They’re in! Each of the north metro artificial reef’s 293 modules are on the seabed at a safe and accessible spot 8km off Ocean Reef.
With deployment officially complete, be sure to get the coordinates below in your GPS plotter so you can fish the new fishing playground north of Perth.
It’s not every day you get given a bunch of free fishing spots!
As you can see in the graphic, the reef covers 100,000sqm which equates to four Optus Stadium playing fields’ worth of ocean floor.
It is situated in 27m of water, with the concrete modules ranging in height from 0.7m to 1.8m in an area of once-barren seabed.
Of the reef’s 293 modules, there are three different types of modules, each of which have been purposely-designed to suit target species in WA waters.
The M-shaped footprint of the reef is designed to take advantage of prevailing south-westerly and south-easterly wind conditions and to optimise the number of boats that can fish on and around the reef.
FLASHBACK: Watch as the north metro modules were deployed
While it will take a while for significant marine growth to build up on the reef modules, Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said he anticipated fish — including pinkies and Sambos — to appear quickly.
“This is the seventh reef to be deployed off WA through the State-wide artificial reef program,” he said.
“It is really exciting and if our experience tells us anything, it definitely will not take long at all before fish start to call the modules home.
“There will be a lot of local fishers keen to get out there and give the reef a crack – and we’re looking forward to seeing some early catches off it.”
The development and deployment of north metro artificial reef was overseen by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and funded by the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF).
Recfishwest’s artificial reef partners, Subcon, oversaw construction, testing and deployment of the north metro artificial reef modules.
“Metro fishers have been asking for an artificial reef accessible from northern suburbs boat ramps for many years – and it’s great to be able to say that aspiration has now been met,” Dr Rowland said.
“This is exactly how recfishers want to see their licence money spent – on creating exciting new accessible fishing opportunities.
“In COVID times, fishing is more important than ever so it is great to see more places to fish being created.”
