Department of

Primary Industries and

Regional Development

Recreational
fishing guide
2021

Includes Statewide bag and size limits

for Western Australia, and Recreational
Fishing from Boat Licence information

Published December 2020

Page i
Important disclaimer
The Director General of the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) 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) 2020

Department of Primary Industries and

Regional Development
Gordon Stephenson House,
140 William Street, Perth WA 6000
+61 1300 374 731 | enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au |
dpird.wa.gov.au

Page ii
Contents
Fish for the future ..............................................2
Using this guide..................................................2
Your licence fees at work...................................3
Bag and size limits explained.............................4
FishWatch – 1800 815 507..............................36
Finfish possession limits..................................37
Cooking and storing recreationally caught
fish on commercial premises............................40
Crabs, prawns and molluscs............................41
Fishing licences................................................45
Closed seasons and protected areas..............47
General fishing rules........................................55
Fishing safety...................................................57
Care for your catch...........................................59
Get involved! ...................................................62

Page 1
Fish for the future
Western Australia is home to some of the
most exciting and varied recreational fishing
opportunities in the world. With around 630,000
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
website at fish.wa.gov.au/recfishing
Information is available on request in appropriate
alternative formats including Braille, audio tape
and disc.

Page 2
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 and compliance.
Recreational fishing initiatives funded from licence
fees include:
• artificial reefs and fish attracting devices;
• restocking projects for prawns, mulloway and
barramundi;
• the future fisheries leaders program;
• trout stocking at Waroona Dam and Austin Lakes;
• 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.

Page 3
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 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 59).

Finfish categories
For bag and size limits, finfish are categorised
according to their aquatic environment (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).

Page 4
 Western Australia’s marine bioregions
114° 50' E
North Coast
(Pilbara/Kimberley)
Kununurra
Gascoyne
Coast Broome

Port Hedland
21° 46' 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 netting).
For example, demersal finfish in the West Coast
Bioregion has a total mixed bag limit of two fish.
2 fish = 1 baldchin groper + 1 pink snapper
OR
2 fish = 2 pink snapper (but no other demersal fish)

Page 5
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.
For rules about fish kept and stored beyond
24 hours, see the finfish possession limits section
(page 37).

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 at any one time. This limit
applies regardless of how long the vessel is at
sea.
Boat limits apply for blue swimmer crabs, mud
crabs, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, greenlip/
brownlip abalone, rock lobster and dhufish
in the West Coast Bioregion. 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 8-35 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 take a daily bag limit. See pages
45-46 for information about other recreational
fishing licence requirements.

Page 6
Possession limits and transporting fish
A finfish possession limit is the maximum quantity
of finfish – either whole or in pieces – that a
person may have in their control/ownership (see
page 37 for more information).
Recreationally caught fish cannot be transported
unaccompanied (see page 39).
When filleting fish at sea, a minimum fillet length
of 300 mm applies to all fish with a minimum size
limit. Fish with a maximum size limit must be
landed whole (see page 39).

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 stores.

Page 7
Page 8

Demersal finfish – bag and size limits

High vulnerability – long-lived and slow-growing South Coast,
West Coast Gascoyne, North
Bioregion Coast Bioregions

2 5
TOTAL mixed species daily bag limit per
fisher
This is the combined number of demersal
finfish you can take (see page 5 for details).
Closed season - Applies to all demersal 15 Oct – No demersal closed
finfish in the West Coast Bioregion unless 15 Dec season in these
otherwise excepted. Also applies to some (inclusive) Bioregions.
nearshore finfish - see pages 18-23
Individual species daily bag limit per fisher
This is the maximum number of individual species Individual
species daily
you may take within your total mixed bag limit. bag limit

Species Minimum legal size West Other

Coast Bioregions
Baldchin groper
Choerodon rubescens. Additional closed 400 mm 2 3
seasons apply – see page 47

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

Barramundi cod
N/A 2 3
Cromileptes altivelis

Blue morwong (queen snapper)

410 mm 2 3
Nemadactylus valenciennesi

Rockcods*
Goldspotted rockcod: 400 mm
Family Ephinephelidae (Pictured top to
Breaksea cod: 300 mm
bottom: Breaksea cod, goldspotted rockcod
Goldspotted and Blackspotted rockcod over
[Estuary cod], blackspotted rockcod [Malabar 2 3
1,000 mm or 30 kg are protected
cod], western wirrah, harlequin fish). All
Goldspotted and Blackspotted rockcod must be
species including eightbar grouper and
landed as whole fish
Rankin cod except Chinaman rockcod

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 9

†
May be taken during the closed season.
Page 10

Demersal finfish – West

Coast
Other
Bioregions

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species

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

Species Minimum legal size West Other

Coast Bioregions

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

Coronation trout
N/A 1 1
Variola spp.

Dhufish, West Australian 500 mm

1 1
Glaucosoma hebraicum West Coast: boat limit of 2 dhufish (6 on charter)

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

Dory, John†
N/A 2 3
Zeus faber

Dory, mirror†
N/A 2 3
Zenopsis nebulosus

Emperors and seabream*

Lethrinus spp.
Spangled: 410 mm
All species including spangled emperor 2 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 5
emperor) Lethrinus laticaudis

Foxfish*
N/A 2 3
Bodianus spp.

Pigfish*
N/A 2 3
Bodianus spp. (Pictured: Goldspot pigfish)
Page 11

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
†
May be taken during the closed season.
Page 12

Demersal finfish – West

Coast
Other
Bioregions

bag and size limits (continued) TOTAL mixed species

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

Species Minimum legal size West Other

Coast Bioregions

Hapuku
N/A 2 3
Polyprion oxygeneios

Bass groper
N/A 2 3
Polyprion americanus

Blue-eye trevalla(s)*
Family Centrolophidae N/A 2 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 and 8 2 N/A
pictured, yelloweye redfish and swallowtail
swallowtail, PLUS a mixed daily bag limit of 5
other demersal finfish

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

500 mm
Snapper (Pink snapper) Applies in the West Coast Bioregion south of 2
Chrysophrys auratus 2 (Shark
31˚S latitude (just north of Lancelin)
Additional rules apply – see page 49 for and in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay. Bay)
details
All other areas: 410 mm 2 3
Tropical snappers*
Family Lutjanidae
All species including red emperor (top),
crimson snapper, saddletail snapper,
Red emperor: 410 mm 2 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
Achoerodus gouldii
Page 13

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
†
May be taken during the closed season.
Page 14

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 5 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

Amberjack Mackerel, school

600 mm Scomberomorus 500 mm
Seriola dumerili
queenslandicus
Samsonfish
600 mm Mackerel, shark
Seriola hippos 500 mm
Grammatorcynus
bicarinatus
Yellowtail kingfish
600 mm
Seriola lalandi Mackerel, Spanish
Scomberomorus 900 mm
Great barracuda commerson
N/A
Sphyaena barracuda
Mackerel, spotted 500 mm
Barracuda, striped Scomberomorus munroi
N/A
Sphyraena obtusata
Mahi Mahi (dolphinfish) 500 mm
Cobia Coryphaena spp.
750 mm
Rachycentron canadum

Barracouta (Gemfish) Billfish* (marlins,

N/A sailfish, spearfish)
Family Gempylidae
Family Istiophoridae N/A
Mackerel, grey (Pictured: Blue marlin)
Scomberomorus 750 mm Individual species
semifasciatus daily bag limit = 1
Page 15

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 16

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
Katsuwonis pelamis
whaler and bull sharks.
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
Page 17

NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.

Page 18

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 5 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
Page 19

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. ‡ Cannot be taken during the West Coast demersal finfish closed
season NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 20

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* 8
300 mm
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
Page 21

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. ‡ Cannot be taken during the West Coast demersal finfish closed
season NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 22

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)
Page 23

* Bag limit applies to each individual species in this group. ‡ Cannot be taken during the West Coast demersal finfish closed
season NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 24

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 5 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 45 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.
Page 25
Page 26

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
12
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 – see
(Pictured top to bottom: southern garfish, robust garfish) page 54

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 45 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 45 for licence rules.
Page 27
Page 28

Crustaceans – bag and size limits

NOTE: Statewide possession limit of 24 rock lobster per person.
Species Minimum legal size Daily bag limit Boat limit
Freshwater Prawn (Cherabin)
N/A 9 litres N/A
Macrobrachium spp.

Crab, blue swimmer# 40

20
Portunus armatus; and P. pelagicus (See (At least two people
127 mm
pages 41-42 & 53-54 and our recreational must be on board)
(carapace width)
crabbing guides for more details) West Coast: 20
West Coast: 10 (At least two people
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# 80 mm
Cherax spp. (See our Recreational fishing (carapace length) 8
for marron guide for more details about N/A
Trophy waters: 90 Trophy waters: 5
specific rules that apply to these species) mm

Prawns (all species combined)#

Family Penaeidae (Pictured: Western king N/A 9 litres N/A
prawn) (See page 43 for more details)

# Closed seasons apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 29
Page 30

Crustaceans – bag and size limits (continued)

NOTE: Statewide possession limit of 24 rock lobster per person.
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) 8 24

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

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 45 for licence rules.
Page 31
Page 32

Molluscs and other invertebrates – bag and size limits

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

10
Abalone, greenlip Haliotis laevigata (pictured)/brownlip Haliotis
(At least two
conicopora (combined)# (See our Recreational fishing for abalone 140 mm 5
people must
guide about specific 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
30
Squid, cuttlefish and octopus (combined)
(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 specifically mentioned Trochus:

10 N/A
(combined) (Pictured: Mud whelk) 65 mm
Page 33

# Closed seasons and additional rules apply. NOTE: If fishing from a boat, see page 45 for licence rules.
Page 34

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
Page 35

(Pictured: Goniopora tenuidens) Nannoperca pygmaea

FishWatch – 1800 815 507
The FishWatch phone line provides
a quick and easy way to report
sightings or evidence of:
• illegal fishing;
• aquatic pests; and
• aquatic diseases (including fish kills).

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, 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.
• 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.

Page 36
Aquatic pests, diseases and fish kills
To help keep WA’s waters pest and disease free,
please practise good vessel maintenance and
thoroughly clean and dry all boating and fishing
gear before fishing another waterway or area. You
can help protect our waters by reporting aquatic
pests, diseases and fish kills to FishWatch or
through WA PestWatch on our website, the free
WA PestWatch app, our Biosecurity Branch on
6551 4444 or your local DPIRD office. Please
note where, when and what you saw including
the location (GPS co-ordinates if possible),
photographs and numbers of pests or affected
fish. (If you collect samples, please report it to
FishWatch immediately.)

Finfish possession limits

The maximum quantity of finfish (includes
scalefish, sharks and rays) you may have in your
possession – either whole or in pieces – is:
• 20 kg of fish fillets; or
• 10 kg of fish fillets and one day’s bag limit of
whole fish or fish trunks; or
• two days’ bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
At the Abrolhos Islands the possession limit is:
• 10 kg of fish fillets; or
• one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
For more information see our Abrolhos Islands
Information Guide available from select offices.
In Shark Bay’s Freycinet Estuary Management
Zone, the possession limit is:
• 5 kg of fish fillets (all species, not just snapper);
or
• one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.

Page 37
For more information and a map, visit the DPIRD
website or holiday accommodation sites inside
the zone.
‘Fillet’ means any particular piece of a finfish,
other than a whole fish, fish trunk, head, tail,
fin, backbone or wing. For these pieces 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.
These limits apply throughout WA, including
permanent and temporary places of residence.
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 8-33).
Note: 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,
the fish must be clearly labelled with the name of
the owner(s).
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
be legibly written on the label and be clearly
visible for inspection.

Page 38
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.

Landing filleted or processed fish

Fish with a minimum size limit can be carried at
sea and landed:
• as fillets, skin and scale on, a minimum 30 cm
length;
• trunked, skin and scale on, a minimum 30 cm
length; 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 (although can
be gutted and gilled), on estuaries and on rivers
and landed whole.
Fish without a size limit can be carried at sea and
landed:
• filleted, skin on;
• trunked, skin on; or
• whole (can be gutted and gilled).
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, cannot be transported
by commercial couriers (or any other person).
You must accompany your fish if transporting it by
land, sea or air.

Page 39
Cooking and storing
recreationally caught fish on
commercial premises
New Regulations now allow recreationally caught
fish to be stored and cooked at commercial
premises that provide accommodation and meals,
such as resorts and hotels.
The new rule allows tourists and holiday-makers
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 38 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.

Page 40
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 – hand-held wire or plastic scoop
nets 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
shell, from tip to tip of the 127 mm

carapace spikes.

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

Page 41
 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.

Identifying mud crabs

The two 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 (see below).
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

Page 42
Freshwater prawns (Cherabin) found in
the North Coast Bioregion
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.

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 four 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;

Page 43
• 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.

Page 44
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 five of the licensed recreational fisheries
listed above are available from select DPIRD offices
or the website. For the RFBL, the details are below.
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;
• spearfishing;
• catching octopus;

Page 45
• 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 45 for details on buying
or renewing your licence.

Page 46
Closed seasons and
protected areas
Seasonal closures
Seasonal closures provide additional protection
for fish species that are vulnerable during
times when they aggregate (group together) to
reproduce. Large-scale seasonal closures are
also used to reduce the total time spent fishing
(referred to as ‘fishing effort’) and therefore the
total number of fish captured.

Demersal finfish
Demersal finfish live on or near the ocean floor
usually in depths of more than 20 metres.
West Coast Bioregion: Closed season
15 October – 15 December (inclusive). Fishing for
demersal finfish resumes on 16 December.
The take, possession on a boat or landing of
certain demersal and nearshore finfish (listed on
pages 8-13 and 18-23) is prohibited within the
West Coast Bioregion (north of Kalbarri to east
of Augusta) during this period. If you catch a
demersal finfish from a boat or from shore in this
area during the closed season you must return it
to the water as soon as possible.
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 finfish
closure is one of several management measures
to contain the recreational catch in this area. This
measure was required following independently
reviewed research that showed demersal species,
like dhufish, snapper (pink snapper) and baldchin
groper, were being overfished.

Page 47
The seasonal closure and other management
measures will be periodically reviewed as new
stock assessment and catch information becomes
available.

South West blue swimmer crabs

All waters from the Swan River to Minninup Beach
(15km south of Bunbury) are closed to crab fishing
between 1 September and 30 November each year
to help protect breeding stock.
It is illegal to fish for blue swimmer crabs or be in
possession of blue swimmer crabs in the closed
area during the closed season.
The following changes to bag and boat limits will
also apply from 1 December 2019:
Swan and Canning Geographe Bay
River • bag limit 10 of which a
• bag limit 5 maximum
• boat limit 20 of 5 may be female
• boat limit 20 of which a
maximum
of 10 may be female
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.

Page 48
 Rous Head
Harbour

North Mole
Fremantle

Perth

32° 03.23´
Fremantle
th
ba
iso
0m
15

Mandurah

Closed to crab
fishing between
1 September and
30 November

Bunbury

Rich Rd
33° 27.11´

Geographe Bay

Snapper (pink snapper)

Shark Bay and Cockburn Sound are known to be
important breeding aggregation areas for snapper
(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.
Page 49
The following closed seasons apply:
• 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

Page 50
Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds pink
snapper spawning closure extension
To provide additional protection for spawning
pink snapper, the date and area for the Cockburn
and Warnbro sounds pink snapper spawning
closure has been extended from 1 September
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 52).
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.

Page 51
Cockburn and Warnbro sounds: Closed season
1 September – 31 January (inclusive).

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 September – 31 January

WARNBRO
SOUND
Becher point

32° 22.67′ S 32° 22.67′ S

115° 39.10′ E 115° 43.36′ E

Page 52
It is illegal to fish for pink snapper, or be in
possession of pink snapper while fishing in these
closed waters during the closed seasons. 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 areas may
be transported through as long as no line fishing
is undertaken.
More information and maps are available from
select DPIRD offices or the website.

Baldchin groper
Abrolhos Islands: Closed season
1 November – 31 January (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.
Note: The take or landing of baldchin groper at
the Abrolhos Islands is also prohibited during the
West Coast Bioregion closed season for demersal
finfish (see page 47), beginning on 15 October.

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
River to Rich Road at Minninup beach (15km
south of Bunbury) are closed to all crab fishing
during this period (see map on page 49).
The closure protects breeding stocks across the

Page 53
blue swimmer crab resource in the South West,
particular when they are mated and vulnerable to
capture. This improves the resilience and ensures
ongoing performance of our highly valued crab
resource into the future.

Southern garfish
Metropolitan waters: Closed until further notice.

Taking southern garfish (also known as

‘southern sea garfish’) is prohibited in Perth’s
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.

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.

Page 54
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 three baits or lures on each line.
Shore-based fishers may use a maximum of two
fishing lines. Rods and lines must be attended.
Note: To catch barramundi, you are only
permitted to use a single rod, reel and line or a
single hand-held line.
• 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 36).
• Spearfishing – generally allowed in ocean waters,
except in some marine protected areas and
around dive wrecks. Further information on specific
restrictions in marine protected areas is available
from select DPIRD offices or the website.
• 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.
• 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.

Page 55
• Release weights – required if fishing for
demersal species in the West Coast Bioregion
(see page 59-61). Also recommended when
fishing for demersal species in other regions.

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 traps or ‘pots’ of any kind (except
lobster pots, octopus trigger traps and
complying drop net (or drop net for crabs) – see
the website for further information);
• use dredges;
• obstruct any bay, inlet, river, creek or any tidal
or inland waters so that fish are enclosed, left
stranded, destroyed or wasted;
• be in possession of 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.

Page 56
Fishing safety
Boat fishing safety
You need to take care when fishing from the
shore and be properly prepared when fishing from
a boat. Check the seaworthiness of your boat and
that you have the right safety gear, including life
jackets, distress beacon (EPIRB), marine radio
transceiver, flares, 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.
Conditions can change quickly. If you are going to
an unfamiliar location, treat the ocean with respect.
Carry a chart of the area where you intend to fish;
study it, and familiarise yourself with the position of
navigational markers and potential hazards.
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 your boating plans.
• Notify them immediately if plans change during
the voyage.
• Always report in when you return.
Bureau of Meteorology:
bom.gov.au/wa
Department of Transport – marine information:
transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
WA Coastal Marine Warnings: 1300 659 223
WA Marine Service: 1900 926 150
Volunteer Sea Rescue: These groups use VHF
channel 16 and HF channel 4125. Full details and
alternative channels: vmrwa.org.au

Page 57
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

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.

Page 58
Care for your catch
Releasing fish and catch care
You can help ensure there will be fish for the
future by taking care of the fish you catch, and
releasing all undersize or excess fish as carefully
and as quickly as possible. To ensure a fish’s
healthy return to the water:
• Avoid deep-hooking fish by using an
appropriate size and pattern of hook, and avoid
treble hooks. Consider using barbless hooks or
crushing hook barbs using a pair of pliers.
• Use long-nosed pliers to remove hooks. But if
gut-hooked, leave the hook in place and cut the
line as close to the mouth or eye of the hook as
possible before releasing the fish.
• If possible avoid lifting fish from the water to
unhook them. Use a knotless landing net or
place a wet rag under the fish’s stomach to
support its vital organs.
• Use a wet rag or wet your hands to handle fish.
• Treat fish gently to reduce stress and injury to
fragile scales and protective slime.
• Release fish as soon as possible.
• Revive spent fish by holding them from above,
behind the head, moving them through the
water repeatedly until they ‘kick’ 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.

Don’t discard a smaller fish for a bigger one

If you choose to keep a fish and not return it
to the water immediately, you have taken that
fish and it counts towards your daily bag limit.

Page 59
Discarding a smaller retained fish for a bigger one
is known as ‘high-grading’.
High-grading is not a responsible use of our fish
resources – and if you have already taken your
daily bag limit, it will result in you exceeding the
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!

Please do not leave any dead or dying blowfish you
catch on the shore where you are fishing – put them
back in the water instead. Discarded blowfish are
poisonous and pose a threat to dogs, other animals
and small children who might pick them up and put
them in their mouths.

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. Barotrauma may also damage the fish’s
internal organs, which may not be so noticeable.
Demersal fish species are particularly susceptible
to barotrauma; and mortality levels as a result of
barotrauma are known to increase with depth.
To minimise the effects of barotrauma, ‘prevention
is better than cure’. To avoid catching undersize
or excess fish, it is best to stop fishing once
you’ve reached your bag limit.

Page 60
When a demersal fish is to be released, a
release weight may help to reduce the effects of
barotrauma.
Photo courtesy of Recfishwest

Fish suffering from barotrauma may not be able to

return to the bottom when released if their swim
bladder remains inflated.
A release weight is a weighted barbless hook
for releasing deep-water fish suffering from
barotrauma. It 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.
Note: If you are boat fishing for demersal species
in the West Coast Bioregion you must have a
release weight on board. You don’t need a release
weight if a boat is used exclusively for spearfishing.

Page 61
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 the website and
search under ‘volunteers’.

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.

Page 62
 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.

1. Web
Go to fish.wa.gov.au/rules for rules covering
more than 180 fish species.

2. App
The free Recfishwest app
provides access to the rules
even if you’re out of phone range.

Recfishwest
Love your fishing? So do we!
As the peak body for rec fishing,
our purpose is to ensure great
fishing experiences for all in the
WA community forever.
Visit our website to find out about some great
fishing initiatives.

recfishwest.org.au

Report shark sightings

to Water Police on
9442 8600
Download the
SharkSmart WA app

SHARKSMART.COM.A U
Page 63
Contact us
1600/20 Illustrations © R.Swainston/www.anima.net.au

1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1)

enquiries@dpird.wa.gov.au
For an up-to-date list of office locations
visit fish.wa.gov.au/locations

dpird.wa.gov.au

ABN: 18 951 343 745