Legal Sizes and Bag Limits for Western Australia

The list below gives details of the Legal size and bag limits for fish and crustaceans in Western Australia.

Bag and size limits are vital conservation measures to protect the future of WA's recreational fish stocks. There is a definite limit to the number of fish which can be caught before we start to reduce fish breeding stocks and future catches.

Why does Australia have Size & Bag Limits?  - Click here to read a great scientific explanation by CRC Reef Research

Scientists consider most of WA's fish stocks are now on the brink of being over-fished and it is crucial that every fisher helps conserve fish populations by keeping to bag and size limits.

Daily bag limits have been set to help share the available catch among the thousands of fishers who concentrate on these species. Only someone actively fishing, not just watching, is entitled to a bag limit. These bag limits apply throughout Western Australia, though there are also special limits for areas such as Marine Parks.

Total mixed species daily bag limit per fisher.  (This is the combined number of demersal finfish you can take.)West Coast Bioregion: 2
South Coast, Gascoyne, North Coast bioregions​: 5

Closed Season:
West Coast Bioregion: 15 October to 15 December (inclusive)
South Coast, Gascoyne, North Coast Bioregions: No demersal Closed Season.

Individual Species Daily Bag Limits

Species

All species including Spangled Emperor, Red Throat Emperor, Robinson's Sea Bream except Blue-Lined Emperor (Black Snapper)

Except for the South Coast where you may take 8 Bight Redfish and 8 Swallowtail, Plus mixed daily bag limit of 5 other demersal finfish

All other areas: 410mm

2

3

All species including Red Emperor, Crimson Sea Perch, Scarlet Sea Perch, Chinaman Fish, Ruby Snapper, Goldband Snapper except Fingermark, Mangrove Jack, Stripey Sea Perch

Total mixed species daily bag limit per fisher statewide: 3 (fish combined)

Eg: 3 fish = 2 Spanish Mackerel and 1 Mahi Mahi OR 3 Spanish Mackerel OR 2 Mahi Mahi and 1 Yellowfin Tuna.

Species

*Individual Species Daily Bag Limit = 1

*Individual Species Daily Bag Limit = 1

*Individual Species Daily Bag Limit = 1

Total mixed species daily bag limit per angler Statewide.  (This is the combined number of near-shore or estuarine finfish you can take.) is 16

Eg: 16 fish = 8 Tailor (individual species limit is 8), 4 West Australian Salmon (individual species limit is 4) and 4 Snook.

Species

Individual Species Daily Bag Limits

Total mixed species daily bag limit per angler is 4.

Species

Total mixed species daily bag limit per angler is 30

This is the combined number of finfish (not in the four other finfish 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.

While there is a total mixed species daily bag limit per fisher of 30, there is an individual species daily bag limit of 12 for Australian herring.

Species

** Statewide possession limit of 24 Rock Lobster per person.

Species

Closed Season:
Cockburn Sound - Closed to crab fishing
Peel-Harvey Estuary 1 Sept - 31 October inclusive.

Brown Mud Crab: 120mm
Carapace width

Trophy waters: 5

Marron are only allowed to be caught during a short summer season.
Open season is from 12 noon, 8 January - 12 noon, 5 February, annually

Trophy waters:
90mm

Trophy waters:
5

Painted Rock Lobster (Green)
Panulirus versicolor

DO NOT TAKE

These are protected from Recreational Angling in the South Coast and West Coast Bioregions only.

These are protected from Recreational Angling in the South Coast and West Coast Bioregions only.

Native Freshwater Fish Species

Balston's Pygmy Perch - Nannatherina balstoni

Western Trout Minnow - Galaxias truttaceus

Mud Minnow - Galaxiella munda

Black Stripe Minnow - Galaxiella nigrostriata

Pouched Lamprey - Geotria australis

Salamander Fish - Lepidogalaxias salamandroides

Little Pygmy Perch - Nannoperca pygmaea