Archived page, Bag and Size Limits, Fishing Rules and Fish Identification.

The Western Australian Department of Fisheries sets the bag and size limits and other rules for recreational fishing in Western Australia.

WA is divided into four regions. Some different fishing bag and size limits and other rules are set considering the abundance of the fish, the fishing pressures and the needs of sustainability.

Most importantly, the recreational fishing limits and rules are to ensure that fish will always be available in the future so that your children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy recreational fishing. Recfishwest works actively to ensure sustainability and the future of recreational fishing for the benefit of future generations.

Brochures for the four WA regions are available from the Department of Fisheries website links as shown below.

The species identification guides have photos and descriptions of the common fish in the regions. These are an excellent answer to "What's that fish?", and are an easy to carry fish identification reference book for recreational anglers.



The Department of Fisheries produces 90 cm long, plastic stick-on rulers and size limit guides. These can be collected from tackle stores and Fisheries offices, subject to availability of supplies.

West Coast.

The West Coast bio-region extends from just north of Kalbarri through to Black Point, east of Augusta.

NOTE:- The Minister for Fisheries has announced major changes to the fishing rules for the West Coast Region, to apply from 1 January 2009.

For more details see Recfishwest Media statement New West Coast recreational fishing arrangements That page has the links to all the current and previous papers from the Minister for Fisheries, Department of Fisheries and Recfishwest's submissions.

The current rules for the West Coast region are in the following link to the Department of Fisheries website. This covers spawning seasonal closures such as the Cockburn and Warnbro Sound pink snapper closure, and the Abrolhos Islands baldchin groper closure.

See also the separate publications for Crustaceans and Shellfish and Rock Lobster

West Coast Fishing Bag and Size Limit Rules and other fishing information (link opens in a new window)

West Coast Species Identification Guide (link opens in a new window)

South Coast.

The South Coast bio-region extends from Black Point, east of Augusta, through to the WA/SA border.

South Coast Fishing Bag and Size Limit Rules and other fishing information (link opens in a new window)

South Coast Species Identification Guide (link opens in a new window)

Gascoyne.

The Gascoyne bio-region extends from the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri, to the Ashburton River, south of Onslow.

Gascoyne Fishing Bag and Size Limit Rules and other fishing information (link opens in a new window)

Gascoyne Species Identification Guide (link opens in a new window)

Pilbara/Kimberley.

The Pilbara/Kimberley bio-region extends from the Ashburton River near Onslow to the Northern Territory/Western Australia border.

Pilbara/Kimberley Fishing Bag and Size Limit Rules and other fishing information (link opens in a new window)

Pilbara/Kimberley Species Identification Guide (link opens in a new window)

Crustaceans, shellfish and rock lobster - Statewide, cover all 4 Regions.

The size and bag limits and rules for Crustaceans, shellfish and rock lobster are now in separate publications.

Crustacean and shellfish size and bag limit rules (link opens in a new window)

Rock lobster bag and size limit rules (link opens in a new window)

Fishwatch, reporting suspicious or illegal activities involving fish or fishing.

Fishwatch page from Department of Fisheries website (link opens in a new window)

Have you seen anything recently that you thought was suspicious involving fish or fishing, or that might be some sort of illegal fishing activity? This could include things like someone netting in the river, exceeding their bag or possession limits, taking undersized fish, fishing in a closed area or having more fishing gear in the water than they should. If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, please contact the WA Department of Fisheries on its 24-hour FISHWATCH number: 1800 815 507 See the Department of Fisheries Fishwatch page for more details. (link opens in a new window)

Recreational Fishing - WA Department of Fisheries.

Check the WA Department of Fisheries Home Page (link opens in a new window) and the Recreational Fishing Page (link opens in a new window) for other interesting and important information about recreational fishing.

This page last updated 15 June 2009.