To help keep our fish resources sustainable, a comprehensive set of rules for recreational fishers exists, including:
By following the rules, you will help maintain the fantastic fishing opportunities here in WA, ensuring there are fish for the future for you and the generations to come.
Most of the key statewide fishing rules can be found online, in our recreational fishing guide or via the Recfishwest App.
New rules
Sea urchin
From 11 December 2024, fishing for sea urchin is permitted statewide year-round for recreational fishers in WA, except in marine protected areas.
There are no sea urchin size limits and the daily bag limit is 20 per fisher. No licence is required, however if you are using a powered boat to reach your fishing spot, a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) is required.
More information is available on the recreational fishing rules site or in the sea urchin guide.
Abalone
For the 2024/25 season, Roe’s abalone fishing is open from Moore River to Greenough River Mouth as part of the West Coast Zone open season.
The
open season dates and information on abalone fishing for the West Coast Zone, which extends from Busselton Jetty to Greenough River Mouth, is available on our website.
Recreational fishing for greenlip abalone has been closed since October 2023 in the area from Busselton Jetty to Shoal Cape (Zone 3). Commercial fishing for greenlip abalone is also prohibited in the same area.
Cockburn Sound blue swimmer crab
From 1 December 2024, recreational fishers will be permitted to take blue swimmer crab in Cockburn Sound during the season. This is the result of a new stock assessment which indicates that the stock can support a low level of recreational catch.
Between 1 December and 31 August of the following year, a daily bag limit of 5 crabs applies throughout Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage, with a boat limit of 20 crabs where four or more Recreational Fishing Boat Licence holders are on board.
Check the rules:
While a low level of fishing is now sustainable, crab numbers have not returned to levels seen in the 2000s. This is because the productivity within the Sound decreased after measures to improve water quality were implemented. Because of this lower abundance, the fishery is reopening to recreational fishers only, with a reduced daily bag limit of 5 crabs to ensure the available catch is shared amongst fishers and supports a quality fishing experience. More information is provided in the Cockburn Sound blue swimmer crab science update.
Wire trace fishing
From 1 October 2024, fishing
with wire trace is prohibited within 800 m from shore at all metropolitan
beaches, the Swan-Canning Estuary, the Busselton Jetty and foreshore, and the
Esperance Jetty.
The Prohibition on
Fishing (Wire Trace) Order 2024 includes:
- all Perth metropolitan beaches from Tim’s Thicket
Beach to 5 km north of Two Rocks and all waters of the Swan-Canning Estuary
- the Busselton Jetty and all nearshore waters
(within 800 m from shore) along the Busselton foreshore (between the Vasse
Diversion Drain and the Georgette Street boat ramp)
- the Esperance Jetty and all nearshore waters
(within 800 m from shore) 200 m either side of the jetty.
The revised restrictions complement the
existing statewide prohibition on the use of mammal and bird products as
berley, such as blood and offal. More information and a map are available online. Information on fishing rules for sharks including size and bag limits can be found online or in our statewide recreational fishing guide.
Southern garfish
From 1 March 2024, the take of southern garfish in Perth metropolitan waters is now permitted. This is a result of seven years of reduced fishing pressure which has helped boost southern garfish stocks. A daily bag limit of 30 applies for the garfish group.
West Coast demersal scalefish
Following extensive community and industry consultation, management changes were introduced to boost the recovery of demersal scalefish stocks in the West Coast bioregion from Kalbarri to Augusta.
Changes for recreational fishers
On 1 February 2023, the following changes commenced:
| 1 February to 31 March (inclusive) |
1 August to 15 September (inclusive) |
15 October to 15 December (inclusive) |
*Note this does not apply to land based recreational line fishers who can fish all year round, and persons on a fishing charter.
- A mixed species daily bag limit of two demersal scalefish, including WA dhufish (except coral trout, coronation trout and western blue groper have a daily bag limit of one).
- A boat limit of four demersal scalefish per vessel.
- The removal of the WA dhufish boat limit.
- A maximum of one bait or lure per line when fishing for demersal scalefish.
- Removal of size limits for WA dhufish, baldchin groper and breaksea cod to limit baro-trauma.
- Abrolhos Islands changes:
- Shifting the timing of the Abrolhos Islands baldchin groper spawning closure to be 1 October to 31 December (inclusive).
- Extending the timing of the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds pink snapper spawning closure to be 1 August to 31 January (inclusive).
New management changes are also in place for commercial and charter fishers in the West Coast bioregion.