Catch!

Recreational fishing news

Get ready for demersal fishing in the West Coast!

Baldchin groper are a popular demersal species you can soon catch from the West Coast again.

The West Coast demersal scalefish season is open from 16 December 2024 to 31 January 2025 (inclusive)! The restricted fishing season aims to support the stock’s recovery by reducing overall recreational fishing effort and demersal catch.

Size limits have also been removed for WA dhufish, baldchin groper and breaksea cod. These species have high post-release mortality rates, mainly due to barotrauma, and this rule change allows fishers to now keep a once undersized fish that had a high chance of dying after being released.

Remember, the spawning closures for:

• pink snapper in Cockburn and Warnbro Sound (including waters west to Five Fathom Bank) are still in place until 1 February
• baldchin groper at the Abrolhos Islands is still in place until 1 January.

Log your catch as proof of your weekend fishing brag on the FishCatchWA tool! You can help support the recovery of west coast demersal stocks by following the rules and recording your catch. 

Donate fish frames to science and win!

Congratulations to Harley Kemp who is the winner of the latest SUYS prize draw!

Thank you to the around 500 recreational fishers who have donated more than 2,500 demersal fish frames to Send Us Your Skeletons (SUYS) since July 2023!

Congratulations to long-term SUYS supporter Harley Kemp who has been donating demersal frames from the south-west since 2010 and is our most recent winner of a fishing rod, reel and line combo kindly donated by Recfishwest.

For fishers heading to the south coast for the holidays, we are currently collecting genetic samples for exciting new research looking into the resilience and adaptation of demersal species to changing environments. For the genetic project we are particularly interested in frames of:

• WA dhufish and baldchin groper caught east of Windy Harbour and
• pink snapper caught east of Esperance.

In addition to the usual collection of frames of WA dhufish, baldchin groper and pink snapper from the West Coast and South Coast bioregions, we are also after frames of King George whiting, southern garfish and yellowtail kingfish from the West Coast only. Australian herring can be donated from both the West Coast and South Coast. 

FAD-tastic opportunities!

DPIRD staff have been busy deploying and retrieving FADs around WA.

There are plenty of opportunities to fish for pelagics this summer, with lots of Southern FADs being re-deployed!

As well as this, our Northern FADs are being retrieved to keep them safe over the cyclone season. Next on the list are Dampier FADs, which are expected to come back on land very soon. The Northern FADs are expected to start going back into the water in March and April next year. 

Remember to check the website before you go out - it's the fastest way to find your nearest FAD.

How is climate change affecting fisheries?

Global sea surface temperature anomaly. Source: Climate Pulse  

This year’s global ocean temperatures are on-track to be the warmest on record. Here in WA, our ocean temperature data is definitely reflecting this trend, despite a weaker Leeuwin current over this winter.

Sea surface temperatures have been exceptionally warmer from the South Coast all the way to the North-West Shelf, which is currently experiencing strong marine heatwave conditions. 

As we head into the summer, BOM’s forecasts are predicting a very warm ocean off our coast. That is likely to impact the movement and distribution of fish species.  

DPIRD’s new Climate Change research team is monitoring and assessing ocean conditions to better understand short- and long-term impacts on our fish stocks.

Snippets

• Catching a feed of abalone this season? Download our abalone guide, watch the safety video which has been translated into multiple languages, and as you head down to the beach take note of the Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signs in the area.
• If you get snagged on a rock lobster pot rope, make sure you alert the person pulling the pot to the potential danger. The best way to do this is to tie a rag, knot, cable tie or tag to the rope near the float to act as a ‘flag’. When winching a pot, a sinker/lure snagged in the rope can fly off and injure persons on board the boat.
• Heading to the boat ramp, beach for a swim or to participate in the abalone season? Take note of your nearest BEN sign! 

• Merry Fish-mas! We wish you a safe and wonderful festive season. Whether you spend it fishing or buying local seafood, we hope you enjoy all that WA has to offer. From rock lobster, blue swimmer crabs, abalone and finfish, there is a vast array of sustainable options to experience.

Seasonal notes

• The abalone days for this season are on Saturdays 14 December 2024, 11 January 2025, 1 February 2025, and 15 February 2025.
• Fishing for sea urchin is permitted statewide all year-round for recreational fishers in Western Australia (WA). Download the new sea urchin guide.
• The recreational marron fishing open season is from 12 noon on 8 January 2025 to 12 noon on 5 February 2025. 
• Crabbing in Cockburn Sound is now open for summer! Don't get 'pinched' - make sure you know the rules and download the latest crabbing guide.
• NEW! Print or grab a copy of our 2025 recreational fishing season calendar so you're always up-to-date on the rules. 

Caught out!

A 49-year-old recreational fisher from Southern River has been ordered to pay more than $3,500 after pleading guilty to providing a false name, age and address and not having a valid abalone fishing licence.

A 56-year-old man from Wannanup, near Mandurah, has been ordered to pay more than $10,000 in fines and costs for having taken more than twice the daily bag limit of western rock lobster and failing to tail clip any of them. DPIRD officers seized the 23 excess live lobsters and released them back into the ocean.

Three men have been penalised more than $8,000 each for the possession of 153 marron out of season. It is an offence to be in possession of any marron during the non-possession period outside the nominated season from 8 January to 5 February each year, except on private land owned or occupied by the person. 

Be SharkSmart

Be our eyes on the water this summer and report shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 or use the quick call link within the SharkSmart WA app.  By using the SharkSmart WA app when reporting shark sightings, your location services can assist you with the report by providing information about your nearest coastal feature or Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) sign.

Download the SharkSmart WA app today!

FishWatch - 24 hour reporting 

If you see something that looks a bit fishy, please report it so we can investigate.

The 1800 815 507 FishWatch phone line provides the quickest and most efficient way to report sightings or evidence of:

• illegal fishing
• aquatic pests and diseases
• fish kills.

You can also submit illegal fish reports on the Crime Stoppers website. Please note that reports to Crime Stoppers are not monitored outside normal working hours or at weekends.

You can also report ornamental or pest species to Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au. Please do not release any ornamental or pest species into the water. 

Contact us

This inbox is not monitored. If you have a query, please get in touch with us by emailing enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1).

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 © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2024.