersal scalefish
• Closed season for demersal scalefish in the
West Coast bioregion:
– 1 February to 28 March 2024 (inclusive)
– 1 August to 15 September 2024 (inclusive)
– 15 October to 15 December 2024 (inclusive)

Note: this does not apply to land-based line

fishers, charter fishers or commercial fishers.
• A mixed species daily bag limit of 2 demersal
scalefish, including WA dhufish (except coral
trout, coronation trout and western blue groper
have a daily bag limit of one).
• A boat limit of 4 demersal scalefish.
• Removal of size limits for WA dhufish, baldchin
groper and breaksea cod.
Note: size limit remains for pink snapper.
• A maximum of one bait or lure per line when
fishing for demersal scalefish.
• Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds pink snapper
spawning closure 1 August to 31 January
(inclusive).
• Abrolhos Islands baldchin groper spawning
closure 1 October to 31 December (inclusive).
• Abrolhos Islands:
– bag limit of one demersal scalefish;
– possession limit of:
▪ 5 kg of fillets from any species, plus 5 kg
of fillets from large pelagic finfish (must
have skin attached for identification
purposes); OR
▪ one day’s bag limit of whole fish.

2
 Note: the West Coast demersal scalefish boat
limit applies within the Abrolhos Islands fish
habitat protection area (FHPA). If you fillet your
demersal scalefish, the boat possession limit
still applies, and 2 fillets of fish equal one whole
fish.

Abalone
Fishing for greenlip abalone is closed in the area
from Busselton Jetty to Shoal Cape (in Zone 3).
See the Abalone recreational fishing guide for
further information.

Metropolitan wire trace fishing

Recreational fishing with wire trace is prohibited
within 800 metres of all Perth metropolitan
beaches from Tim’s Thicket Beach (south of
Mandurah) to 5 kilometres north of Two Rocks and
all waters of the Swan and Canning rivers, waters
in the Dawesville Channel up to the Port Bouvard
Bridge, and waters in the Mandurah Estuary up to
the Mandurah Estuary Bridge.
The restrictions have been put in place following
ongoing community concerns around recreational
shark fishing.

Southern Garfish
From 1 March 2024, the take of southern garfish
in Perth Metropolitan waters is now permitted
following the ongoing recovery of the stock. A daily
bag limit of 30 applies for the garfish group.

See the DPIRD website for further information.

3
Care for your catch
You can help ensure there will be fish for the
future by taking care of the fish you catch, and
releasing all undersize or protected fish as
carefully and as quickly as possible.
Catching fish: Gear up – by using the right
fishing gear you will decrease the chance of injury
to the fish and increase their chance of survival if
released.
Handling fish: Be ready – by handling fish
carefully, you can ensure a better chance of its
survival if released and produce better eating
quality for those you keep.
Releasing fish: Be prepared – by using the best
techniques to release your fish you will increase
their chance of survival, and that will mean more
fish for the future.
Keeping fish: Know how – learn how to dispatch
your fish, and how to keep it fresh and make the
most of your catch by using every bit.
Responsible fishing: Be aware – you can do
your part to ensure fish for the future by following
the rules and responsible fishing guidelines.
Check out the Catch Care guide at
fish.wa.gov.au/catchcare for further tips for what
you can do on your next fishing trip to ensure fish
for our future.

4
Do not high grade your catch
Continuing to fish once you have reached your
bag limit to later discard a small fish for any bigger
fish caught, is known as ‘high grading’. This
practice results in more fish being removed from
the fishery, placing unnecessary pressure on our
fish stocks.
If you chose not to return a fish to the water
immediately, you have taken that fish and it counts
towards your daily bag limit.
Poisonous and venomous fish
Some species have venomous spines or
poisonous flesh. Handle any fish with caution and
avoid direct contact with the fish’s spines and
gill plates.
Several WA fish species are highly poisonous
to eat, such as members of the blowfish or
pufferfish family.
Return captured blowfish to the water!
If you catch a blowfish, return it immediately to
the water. Blowfish play an important role in the
ecosystem as scavengers, but if they’re caught
and left on the shore they pose a life threatening
risk to dogs and other animals that may eat them.

5
Barotrauma and using a release weight
The term ‘barotrauma’ refers to damage that
occurs to fish when captured in deep water. Gases
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. Fish suffering from barotrauma may
not be able to return to the bottom when released
if their swim bladder remains inflated. 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
and breaksea cod for this reason.
If you need to release a demersal fish, a release
weight may help fish return to the ocean floor.
Note: If you are boat fishing for demersal
species anywhere in WA, you must have a
release weight on board.
A release weight
is a weighted
barbless hook that
is attached to the
fish’s upper lip and
designed to be
easily detached
by tugging the line
once the fish is
back on the seabed.

6
Shark depredation
and mitigation

Shark depredation (or bite-offs) occur when a

shark partially or completely consumes a fish
caught by fishing gear before it can be landed.
Shark bite-offs can have detrimental economic
and social impacts on commercial, charter
and recreational fishers across WA and
developing mitigation measures is complex.
Some ways you can mitigate bite-offs:
• if depredation starts to occur, move fishing
spots immediately.
• consider using deterrent devices to increase
your chance of landing a fish.
• avoid areas known to be depredation hotspots
as sharks can learn where to get an easy feed.
• use lures and jigs instead of bait as bait may
attract more sharks.
• avoid catch and release fishing.
• don’t clean fish at sea, bring your fish waste
back to land for composting.

7
Fishing licences
In WA, licences are required for:
• use of a powered boat to fish or to transport
your catch or fishing gear to or from a land-
based fishing location (Recreational Fishing
from Boat Licence – RFBL);
• rock lobster;
• abalone;
• marron;
• South-west (south of 29°S) freshwater angling;
and
• net fishing (set, haul and throw nets).
With the exception of the above, you do not
require a licence to fish from the shore. Separate
brochures covering 5 of the licensed recreational
fisheries listed above are available from select
DPIRD offices or the website.
Apply for a new licence, or renew an existing
licence online through the DPIRD website.
Alternatively, application forms are available from
select DPIRD offices and the website.
Note: Fishing licences issued in other
states are not valid in WA.

Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence

You need a Recreational Fishing from Boat
Licence (RFBL) for any fishing activity from a
powered boat including:
• line fishing (handline, rod and line, squid
jigging);
• catching crabs;

8
• spearfishing;
• catching octopus;
• dip-netting for prawns; and
• fishing by diving and/or snorkelling.
You require an RFBL for these fishing activities
even if you are returning your catch to the water.
You also require an RFBL when a powered boat
is used to transport your catch or fishing gear to
or from a land-based fishing location, including an
island or sandbar. You must produce your licence
when requested by a Fisheries and Marine Officer.
You don’t need an RFBL if you are:
• fishing from a boat without a motor, such as a
row boat;
• fishing from a licensed fishing tour operator’s
vessel or fishing charter boat;
• fishing with a person who holds an RFBL
provided the total catch of everyone on board
the boat stays within the bag limit(s) of the one
or more fishers who hold an RFBL; OR
• taking part in a fishing activity for which you
already hold a current licence, such as rock
lobster or abalone fishing. For example, if you
have a licence to fish for rock lobster and that
is the only fishing activity that is taking place on
the boat, you don’t need an RFBL.
The RFBL database of boat fishers helps us
determine who is fishing, where and what they are
catching. This information assists us in managing
our fisheries so there are fish for the future.
The RFBL covers a 12-month period from the date
of issue. See page 8 for details on applying for or
renewing your licence.

9
 Recreational fishing by Aboriginal people
If you are Aboriginal, you do not need a
recreational fishing licence. This applies when
you take fish from any waters in accordance with
continuing Aboriginal tradition and the fish are
taken only for you or your family to eat and not
for a commercial purpose. All other fishing rules
(including bag and size limits) still apply.

Your licence fees

at work
Each year, recreational fishing licence fees
contribute about $9 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
fees include:
• artificial reefs;
• Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs);
• stocking projects for snapper, kingfish,
barramundi, marron and freshwater trout;

10
• the future fisheries leaders program;
• research projects into popular recreational
species such as blue swimmer crabs, black
bream and squid; and
• the Statewide recreational boat fishing survey.

Recreational fishing licence fees contribute

towards artificial reefs to provide premium
quality recreational fishing opportunities for
small boat owners. Several have been installed
throughout the state, all receiving funding from
recreational fishing licence revenue.

11
 Bag and size limits
explained
Bag and size limits help ensure our aquatic
resources remain sustainable for future generations.
Bag limits assist in sharing the resource and
contribute to the sustainable management of the
State’s fish stocks. Size limits allow fish with low or
moderate post-release mortality to reach maturity to
complete their breeding cycle.
Measure all fish with a size limit and return any
undersize or otherwise protected fish to the water
immediately upon capture, with the least possible
injury (see ‘care for your catch’ on page 4).

Finfish categories
For bag and size limits, finfish are categorised
according to their aquatic environment, although
some finfish are present in multiple environments
(see diagram below).

200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone

The boundary of WA’s legal control
of marine resources

Pelagic

Freshwater
Estuarine
20m
Nearshore

Demersal

In some cases there are rules that apply to specific

biological regions – the North Coast Bioregion,
Gascoyne Coast Bioregion, West Coast Bioregion
and South Coast Bioregion (see map on page 13).

12
 Western Australia’s marine bioregions
114° 50' E
North Coast
(Pilbara/Kimberley)
Kununurra
Gascoyne
Coast Broome

Port Hedland
21° 4 6 ' S
Karratha
Onslow
As
hbu
Exmouth r ton
Rive
r

Carnarvon
Denham
27 ° S

Kalbarri
Geraldton

West
Coast Eucla
Perth

Esperance
Augusta
Black Point
Albany South Coast
115° 30' E

Mixed species daily bag limit

This is the combined maximum number of
fish of any species within one category (such
as demersal or large pelagic) that a fisher
may take or bring on to land in any 24-hour
period (from midnight to midnight, except from
midday to midday for marron, prawns and when
recreationally set netting).
For example, demersal scalefish in the West Coast
Bioregion has a total mixed daily bag limit of 2 fish.
2 fish = 1 baldchin groper + 1 pink snapper
OR
2 fish = 2 pink snapper (but no other demersal scalefish)

13
 Note: Within the mixed daily bag limit,
you cannot exceed the stated individual
species limit (see below). For example,
you may only take a maximum of one
coral trout per day.

Individual species daily bag limit

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

Boat limit
A boat limit is the maximum number of fish of a
species or group of species that may be on a boat
or attached to a boat (including tender vessels) at
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 licensed
fishers on the boat, up to the maximum boat
possession limit (see bag and size limit tables on
pages 16–43 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 2 people on board, and up to a
maximum of 24 when there are 3 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
8–10 for information about other recreational
fishing licence requirements.

14
Possession limits and transporting fish
A possession limit is the maximum quantity of fish
that a person may have in their control/ownership.
Possession limits apply to all finfish (see page 44),
as well as rock lobster, marron and abalone (see
bag and size limit tables).
Recreationally caught fish cannot be transported
unaccompanied (see page 47).

Size limits
To check if your catch is of a legal size, measure
finfish from the point of the snout to the tip of the
tail. Pick up a free fish ruler sticker from select
DPIRD offices or participating retail outlets.

15
16
Demersal scalefish – bag and size limits
Release weight required when line fishing for demersal South Coast,
West Coast Abrolhos Islands Gascoyne, North
scalefish anywhere in WA - see page 6 Bioregion Coast Bioregions
TOTAL mixed species daily bag limit per fisher. This is the
combined number of demersal scalefish you can take
(see page 13 for details).
2 1 5
Boat limit of 4 applies in the West Coast bioregion, including
Abrolhos Islands. Charter boats excluded. N/A
4
Closed season - Applies to all demersal scalefish in the West Closed: 1 Feb to 28 Mar 2024 (inclusive); No demersal closed
Coast Bioregion unless otherwise excepted. Does not apply to 1 Aug to 15 Sep 2024 (inclusive); season in these
land-based line fishing, charter or commercial fishers. 15 Oct to 15 Dec 2024 (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 57
 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

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 8–9 for licence rules.

17
18
West Abrolhos Other
Coast Islands Bioregions
Demersal scalefish –
TOTAL mixed species Individual species
bag and size limits (continued) daily bag limit per fisher 2 1 5 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)
* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 8–9 for licence rules.
†
May be taken during the closed season.

19
20
West Abrolhos Other
Coast Islands Bioregions
Demersal scalefish –
TOTAL mixed species Individual species
bag and size limits (continued) daily bag limit per fisher 2 1 5 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
#
* In the South Coast Bioregion you may
Bight redfish (Nannygai, red snapper) –
take 8 Bight redfish, 8 yelloweye redfish 2 1 8
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 54–56 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
* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 8–9 for licence rules.

21
22
Large pelagic finfish – bag and size limits
Moderate vulnerability
Statewide

TOTAL mixed species

daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number of large pelagic
finfish you can take (see page 13 for details).
3
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 8–9 for licence rules.

23
24
Statewide
Large pelagic finfish –
TOTAL mixed species
bag and size limits (continued) 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
measurement from the front of the first dorsal fin to N/A
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 8–9 for licence rules.

25
26
Nearshore/estuarine finfish – bag and size limits 
Moderate vulnerability
Statewide
TOTAL mixed species
daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number
of nearshore/estuarine finfish
you can take (see page 13 for
details).
16
For example, 16 fish = 8 tailor (individual species limit = 8), 4
Western Australian salmon (individual species limit = 4) and

Photo: Shannon Conway

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 8–9 for licence rules.

27
28
Statewide
Nearshore/estuarine finfish –
TOTAL mixed species daily
bag and size limits (continued) 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

Snook: 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 8–9 for licence rules.

29
30
Statewide
Nearshore/estuarine finfish –
TOTAL mixed species daily
bag and size limits (continued) 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 8–9 for licence rules.

31
32
Freshwater finfish – bag and size limits
Statewide
TOTAL mixed species
daily bag limit per fisher
This is the combined number of freshwater
finfish you can take (see page 13 for details).
4
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: 250 mm
Family Terapontidae (Pictured: Sooty grunter Hephaestus fuliginosus) Other: N/A

NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 8–9 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.

33
34
All other species of finfish – bag and size limits
Statewide
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.
30
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*
Family Hemiramphidae 30
(Pictured top to bottom: southern garfish, robust garfish)

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 8–9 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 8–9 for licence rules.

35
36
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 8–10, 49–51 & 58–59 and our must be on board)
(carapace width)
recreational crabbing guides for more West Coast: 20
details about closed seasons and other West Coast: 10 (At least two people
specific rules 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 52 for more details)

# Closed seasons apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 8–9 for licence rules.

37
38
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 8–9 for licence rules.

39
40
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 8–9 for licence rules.

41
42
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

43
Finfish possession
limits
The finfish possession limit is the maximum
quantity of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that
a person may have in their control/ownership.
The following general finfish possession limit
applies anywhere throughout WA, except in the
specific situations outlined below.
• 10 kg of fillets from any species, plus 10 kg of
fillets of large pelagic finfish such as mackerel,
tuna and shark (must have skin attached for
identification purposes); OR
• 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.
Note: You may accumulate up to 20 kg of
fillets of any species (no skin required) at
your principal place of residence.

Exceptions to the general finfish

possession limit
Overnight charter trip
The finfish possession limit if you are on, or have
just completed, an extended fishing tour involving
overnight accommodation on a charter boat and
the fish were taken during the course of the tour, is;
• 20 kg of fillets of any species; OR
• 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.
Note: All fish must be labelled with the
person’s full name, the name of the charter
boat and the date that the tour ended.

44
Abrolhos Islands
The finfish possession limit at the Abrolhos Islands
(including charter passengers) is;
• 5 kg of fillets from any species, plus 5 kg of
fillets from large pelagic finfish (must have skin
attached for identification purposes); OR
• one day’s bag limit of whole fish.
Note: the west coast demersal scalefish
boat limit applies within the Abrolhos
Islands FHPA. If you fillet your demersal
scalefish, the boat possession limit still
applies, and 2 fillets of fish equal one whole
fish.
Shark Bay’s Freycinet Estuary
The finfish possession limit in the Freycinet
Estuary Management zone is;
• 5 kg of fillets (all species, not just snapper); OR
• one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
For more information and a map, visit the DPIRD
website.

Lalang-garram / Camden Sound Marine Park

The finfish possession limit in the Jungulu Special
Purpose Zone is;
• 1 whole fish; OR
• 2 fillets of fish.

Barramundi
The possession limit for barramundi, when not at
your principal place of residence, is:
• 2 whole barramundi, OR
• 4 fillets of barramundi.

45
Other information
‘Fillet’ means any particular piece of a finfish,
other than a whole fish, fish trunk, head, tail, fin,
backbone or wing. For the head, tail, fin, backbone
or wing to be excluded from the possession limit
they must be entirely removed from the fillet.
‘Trunk’ means a fish that has had its head and tail
removed.
For storage purposes, a large pelagic fish can be
cut into two pieces and still be considered one
whole fish.
The following baitfish are not included in the
finfish possession limit: hardyhead (Atherinidae),
sardines/pilchards (Clupeidae), whitebait
(Engraulidae), garfish (Hemiramphidae) and
mullet (Mugilidae). Commercially purchased fish
are not included, but you may be asked for proof
of purchase.
Some species have a specific possession limit
(see bag and size limit tables on pages 16–43).
Unless it can be proven otherwise, you are
assumed to be in possession/control of the fish
if you are using/in control of a vessel, vehicle,
refrigerator, freezer, icebox or other storage device
in which fish are found.

Labelling stored fish

If the quantity of fish stored in a single container/
freezer exceeds one person’s possession limit, or if
the fish were taken as part of an extended charter
fishing tour, the fish must be clearly labelled with
the name of the owner(s), the name of the charter
boat and the date the tour ended if applicable.
Labels, of at least 75 mm long and 25 mm wide,
must be securely attached to each container or
package of fish. The full name of the owner must

46
be legibly written on the label and be clearly
visible for inspection.
Labels are not needed if:
• You are within your daily bag limit and still on
your fishing trip.
• The fish are in the possession and under
the direct physical control of the person who
took the fish and are not stored with anyone
else’s fish (unless the fish were taken as part of
an extended charter fishing tour - see above).

Landing filleted or processed fish

Fish can be carried at sea and landed:
• as fillets with skin on;
• trunked with skin on; OR
• whole (can be gutted and gilled).
Unless they are being prepared for immediate
consumption or being eaten, goldspotted rockcod
(estuary cod), blackspotted rockcod (Malabar cod)
and barramundi (which all have a maximum size
limit) must be carried whole at sea, on estuaries
and on rivers, and landed whole (although can be
gutted and gilled).
If filleting your fish at sea, 2 fillets or pieces of fish
equals one whole fish for the purpose of enforcing
bag and boat limits.
Note: These rules also apply if you are
returning from an island.

Transporting of unaccompanied fish

Unaccompanied recreationally caught fish, no
matter what the species, (including rock lobsters,
crabs, prawns, marron and abalone etc.) cannot
be transported by commercial couriers (or by any
other person). You must accompany your fish if
transporting it by land, sea or air.

47
Cooking and storing
recreationally caught
fish on commercial
premises
Recreationally caught fish can be stored and
cooked at commercial premises that provide
accommodation and meals, such as resorts
and hotels.
This allows tourists and holiday-makers who
are staying at the premises to have their
recreationally caught fish cooked by a chef in their
accommodation’s restaurant.
The restaurant may charge for the storage and
preparation of the fish, but cannot on-sell any of
that fish or its parts to other people.
A general prohibition on recreationally caught
fish (including invertebrates like lobster and
abalone) being on commercial premises where
fish are purchased, sold, processed, transported
or where aquaculture is undertaken still applies
to all commercial premises other than those that
provide accommodation and meals.
All recreationally caught fish stored on commercial
premises must be labelled with the owner’s full
name and address – see page 46 for more details
on labelling requirements. The fish must not be
stored in the same fridge, freezer, icebox or similar
as any commercially caught fish.
Standard possession limits also apply to fish
stored at your accommodation.

48
Crabs, prawns and
molluscs
Crabs
You can legally catch crabs by:
• hand;
• wire hook – you can use a hand-held blunt
wire hook to catch crabs. Hooks must not be
capable of piercing the crab;
• drop net – they must be no wider than
1.5 metres in diameter. There is a maximum
limit of 10 drop nets per person or 10 drop nets
per boat, regardless of how many people are
aboard; OR
• scoop net – using hand-held rigid (e.g. wire)
scoop nets. These must be bowl-shaped, made
of rigid mesh that is not capable of entangling a
crab, have an internal diameter no bigger than
375 mm, and a depth of no more than 210 mm.
Catching crabs by any method other than those
listed above is illegal.

How to measure a crab

Crabs must be measured
across the widest part of the 127 mm

shell, from tip to tip of the

carapace spikes.

Keeping crabs
All uncooked crabs must be kept in whole form,
unless being prepared for immediate consumption.

49
Cleaning crabs
It is recommended to remove the head, guts
(mustard) and gills from blue swimmer crabs
caught in the Swan and Canning rivers before
freezing, cooking or eating them, to prevent
potential for a biotoxin produced by Alexandrium,
a type of alga.
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.
Visit fish.wa.gov.au/alerts for more information.

Totally protected crabs

Undersize or ‘berried’ (egg-carrying, see picture)
crabs are totally protected. They must be returned
to the water immediately.

You must release any protected crabs you have

caught before attempting to catch another crab.

50
Identifying mud crabs
The 2 species of mud crab caught in WA are the
green mud crab and the brown mud crab. You
need to be able to tell them apart as they have
different legal sizes.
Claw spines Claw spines
GREEN MUD CRAB

BROWN MUD CRAB

large and reduced or blunt
distinct prominences

More than one prominent One small blunt spine or no

sharp spine on the elbow spines at all on the elbow

Freshwater prawns (Cherabin) found in

the North Coast Bioregion
Can be legally caught using:
• no more than 6 drop nets;
• a single pole snare;
• a single hand-scoop net; OR
• a single throw net that is no longer than
3 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.

51
Prawns
Can be legally caught using:
• single hand-dip net;
• single hand-scoop net;
• single hand-throw net.
Note: throw nets are not permitted in some
areas such as the Swan and Canning
rivers – see our Recreational net fishing
guide for details; OR
• single prawn hand-trawl (drag) net that is not
more than 4 metres across with a mesh of not
less than 16 mm, and must not be attached to a
boat or set.
Any crabs caught when fishing for prawns must be
returned to the water immediately.
You may not use, or leave unattended, a prawn
hand-trawl net in these areas (all in the West
Coast Bioregion):
• Harvey Estuary and its tributaries;
• Peel Inlet and its tributaries;
• Peel Inlet channel entrance;
• Dawesville Cut;
• Leschenault Estuary and its tributaries; and
• Swan River within 100 metres of any part of the
Pelican Point Nature Reserve; or within 100
metres of the Milyu Nature Reserve.

Landing molluscs
All edible molluscs (except oysters) must be
landed whole and kept in the shell until you are
more than 200 metres inland from the high water
mark.
Note: It is illegal to use abalone as bait due
to the risk of spreading disease.

52
Closed seasons and
protected areas
Seasonal closures
Seasonal spawning closures provide additional
protection for fish species that are vulnerable
during times when they aggregate (group
together) to reproduce. Large-scale effort closures
are used to reduce the total time spent fishing and
therefore the total number of fish captured.

Demersal scalefish
Demersal scalefish live on or near the ocean
floor usually in depths of more than 20 metres,
although they can be found in other areas.
West Coast Bioregion:
Closed:
– 1 February to 28 March 2024 (inclusive)
– 1 August to 15 September 2024 (inclusive)
– 15 October to 15 December 2024 (inclusive)
It is prohibited to fish for, take, possess on a boat or
land certain demersal scalefish (listed on pages 16-
21) within the West Coast bioregion (from Kalbarri
to Augusta) during this period. If you accidentally
catch a demersal scalefish from a boat in this
area during the closed season you must return
it to the water as soon as possible. You may not
take, possess or land demersal scalefish during
the closure from kayak or similar vessel or by
spearfishing (including shore-based spearfishing).
This closure does not apply to land-based line
fishers, charter fishers, or commercial fishers.

53
Unlike the Cockburn Sound snapper (pink
snapper) closure and the Abrolhos Island baldchin
groper closure, which are designed to protect
aggregations of spawning fish, the demersal
scalefish closure is one of several management
measures designed to manage the recreational
catch to sustainable levels. This measure was
required following independently reviewed
research that showed demersal species, like
dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, were
not recovering fast enough.
The seasonal closure and other management
measures will be periodically reviewed as
new stock assessment and catch information
becomes available.
Pink snapper - spawning closures:
Shark Bay and Cockburn Sound are known to
be important breeding aggregation areas for
pink snapper stocks in the Gascoyne and West
Coast bioregions. Providing protection for these
aggregations is critical for sustaining adequate
breeding stock of these long lived and slow
growing fish.
Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds:
To provide protection for spawning pink snapper,
Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds (see map on
page 55) are closed from 1 August to 31 January
(inclusive).
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
area may be transported through the closure area
as long as no line fishing is undertaken.

54
This closure applies to all recreational, charter and
commercial fishers.
Note: The take or landing of pink snapper in
the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds is also
prohibited during the West Coast bioregion
closed season for demersal scalefish
(see page 53).

32° 04.25′ S 32° 04.25′ S

115° 36.30′ E 115° 45′ E

COCKBURN
SOUND

Garden
Island

Closed to pink snapper fishing

1 August - 31 January

WARNBRO
SOUND
Becher point

32° 22.67′ S 32° 22.67′ S

115° 39.10′ E 115° 43.36′ E

55
Shark Bay:
The take of pink snapper is prohibited in the Shark
Bay areas during the closed seasons. It is also
prohibited to transport pink snapper through or land
pink snapper in the closed areas during the closed
seasons.
The following closed seasons apply in the
Gascoyne Coast bioregion:
• Northern Bernier Island: Closed season
1 June – 31 August (inclusive).
• Eastern Gulf: Closed season
1 May – 31 July (inclusive).
• Freycinet Estuary: Closed season
15 August – 30 September (inclusive).
24°40'S 24°40'S
113°05'E 113°18'E

Closed to pink snapper

fishing 1 June – 31 August

24°50'S 24°50'S
113°05'E 113°18'E
Carnarvon
Bernier Island
Dorre Island

25° 16.6' S
113° 30.6' E Closed to pink
snapper fishing
1 May – 31 July
Shark Bay Eastern
Gulf

Denham
Sound
Denham
25° 59' S
Dirk Hartog Hamelin Pool
Island Marine reserve

26° 13' S

No fishing
Closed to Freycinet
Estuary
pink snapper fishing
15 August – 30 September

56
Baldchin groper
Abrolhos Islands:
Closed season 1 October - 31 December (inclusive).
Taking, landing or possessing baldchin groper is
prohibited within the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat
Protection Area during the closed season. These
fish aggregate in shallow areas in the Abrolhos
area to spawn as the water temperature rises.
This closure applies to all recreational, charter and
commercial fishers.
Note: The take or landing of baldchin
groper at the Abrolhos Islands is also
prohibited during the West Coast Bioregion
closed season for demersal scalefish
(see page 53).

57
Blue swimmer crabs
Cockburn Sound:
Closed until further notice.
The Cockburn Sound crab fishery was closed in
May 2014 after research showed a significant
decline in the number of crabs. The fishery will
remain closed until stocks recover.

Swan River to Minninup Beach:

Closed season 1 September – 30 November
(inclusive).
All waters, rivers and estuaries from the Swan and
Canning rivers to Minninup Beach (15km south of
Bunbury) are closed to all crab fishing between
1 September and 30 November each year (see
map on page 59).
These management measures will help protect
breeding stocks across the blue swimmer crab
resource in the South West, particularly when
they are mated and vulnerable to capture. This
will improve the resilience and ensure ongoing
performance of our highly valued crab resource
into the future.
It is illegal to fish for blue swimmer crabs or be in
possession of blue swimmer crabs in the closed
areas during closed seasons.

58
 Woodman
Carnac Point
Island
Cockburn
Sound closed
to crab fishing
year round

Garden
Island
Rous Head
Harbour
Causeway
North Mole
Fremantle

Perth

32° 03.23´
Fremantle
th
ba
iso
0m
15

Mandurah

Swan and Canning rivers to

Minninup Beach closed to crab
fishing between 1 September
and 30 November

Bunbury

Rich Rd
33° 27.11´

Geographe Bay

59
 Marron
The recreational marron fishing open season
is from 12 noon, 8 January 2024 to 12 noon, 5
February 2024. See the Marron Recreational
Fishing Guide at fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/
recreational_fishing/licences/rec_licence_
marron.pdf for further information.

Abalone and urchin

Recreational fishers may only fish for or take
abalone and sea urchin in the open season.
For seasons and locations see the Abalone
Recreational Fishing Guide at fish.wa.gov.au/
Documents/recreational_fishing/licences/rec_
licence_abalone.pdf

Greenlip abalone:
Recreational fishing for greenlip abalone is closed
in the area from Busselton Jetty to Shoal Cape (in
Zone 3). Commercial fishing for greenlip abalone
is also prohibited in the same area.
Geraldton
33°29’S
115°20.675'E
Bunbury

Moore River
Perth Busselton

Esperance
Bunbury
Shoal Cape
Busselton

Albany

CLOSED TO GREENLIP
ABALONE FISHING

230332

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Marine protected areas
Marine protected areas include fish habitat
protection areas, other fishing closures such as
wreck sites and marine reserves which include
marine nature reserves, marine parks and marine
management areas. Most of these areas are
subject to additional rules.
Fish habitat protection areas and other closed
areas are managed by DPIRD.
Inshore marine reserves are managed by the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions (DBCA). Information is available from
DBCA offices and their website at dbca.wa.gov.au
Offshore marine parks are managed by Parks
Australia and information is available from their
website at parksaustralia.gov.au/marine
Further information about fishing activity allowed
in all marine protected areas is available from
select DPIRD offices or the website.

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General fishing rules
Fishing gear
Legal fishing gear is outlined below; everything
else is illegal.
• Rods, lines and hooks – you can only use
a maximum of one bait or lure on each line
in the West Coast Bioregion when fishing for
demersal scalefish, 3 baits or lures on each line
in all other areas and for other categories of
fish.
• Shore-based fishers may use a maximum of 2
fishing lines. Rods and lines must be attended.
• Rock lobster pots – fishers (including divers)
must not remove from the water or interfere
with any rock lobster pot that does not belong
to them. It is also illegal to interfere with any
other type of fishing or aquaculture gear not
owned by the person. Fishers who come across
someone else’s pot that appears snagged or
with unmarked floats or without a rope and float
attached, are encouraged to record the GPS
coordinates and report it to a Fisheries officer
or through FishWatch (see page 65).
• Spearfishing – all inland waters (rivers,
tributaries and dams) are closed to spearfishing.
However, the use of a hand spear (gidgie) is
permitted to take estuarine cobbler in estuaries.
Spearfishing is generally allowed in ocean
waters, except in some marine protected areas,
around dive wrecks and during the demersal
scalefish closures in the West Coast bioregion.
Spearfishing is prohibited in the Ningaloo

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 Marine Park between Tantabiddi Well and
Winderabandi Point. Spearfishing for rockcod
(Families Epinephelidae and Serranidae) and
wrasse (Subfamily Labrinae) is also prohibited
in all other waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
Spearfishing while diving under compressed air
is prohibited in the Shark Bay Marine Park.
Further information on specific restrictions in
marine protected areas is available from select
DPIRD offices or the website.
• Haul, set and throw fishing nets – most of
the State is closed to set and haul netting. See
our Recreational Net Fishing Guide for details,
available from select DPIRD offices or the
website.
• Release weights – required if fishing by line
from a boat for demersal scalefish species
statewide (see page 6).

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Protecting fish and their habitats
To protect fish and their habitats in key
environments, some activities are banned.
In particular you are not allowed to:
• use fish/opera house traps or ‘pots’ of any kind
(except lobster pots, octopus trigger traps and
complying drop net for marron and crabs – see
the website for further information);
• use berley containing any blood, flesh, offal or
skin from a mammal or from a bird;
• use dredges;
• obstruct any bay, inlet, river, creek or any tidal
or inland waters so that fish are enclosed, left
stranded, destroyed or wasted;
• carry on, or in, a boat, any explosives or
noxious substances (for example, fish poisons);
• ‘jag’ (deliberately foul-hook) fish;
• use commercial fishing gear of any kind;
• use set-lines; OR
• attach fish hooks to lobster pots, anchors and
anchor lines or moorings.
Note: Fishing tackle stores may carry gear
that does not meet WA legal requirements.
In particular, the use of crab traps, ‘opera
house’ traps and bait jigs with more than
three hooks is illegal in WA waters.
Check before you make a purchase.

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FishWatch –
1800 815 507
The FishWatch phone line
provides the quickest and
most efficient way to report
sightings or evidence of: Scan to report
illegal fishing
• illegal fishing;
• aquatic pests and diseases; and
• fish kills.
You can also submit other reports online to
crimestopperswa.com.au/organisation-report/
fishwatch/
Reports made to Crimestoppers are not monitored
outside normal working hours or on weekends.

Illegal fishing or activity

Illegal fishing or activity could include someone
netting in the river, exceeding their bag or
possession limits, taking undersize fish, fishing
in a closed area, having more fishing gear in
the water than they should, or illegally selling
recreationally caught fish.
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?
• What they were doing.
• Where it happened; the nearest known
landmark or intersection of the closest road.
• What type of equipment, cars or boats,
registration numbers and descriptions.

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• When it happened – time and date. Is it
something that is happening right now, while
you are making a report, or was it something
you observed previously?
Your reports are treated in strict confidence.
We recommend you do not approach anyone
you think is involved in illegal activity relating
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

You can help protect our waters by reporting
aquatic pests, diseases and fish kills to:
• FishWatch (report samples immediately)
• WA PestWatch on our website or via
the free app
• Biosecurity Branch on 1300 374 731
• Your local DPIRD office.
Note where, when, and what you saw including
the location (GPS coordinates if possible),
photographs and numbers of pests or affected
fish.
Practice good vessel maintenance and thoroughly
clean and dry all boating and fishing gear before
fishing another waterway or area.
It is important not to use seafood meant for human
consumption as bait, especially imported raw or
non-local prawns bought from supermarkets or
fishmongers, or dispose of crustacean waste in
or near waterways to prevent unwanted diseases
entering WA waters.

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Fishing safety
Boat fishing safety
Make sure you are properly prepared when fishing
from a boat.
Check your boat is seaworthy and that the motor
and other equipment is in good working order.
Check your safety gear is correct and accessible,
including distress beacon (EPIRB or PLB), marine
radio transceiver, flares or EVDS, effective anchor
and line, bailer or bilge pump, fresh water, first
aid kit, rope, toolkit, torch, signalling mirror, fire
extinguisher and alternative power source/spare
motor.
Lifejackets (Level 100 or higher) are required to be
carried on all vessels and worn if your registrable
vessel is less than 4.8 m in length in unprotected
waters. It is recommended lifejackets are worn
at all times while on the water as it increases the
chance of survival in an emergency.
Note: New rules for recreational boating
have been introduced in 2023. Check
with the Department of Transport for the
latest information on transport.wa.gov.
au/imarine/what-safety-equipment-do-I-
need.asp
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
• log on and log off with the local volunteer
marine rescue
• use the Deckee app.
Bureau of Meteorology: bom.gov.au/wa
Department of Transport – marine information:
transport.wa.gov.au/imarine or contact
edboat@transport.wa.gov.au
WA Coastal Marine Warnings: 1300 659 223
WA Marine Service: 1900 926 150
Marine Rescue: These groups use VHF channel
16 and HF channel 4125. Full details and
alternative channels: vmrwa.org.au

Rock fishing safety

Fishing from rocks can be particularly dangerous.
A number of fishers in WA have drowned in recent
years after being swept off rocks by large or
unexpected waves. If you intend to fish from rocks:
• wear a life jacket;
• never fish alone;
• observe where you plan to fish before you
actually start; and
• wear appropriate footwear.
Further important advice about rock fishing
safety is available from recfishwest.org.au

Abalone safety
Fishing for abalone can also be dangerous. Study
the waves before you get into the water and keep
an eye on the swell while fishing – it is easy to be
injured on reefs.
Wear protective footwear and a wetsuit or light

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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/

Dive safety
Diving on compressed air or free diving is a
popular way to fish for species such as rock
lobster, abalone and finfish. Follow these tips
when diving to ensure you come home safely.
• Always dive with a buddy and never dive alone.
• Know your own ability and don’t take
unnecessary risks.
• Use a dive flag.
• Watch out for boats and jet skis.
• Wear a shark deterrent device.
More important advice about dive safety is also
available from recfishwest.org.au

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Shark safety
Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed
of shark activity information by downloading the
SharkSmart WA app or checking the SharkSmart
website and Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.
Help others stay informed, report shark
sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.
Shark sightings are posted to SharkSmart and
sent to land managers so beaches can be closed
if needed.
Follow our Sea Sense safety tips when using
the water.
Remember, not all sharks are tagged or
sightings reported. Visit sharksmart.com.au for
more information.

Beach Emergency Numbers

The Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) system
– is a coding system that aims to improve
emergency response times by installing signs with
unique codes at public beach access points.
These signs provide specific location information,
vital when emergency services are deployed in the
event of a shark sighting, attack or other beach
emergencies.

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71
Get involved!
You can give something back and help ensure
there will be fish for the future by assisting some
of our research programs. For more information
on these opportunities visit fish.wa.gov.au/
volunteering

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). You can drop
your fish frames (fresh or frozen) at our offices
or participating stores visit fish.wa.gov.au/frames

FishCatchWATM
Report your west coast demersal catches using
the FishCatchWATM tool on the ServiceWA app.
fish.wa.gov.au/fishcatchwa

Fish tagging
Scientists tag and release fish to better
understand population structure, movement,
growth and mortality. We need people to report
recaptures of tagged fish via the free FishTagWA
app or to 08 9203 0111.

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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 4:20

FishCatchWA

FishCatchWA™
A new tool for your tacklebox
Record your demersal catch and support
the recovery of our West Coast demersal
stocks.

Record your West Coast demersal

catch quickly and easily

Get insights on your demersal catch

Provide timely data and contribute to

A001-24-02 JAN 2024

the science

Check out the FishCatchWATM

tool on the ServiceWA app
or download it today

73
 Report shark sightings
to Water Police on
9442 8600
Download the
SharkSmart WA app

SHARKSMART.COM.A U

Join Recfishwest's
Cast of Thousands!

Recfishwest represents
WA’s 700,000 recfishers’
rights and interests and
champion sustainability,
safety, research and the
environment. Best of all we
help keep the fun in fishing!

JOIN OUR CAST OF THOUSANDS TODAY AS A

RECFISHWEST MEMBER AND HELP US MAKE FISHING
BETTER!

Scan the QR code or visit Recfishwest.org.au

for more information!

www.Recfishwest.org.au

74
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
information about
marine protected
areas and common
species by region.

The free Recfishwest app

provides access to the rules
even if you’re out of phone
range and has an easy fish
identification feature.

Grab a copy or
download from
fish.wa.gov.au/guide

75
Contact us

1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1)

enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au
Albany Office Geraldton Office
444 Albany Highway, 69-75 Connell Road,
Albany WA 6330 Geraldton WA 6530
08 9845 7400 08 9920 8400
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
Fremantle Office
PB001-24 FEB 2024 Illustrations © R.Swainston/www.anima.net.au

14 Capo D’Orlando Drive,

South Fremantle WA 6162
08 9432 8000

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