Catch! - Recreational fishing news from the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
Issue No. 28, March 2017

Fisheries at Crab Fest

A blue swimmer crab close up, showing its blue-tipped claws

Join us on 18-19 March for this year’s Mandurah Crab Fest. As well as celebrating one of our State’s favourite crustaceans, it’s a great opportunity to find out more about the crabbing rules and what we’re doing to ensure the Peel-Harvey crab fishery stays sustainable and keeps its prized Marine Stewardship Council certification.

Our staff will be giving out free crab gauges and advice about the crabbing rules at our festival booth, which will feature a display about our new, improved online fishing rules

We’ll also be organising fun activities for the kids including a dry fishing game, colour-in and activity book and free crab face masks – so see you there!

Safer salmon fishing

Two people fish from a pristine south coast beach.

If you’re fishing for salmon this autumn, be wise – stay off the rocks and fish from the beach instead.

There are a number of dangerous rock fishing locations along our coastline, particularly at Albany’s notorious Salmon Holes rock platform.

If you do fish from the rocks, use the appropriate safety gear – further information is available on the fish and survive website. More.

Plan ahead for Abrolhos adventures

An aerial of some of the islands of the Abrolhos.

If you’re planning a trip to the Abrolhos Islands in the next few weeks, make sure you are aware of the boating requirements and fishing rules that apply in the region.

All vessel Masters must notify us of their intended visit to the islands by completing the online notification form or filling in a form at our Geraldton office. Boat owners are also urged to clean their vessel’s hull before heading to the Abrolhos to help stop the spread of marine pests to the islands.

There are specific fishing rules that apply at the islands, including different possession limits to those in place Statewide. More.

Send us your herring skeletons

An Australian herring showing its large eye, rows of golden brown spots and black-tipped tail fins.

You can help us monitor the progress of the herring stock recovery by donating your herring skeletons with the heads and guts intact to our Send Us Your Skeletons program.

Several years ago, monitoring by our scientists revealed environmental factors and fishing pressure had reduced the herring stock, resulting in management changes to recover the fishery.

Donate skeletons before 1 July 2017 to be in the draw for the chance to win some great prizes, including a charter fishing trip to the Montebello Islands, courtesy of Monte Bello Island Safaris. More.

Enjoy safe, sustainable fishing

A fisher with his toddler son holding a recently-caught fish.

Whether you fish from the shore or a boat this Easter, make sure you look after yourself and our fish stocks by keeping yourself safe and sticking to the recreational fishing rules.

Easter is always a popular time of year for wetting a line or pulling a crab net. But to ensure stocks remain sustainable and to maintain the high quality of fishing in WA, fishers need to stick to bag and size limits as well as other fishing rules that apply for commonly-caught species like herring, blue swimmer crabs and salmon.

Enjoy your Easter fishing but help us ensure there will be plenty of fish for the future.

Image credit: Salmon fishing photo by Tahryn Thompson.