Fish for free on Fathers’ Day weekend!

Freshwater fishing provides a unique opportunity to get outdoors, take in the serenity, calmness and beautiful landscape of WA’s South West streams, rivers and dams and provides great fun and accessible locations for families to experience the joy of freshwater fishing.

This year, with the help of Recfishwest and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) fishers have the opportunity to get out and about and try your hand at freshwater fishing without the need for a licence.

So if you’re stuck for ideas on what to get dad for Father’s Day, now may be the chance to buy him some freshwater fishing gear and give him the chance to take a break from the hussle and bussle of every day life while catching a prized fish!

Save the dates – 1 September and 2 September.

Rainbow trout and brown trout, are all highly sought after freshwater species and can be found in our South West rivers, dams and lakes which are all stocked ready for you to try your luck over the licence free weekend! Redfin perch are also readily available in most South West waterways.

Our fantastic ‘How to catch’ article has all you need to know about catching Trout including details on locations, rules and regulations, catch care and cooking information.

As a starting point Harvey Dam, Waroona Dam, Logue Brook Dam, Big Brook Dam, Warren River and Donnelly River are all excellent places for freshwater fishing.

If you love it as much as we think you will and want to fish outside of the licence free weekend, a freshwater licence is available from the Department of Fisheries. The fishing season is open all year round.

Download the Recfishwest app to find out more about rainbow trout, brown trout and redfin perch.

Find a stocked river, dam and/or stream near you by clicking here.

Click here to see our Troutfest event at Draksbrook Weir on September 1 as part of the licence free weekend.

Continue Reading

April 30, 2026

Crab rule changes: update

Consultation has officially closed for DPIRD’s proposed changes to recreational blue swimmer crab rules on the West Coast. Recfishwest has made our own submission following consultation with the crabbing community…

Read More

April 28, 2026

Fishability celebrates Pilbara program launch

Fishability is officially casting its lines further in regional WA after recently launching a new Pilbara program at Point Samson Boat Harbour. The new Roebourne and Surrounds program marks a major step forward in…

Read More

April 24, 2026

Recfishwest’s mammoth month of kids fishing clinics and regional activities

From buzzing kids fishing clinics, club sessions on the all the latest issues, new jetty launches and scout camps – April has been a massive month for Recfishwest out and about in the fishing community. In…

Read More

April 22, 2026

Mandurah flexes its fishing appeal even further with new all-abilities fishing platform

In exciting news for land-based Mandurah fishers, the recently completed all-abilities fishing platform under the new Estuary Bypass Bridge is open for action!   Recfishwest was proud to participate in the launch of…

Read More

April 16, 2026

Recfishwest pushes back on proposed Stirling fishing bans and encourages fishers to have their say

The City of Stirling is asking the community for feedback on a proposal to ban fishing in 16 lakes and wetlands across the local government area, with public consultation now open. The proposal follows reports of…

Read More

April 09, 2026

Northern metro suburbs to gain new fishing jetty at Quinns Rocks

In exciting news for shore fishers in Perth’s northern suburbs – the Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis has unveiled the City of Wanneroo’s plans for a new 17.3m-long fishing jetty in Quinns Rock. Expected to be ready…

Read More