Albany and Cape Naturaliste FADs make a splash!

It has been another big week for the WA recfishing community with another big splash after two new sets of fish aggregating devices (FADs) were deployed – this time off Cape Naturaliste and Albany.

Murray Harcus with a nice tuna – a species of which we expect to see lots at both the Cape Naturaliste and Albany FADs!

What’s more the first reported capture of a dolphinfish off our metro FADs, just three weeks after they were deployed has got WA fishing social media buzzing.

We said we would deliver a State-wide trial network of FADs and that’s exactly what we’re doing with FADs now deployed in four different locations in the southern half of the State (off the north metro, west of Rotto, Cape Naturaliste and Albany) with Geraldton, Exmouth and Broome to come in early 2020.

The FADs off Cape Naturaliste should open up some great new sport-fishing opportunities for boat fishers in the south-west of the State with dolphinfish and tuna to be the likely targets, while the devices off Albany are potentially a bit of a wild card with recfishing FADs never having been deployed off WA’s south coast before.

But the local fishers in Albany, with whom we’ve been closely consulting on the project, reckon tuna and potentially yellowtail kingfish could be the go – but can’t count out dolphinfish even that far south as they have been caught there before.

WANT TO FISH THE ALBANY FADS? FIND THE MAP AND COORDINATES HERE

CHECK OUT THE CAPE NATURALISTE FAD COORDINATES AND MAP HERE

This is partly what makes this three-year trial project so exciting – we’re not quite sure what’s going to turn up on the FADs.

What we do know is that the Perth Game Fishing Club has been successfully running a tremendous FADs program west of Rotto for the last two decades, FADs have been successfully used to create exciting new fishing opportunities in the Eastern states and all around the globe, and there is a strong community appetite for them here.

The first reported capture of a dolphinfish at our metro FADs by Hon-Su Chin from Tackle West!

It’s another example of how recfishing licence fees can be used to create fantastic new sports fishing opportunities aggregating abundant schools of fast-growing, spectacular-fighting pelagic species and it’s already shaping up to be a really exciting summer of fishing!

And a big shout out to Chris and the 2 Oceans Tackle guys for all their efforts in getting the Cape Naturaliste FADs in the water.

We hope you can get out and give these new FADs a crack soon – drop us a line and let us know how you go. We’d love to hear from you.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FADS PROGRAM

CLICK HERE FOR COORDINATES AND MAPS OF ALL THE PLANNED FAD LOCATIONS

Blake from Compleat Angler and Camping World Rockingham with the second-ever reported dolphinfish caught at the metro FADs.

Continue Reading

December 01, 2023

Cockburn Sound seagrass growth success overshadowed by Westport dredging prospect

Seeds for Snapper volunteers are successfully seeding critical seagrass meadows in Cockburn Sound having dispersed seeds across the equivalent area of 12 Optus footy fields since it was launched five years ago…

Read More

November 29, 2023

Westport announcement – questions on potential “catastrophic impacts” on Cockburn Sound remain unanswered

Recfishwest continues to have serious concerns about the future of the environment, fish stocks and fishing in Cockburn Sound following the Government’s latest announcement on the final location and design for its…

Read More

November 29, 2023

Spotlight on Westport – far from sound planning in Cockburn Sound

Following the State Government’s announcement on the design and location for its Westport container port planned to be built in Kwinana in 2032, Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell takes a closer look…

Read More

November 28, 2023

Metro cray fishers share concerns over Marmion Marine Park planning

Excitement is building for the annual whites run and the prospect of catching a cray for Christmas. Word is it’s imminent with a few soft-shelled crays already being taken off nearshore reefs by divers – so get…

Read More

November 17, 2023

Recfishwest’s Community Grant recipients for 2024 and their big plans for improving fishing across WA!

Whether it be fishing clubs or local businesses – community groups can easily tick off all their goals when they are backed in with adequate support and resources.    That is why over the last 12 years Recfishwest…

Read More

November 16, 2023

Join our cast of thousands and stand up for fishing in the challenges that lie ahead

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland takes a look back at a year of intensive activity by the peak recfishing sector body and how we can meet the challenges ahead for fishing and reap the opportunities. “It’s…

Read More