Fishers are prohibited from taking or landing demersal finfish in the West Coast Bioregion from 15 October to 15 December (inclusive) as the seasonal closure for these species comes into effect.
If you catch a demersal finfish from a boat or from shore in this area(north of Kalbarri to East of Augusta) during the closed season, you must return it to the water as soon as possible.
The closure is one of several management measures to reduce the recreational catch in the area by at least 50 per cent.
This reduction was required following independently reviewed research that showed demersal species like dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper were being overfished.
The closure is aimed at protecting all demersal species caught in the West Coast Bioregion – whether they are caught frequently or only occasionally – and is an important measure in assisting with their recovery.
Fishers therefore must not fish for demersal finfish in the West Coast Bioregion during the closure to ensure its effectiveness.
There are many other sustainable fishing options to try out at this time of year, such as fishing for squid and whiting – see Recfishwest’s website for more details.
For more information see our recreational fishing rules. You can also download our Recreational fishing guide in booklet size or the A4 print-friendly version