Tag: Cockburn Sound crabs

Crabbing in Cockburn Sound – what you need to know ahead of December 1st

The hotly anticipated annual summer crabbing season on the lower west coast gets underway this Sunday, 1 December, and has some extra spice this year for crustacean connoisseurs with Cockburn Sound reopening for crabbing!

Getting access back to the iconic crab fishery is something Recfishwest has advocated for more than a decade and it was great to hear the Minister for Fisheries announce the reopening of the Sound for recreational crabbing supported by the latest stock assessment.  

Before you get your nets, scoops or diving gear ready to try gather a feed of these delicious critters, it’s important to be across the new rules detailed below. For more information, make sure you download the Recfishwest app.  

Cockburn Sound crabbing area 

The map below details where you can go crabbing within Cockburn Sound between 1 December, 2024 and 31 August, 2025. Note that crabbing in Rous Head is not permitted.  

Bag and boat limit 

A bag limit of 5 crabs per person applies to Cockburn Sound waters up to North Mole and the boat limit is 20 crabs with four or more licensed fishers on board. These are the same rules that apply in the Swan and Canning rivers. The 127mm minimum carapace width size limit still applies.  

Be mindful of when you go crabbing 

While the green light arrives for crabbing in the Swan and Canning rivers, Cockburn Sound, Peel-Harvey system and to south of Bunbury on Sunday 1 December, bear in mind that many crabs will still be undersize given the relatively cool spring we had. 

This means it might be worth considering focusing crabbing efforts to later in summer once the water has warmed up some more and the crabs have had a chance to moult. This also means your catches are more likely to be of legal size.  

The annual three-month closure of crabbing for Perth (including Cockburn Sound) and the South West (down to Rich Road, 15km south of Bunbury) comes into effect from 1 September to 30 November each year.  

Stay safe while diving and be prop aware  

Given some crabbers may be diving beneath the surface to grab crabs by hand with boats moving above their heads, it is essential divers and skippers are prop-aware to maximise safety. 

Propellers can cause serious damage or death to divers. Click here to see some great tips on being prop-aware.  

If you’re diving for crabs, also remember to stay safe by diving with a friend, stay within comfortable limits of one another, don’t push yourself and dive with a float and dive flag attached. 

Community’s joy at Cockburn Sound’s crabbing comeback

Having fished in Cockburn Sound for 57 years man and boy, Cockburn Power Boats Club member Don Beisley is thrilled to have the chance to go crabbing with his grandkids in the Sound this summer.

This opportunity means three generations of his family will have enjoyed catching blue swimmer crabs in the Sound.

Don (pictured below with son-in-law Tony crabbing on the Swan) was one of thousands celebrating this week’s fantastic news that Cockburn Sound is to reopen for crabbing this summer for the first time in 10 years.

Don Beisley and his son-in-law Tony will soon be able to carry their joys of crabbing on the Swan River to Cockburn Sound, with crabbing given the green light in the Sound from 1 December!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – HOW WE BROKE THE COCKBURN SOUND CRABS REOPENING NEWS

“I’ve nothing but good memories of catching crabs in the Sound with my dad and my uncle when I was a kid, chugging out in their old school clinker boat,” recalled Don. “We’d take what we’d need for a feed, and they tasted great! But it was all about getting to do it with my dad and uncle – it was such fun!

Don continued, “When I got older, my wife and I took our kids out crabbing, and they loved it too. They still talk about it today as grown-ups. Now, I’m rapt to be able to share this experience with my grandchildren this summer.

“I was over the moon to hear the news – it’s such a magical place right on our doorstep. It’s pretty special, isn’t it? So, well done to you guys – it’s a great result for everyone.”

And when Don’s grandkids do go out crabbing with Don, it will be with crab nets they had a hand in making!

“We make our own nets for crabbing in the Sound,” Don revealed. “We get the frames made and sew all the mesh by hand. It’s all about the size, depth, and color of the mesh. Now, we’ve got the grandkids helping out with making the nets too!”

Picking up the thread. Don showing his grandchildren the art of crab net making!

Cockburn Soundbites

Here’s some of the other reactions to the great news for metro crabbers.

“Awesome outcome, thank you.” – Ted Russell

“Oh yes thank you very much for your info. Now no need to driving far for chasing crab thank you” – Henrix Clavecilla

“Excellent work really looking forward to it. It’s been a long time. Be great for the family and the kids. Thanks, Recfishwest!” – Jason and Karen Kuzmanich

“Great news, Recfishwest, Well done” – Barbara Ross.

“OMG! Been waiting since 2014! Awesome! Caught some nice feeds there,” – Murray Sofield.

“Awesome news for the upcoming seasons…Thank you to Recfishwest and the various departments involved in preserving, rebuilding and managing this important fishery” – Crackpots Marine Supplies.