Recreational fishing news

Demersal Harvest Strategy released

The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy 2021-2025 has been released.

The strategy sets out clear recovery objectives, milestones and timeframes to allow the West Coast demersal resource to recover by 2030.

The demersal resource includes iconic Western Australian demersal species such as WA dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, in waters from just north of Kalbarri to Black Point, east of Augusta. This fishery is one of the State’s most popular recreational and charter fisheries, which also supplies the local domestic market with fresh wild caught seafood from commercial fishers.

The next stock assessment for the resource will be available later this year. The outcome of this assessment will be reviewed against the harvest strategy by a stakeholder based working group to determine if the resource is on track for recovery by 2030, or if additional management action is required.

The WCDSR Harvest Strategy was developed by a working group with representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Recfishwest, WAFIC, and the charter fishing industry, as well as commercial and recreational fishers.

No fishing at HMAS Swan dive wreck

Did you know that the HMAS Swan wreck is in a no fishing zone?

Located in the Eagle Bay Sanctuary Zone of the Ngari Capes Marine Park, the popular dive site is closed to all fishing, all year round.

Boat fishers are reminded not to anchor, drift or troll through the closed area.

If you are planning on fishing near the area, know your zones. Download the free Recfishwest and Marine Parks WA smartphone apps for more information about where to fish.

Salmon Holes safety

Wearing lifejackets at Salmon Holes in Torndirrup National Park near Albany will continue to be mandatory while future requirements are considered for this rock fishing hotspot.

A review of the Salmon Holes Lifejacket Trial, which ran for three seasons, is now underway, and anyone visiting the area and going onto the rocks, even if they are not fishing, must continue to wear a lifejacket.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions rangers will continue to patrol the area, with assistance from DPIRD fisheries officers where required.

The trial is being reviewed by the Lifejacket Trial Reference Group in consultation with key stakeholders and will provide recommendations to the State Government, with a response expected by the end of 2021.

Report invasive species

The highly invasive red swamp crayfish is a declared noxious pest species which, if introduced into local waterways, poses an extreme risk to our native crustaceans. There are significant penalties if people are found to keep, breed, hatch, culture, possess, consign, convey or release declared noxious fish, with fines of up to $10,000.

In a recent operation by our fisheries officers, supported by the WA Police force, 70 of these noxious freshwater crayfish were seized in the Bunbury and Capel areas during Operation Winterfox.

Red swamp crayfish can range in length from 5–12 cm, can be dark to light red, with rows of bright red bumps on the front and side of the first leg. If you think you may have seen any, or have information about any noxious fish being kept or traded, report it anonymously to Fishwatch on 1800 815 507 or send an email to tipoff@dpird.wa.gov.au.

GenY snapper takes the bait

A GenY snapper caught in Vasse clearly wasn't paying attention that day!

The 937mm female snapper, whose frame was donated for research to the Send us your skeletons program (SUYS), had been cruising around the South West for about 35 years, with her birthdate put at some time around December 1984.

It's not often our researchers get to see a snapper that old, with the average age of donated snapper being around seven years. Older, large fish such as this are important because they can disproportionately contribute to future generations due to their size.

In the past decade of SUYS, only nine snapper more than 30 years old have been donated, all caught in the South West. The data from these frames will be used in our next stock assessment in 2023 as we continue monitoring the recovery of stocks of this iconic species.

You can help us continue to gather valuable information by donating your fish frames to SUYS. Not only does it help our research, but you will also be in the draw for great quarterly prizes donated by WA’s peak recfishing body, Recfishwest.

One millionth barra launched into Lake Kununurra

The one millionth barramundi was launched into Lake Kununurra last month.

Barramundi are one of Australia’s most recognisable estuarine sportfish, with many recreational fishers travelling to northern WA to try and catch one, helping to strengthen tourism and grow the local economy.

North Regional TAFE in Broome manages the broodstock collection, breeding and restocking program, in collaboration with the community-based Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group and Miriuwung Gajerrong Rangers. Grown at the TAFE, the fingerlings will reach the minimum legal length of 55cm in less than three years.

Beachcombers - we need your help 

During your coastal adventures, have you come across any of our data-recording VR2 receivers as seen in the photo?

In the Capes region off Gracetown there is an extensive network of data-recording VR2 receivers secured to the sea bed. This includes the locations of Three Bears, Windmills, Injidup, Yallingup and Prevelly.

Occasionally, in extreme weather events, the receivers may break free of their mooring and wash ashore.

If you find one, call us on 1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1) or email sharksmart@dpird.wa.gov.au to arrange collection of the receiver.

Operation ALAWA

Our Kununurra based fisheries officers recently took part in Operation ALAWA, a four-day joint operation with Western Australia Police Force - together with police dog Hank.

The operation included inspections of catch and fishing equipment to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries. Regular compliance checks have an important role to play, and it was great to see the majority of fishers inspected were fishing responsibly and within the rules.

As part of the operation, an education session was held with Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia staff and tourism operators, providing a great opportunity to build networks across this remote part of WA.

Anyone suspecting illegal fishing activity is encouraged to call Fishwatch on 1800 815 507.

Nibbles

Season closures

• Fishing for abalone and sea urchin closed in Southern Zone (zone 3) from 16 May to 30 September, reopening on 1 October.
• Bernier Island closed to pink snapper fishing from 1 June to 31 August (inclusive), reopening on 1 September.
• Fishing for pink snapper in the Freycinet Estuary closed 15 August to 30 September (inclusive), reopening on 1 October.
• Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds are closed to pink snapper fishing from 1 September to 31 January (inclusive), reopening on 1 February.
• All coastal waters, rivers and estuaries from the Swan River down to Minninup Beach will be closed to fishing for blue swimmer crabs from 1 September until 30 November (inclusive).

In the courts – 

A Safety Bay man was caught with five times the possession limit of demersal finfish, when inspected while fishing 40km off Leeman. He was fined $6339.80, has been without his vessel for 12 months, and has been prohibited from holding any recreational fishing licence for one year.

A Geraldton man’s trip to shark Bay last year with two mates has led to fines and costs taotally $7398.70 for misleading fisheries officers and exceeding the bag limit for demersal fish.

If you see any suspected illegal fishing activity please report it to FishWatch on 1800 815 507. All reports are confidential and help us protect WA's fish resources for future generations.

Rock fishing safety – As we head into winter, weather patterns will bring rougher weather conditions along our coast. We remind fishers to consider the dangers when fishing, particularly from rocks. Think safety first and choose to fish from the beach, rather than rock ledges or coastal outcrops.

Keep the sand between your toes and stay off the rocks – but if you do choose to fish from the rocks, fish with a buddy, always let people know where you are going, and make sure you wear a type 1 life jacket, rock boots and follow the rock fishing safety tips on @Recfishwest's fish and survive website. https://fishandsurvive.com.au/pages/rock-fishing

SharkSmart WA app – Switch on your Sea Sense and download the SharkSmart WA app, free from Google Play for the App Store.

Help keep our waterways pest free – You can help us protect WA’s aquatic environment by emailing Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au, or calling FishWatch on 1800 815 507 if you see or catch any ornamental or unusual fish or pest species and please, do not return them to the water.

Find us on Facebook – We regularly share information about fishing rules, safety and aquatic biosecurity through our Facebook page, as well as information of interest to recfishers. Check us out at Fisheries WA and give us a ‘like’ to keep us in your news feed.

FishWatch – If you see something that looks a bit fishy, please report it so we can investigate. Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activities is asked to call FishWatch on 1800 815 507. Illegal fishing 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 selling or attempting to sell recreationally caught fish. 

Any information you provide about illegal fishing activity could be valuable (and all reports are confidential). For more information, visit our FishWatch webpage.  

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.

Copyright © Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 2021