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Recfishwest is excited to announce the launch of this summer’s new Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) season, with 30 devices being deployed across the southern half of WA in the coming weeks.
This year’s rollout also includes innovative fish-monitoring technology that will be trialled for the first time in Australia. Check it out in the video below!
Ten FADs are already in position off the north metro coast, behind Rottnest, and off Rockingham and Mandurah, ready for action.
An additional 20 FADs, stretching from Steep Point to Albany, will be deployed by the end of November, setting the stage for another fantastic summer of pelagic fishing for dolphinfish, tuna,billfish and the like.
At the season launch at Hillarys, Minister for Fisheries Don Punch joined Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland to unveil the sonar technology that will be trialled on FADs this summer.
These buoys will provide 24/7 live data on the number and size of fish gathering around the devices, offering valuable insights into the behavior of pelagic species and supporting the continuous improvement of sportfishing opportunities on the FADs.
The new Satlink SLX+ sounders being trialled will deploy a 35-degree beam and provide 24/7 information on the biomass of fish aggregating within 10 depth intervals (down to 115m depth).
To save bandwidth, data from the sounder will be streamed hourly, with five-minute intervals captured from an hour before to an hour after sunrise, a key period for pelagic fishing.
This will help DPIRD assess fish abundance under the FADs and correlate it with factors like temperature and depth.
The data will potentially help refine future FAD placements and deployment timing.
Ongoing evolution
CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “It’s great to see the Government backing in this program, which began almost 30 years ago with the Perth Game Fishing Club and has since evolved through Recfishwest’s successful Statewide FADs trial.
“We welcome DPIRD trialling these sonar buoys on six of the locations from the Abrolhos through to Albany to help better understand what fish are turning up and at what time of year.”
“We look forward to more innovation of this kind supporting better recfishing.
On behalf of the cast of thousands, Recfishwest will continue to keep all fishers up to date with all FADs developments.
The FADs have produced some beautiful captures over the years for both both fishers and spearfishers, with dolphinfish a commonly encountered species at the devices. Images: Beau Suladra and Spearwest.
The February-March demersal fishing closure in the West Coast Bioregion ends on Saturday 1 April and recreational fishers are to be congratulated for playing their part in helping the recovery of these iconic fish and other demersals during this time.
We continue to press the Government to apply this closure across all sectors to ensure dhufish are given the full protection they deserve during their spawning period.
Fishers can now target bottom fish once again in the West Coast Bioregion from 1 April until 31 July. New rules now apply – you can check out these new rules on Recfishwest’s fishing rules app.
Once again, recreational fishers are doing more than their fair share to help the recovery of these fish.
The removal of the dhufish size limit was intended to allow fishers to keep a fish suffering from barotrauma that would otherwise die if released. So, while the size limit for dhufish has been removed (as well as for breaksea cod and baldchin groper), there is no reason why you shouldn’t return smaller dhufish if they’ve been caught in relatively shallow water and are in good condition.
There is plenty of evidence that shows small dhufish caught in shallow water survive release if the fish are looked after well and returned quickly using a release weight if needed.
In addition, while the boat limit for dhufish has been removed, there is an individual bag limit of 2 dhufish and a demersal boat limit of 4 fish. This does not mean you have to catch two dhufish or target four dhufish every time you go out on the water with mates.
There are plenty of other great fishing options available in the West Coast Bioregion such as pelagics, squid, nearshore species etc. Consider spreading your effort and giving other types of fishing a go, rather than only targeting demersals every time.
Going for pelagic species rather than demersals such as tuna, mackerel, cobia or dolphinfish like this recent beauty landed by Jarryd Sewell at one of the Recfishwest FADs provides great fishing experiences off the WA coastline.
Have questions? We’ve got your back
There were a lot of questions around the new rule changes from many of you, so here are some of the responses from DPIRD below.
Broader West Coast Bioregion:
Question)Given that size limits have been removed for some species, does this mean fishers have to keep the first two fish they catch?
Answer – No, however fishers are encouraged to retain the first two legal size demersals they catch and then switch their fish to other nearshore or large pelagic species once they reach their limit.
Question)Does the ‘one hook per line’ rule apply to offshore demersal species such as hapuku and others?
Answer – Yes, it applies when fishing for all demersal scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion.
Question)What sized hooks are considered to be targeting demersal scalefish?
Answer – There is no regulation on hook size or number of hooks provided you don’t use more than one bait or lure per line when fishing for demersal scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion.
Once you reach your demersal possession limit, make sure you switch your fishing to target nearshore or larger pelagic species.
Abrolhos Islands:
Question) In the event that a fisher catches a demersal scalefish that renders greater than 5kg of fillets, can the additional fillets be shared amongst any other people on the boat?
Answer – Yes
Question)Additionally, do these people have to be in possession of a fishing license?
Answer – No
Question)If a fisher enters the Abrolhos FHPA with a fish caught outside the FHPA, do the possession limits apply?
Recfishers care about these iconic fish, and it’s important our sector play our part to help further speed up the recovery of the demersal fish stocks, potentially leading to a quicker relaxing of the fishing restrictions put in place.
“Fishing for bottom fish in the West Coast Bioregion begins again as of April 1st and many will be able to enjoy the quintessential West Aussie experience of getting out on the water fishing with families and friends and catching a top-quality feed of dhufish, baldies or snapper,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland.
“Recfishwest will continue to fight in ensuring these fish get the proper spawning protection they deserve while also ensuring fishers are given access to our fair share of the fish that are available.”
If you want an example of how important fishing is to the south coast – look no further than Esperance and last weekend’s (March 10-12) sensational Esperance Deep Sea Angling Club’s (EDSAC) Esperance Archipelago Offshore Angling Classic.
With Samson fish tipping the scales at more than 22kg along with spectacular harlequin fish, snapper and breaksea cod — it’s no wonder more than 600 people came down to the weigh-in at Esperance’s biggest fishing comp and enjoyed a fantastic weekend of fishing and socialising!
There were 275 competing anglers on 83 boats taking part in the competition – making it one of the biggest boat fishing tournaments if not the biggest in WA.
The 30th edition of this great fishing competition proved not just to be one of the biggest community events of the year in Esperance, but also drew anglers from throughout the Great Southern and Goldfields regions.
It’s also something of a local spectacle as with competitors’ friends and family members turning out to watch the traditional competition boat ‘fleet’ running out of Esperance Bay.
And they’re off! Every year hundreds of spectators watch the competing boats cruise out of Esperance Bay to compete in the Esperance Archipelago Offshore Angling Classic.
The mixed bag of fish species off the south coast combined with impressive prizes for the biggest catches meant there was plenty of excitement on who would take out each prize category.
Tyson Tate’s 22.40kg Samson fish not only landed him more than $20,000 in total for the heaviest fish caught and largest Samson fish overall — but his name was also pulled out of a hat containing hundreds of other raffle contestants to win a Garmin sounder package worth more than $5,000!
See the full set of results from the Classic below.
The Esperance Classic came on the back of another firm fixture in the south coast fishing calendar — Southerners Sport Club Fishing Classic held in Hopetoun, which was celebrating its 29th edition earlier this month, with dozens of contestants landing various species to take home spectacular prizes.
The two tournaments once again highlighted how highly prized the fishing on offer on the south coast is by the people who live there and those who travel there to sample what’s on offer, with EDSAC President Corrina Worth perfectly summarising why these fishing experiences need to be safeguarded.
“We are just very privileged to be able to access some beautiful places and catch some great fish along the south coast with minimal effort. Looking after that opportunity and protecting it for future generations is very important,” said Corrina.
Recfishwest Operations Lead Matt Gillett, who was in Esperance for the comp and to talk to fishers about the Government’s proposed south coast marine park, said it was the biggest crowd he’s ever seen attending the event.
“You can’t fail to see what fishing means to this community and people in this part of the world when you attend an event like this – it’s fantastic to see how the comp brings the community together and generates such a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
“And that’s for anglers across the board of all ages and capabilities – that’s the power of fishing and it’s why fishing events and experiences like these must be able to continue – they’re central to the fabric of community life and regional West Aussies’ well-being.
“This is backed up by the recently published results of the National Recfishing Survey that shows fishing is highly important for improved wellbeing along with injections into our regional economies.
“These massive benefits from fishing must be dialed into marine park planning processes currently underway along the south coast because one of the purposes of parks is to maximise the benefits to the WA community from these special environments.
“Well done to all fishers who took part and made this year’s event another ripper edition of the Offshore Angling Classic and, of course, congratulations to EDSAC President Corrina Worth and her team for their hard work in hosting another cherished calendar fixture for the Esperance community.”
The south coast offers spectacular fish species that are accessible by land and boat, including this yellowtail kingfish caught by Chris Dixon near Albany (pictured left) and this nannygai landed by Jesse Smithson off Esperance.
With fishers now preparing for the 2023 GAMEX at Exmouth which kicks off from 17-25 March, the Pilbara region in WA’s north is also set to be injected with plenty of excitement and economic contributions from visitors. Stay tuned for our full GAMEX recap!
30th Esperance Archipelago Offshore Angling Classic – the full set of results
BREAKSEA 1st Boat 79 Shane Temple 2.822kg – 2nd Boat 99 Ryan Nelson 2.591kg
One of the fishing community’s greatest challenges is maintaining access to high-quality fishing experiences across Western Australia.
Be it from industrial development, the deterioration and subsequent closing of jetties and platforms, or marine park zones that prohibit fishing, recreational fishers face a constant uphill battle in being able to access the experiences we all love and cherish.
In the case of marine parks, Recfishwest has been at the coalface this year as we advocate strongly for a fair and reasonable outcome for fishers in two marine parks currently going through the consultation process.
One of these parks – The Marmion Marine Park – is currently located between Trigg and Ocean Reef and has been in place since 1987. As part of a 2019 commitment, the State Government announced in February plans to extend the marine park further north from Trigg up to Two Rocks.
Another new marine park is also being proposed on the south coast, between Bremer Bay and the South Australian border.
In order to assist recfishers having their say, Recfishwest have directly engaged fishers along the south coast and metropolitan regions, as well as undertaking two online surveys, aimed at highlighting the most important areas for recreational fishing in both areas covered by the proposed parks.
Recfishers were surveyed on numerous questions such as asking them to highlight specific fishing spots they enjoy in these areas, how often they fish, the species they target and what was most important to their fishing experiences, such as accessibility, health benefits and safety.
Hundreds of thousands of people fish between Trigg and Two Rocks (left) and along our southern coast between Bremer Bay and the South Australian border (right).
Thanks to the great survey feedback provided from 761 fishers across both areas, Recfishwest has been advocating to decision-makers to ensure recfishing values are understood throughout the planning process.
We are continuing to meet with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and traditional owners to discuss what can be achieved in these marine parks when recfishing values are applied.
While marine parks are not a fisheries management tool, it is crucial that any zoning type that impacts on recreational fishing access must be justified by evidence, including how recreational fishing impacts upon the key values being protected.
Our surveys and meetings conducted in these areas underline the importance of recreational fishers being provided with an understanding around the process and rationale used to develop different zone types.
Extensive consultation processes are underway, in which Recfishwest is directly involved. Thanks to the feedback gathered below, Recfishwest will be in a stronger position to ensure recfishing values are well understood prior to draft marine park plans being released next year.
The release of these plans will provide further opportunity for fishers to put forward their point of view when it will again be important for the fishing community to have its collective say.
Marmion Marine Park Survey Findings
334 respondents identified 459 specific fishing areas important to them.
Combinations of fishing types were favoured by some, but the survey was dominated by solely dedicated shore or boat-based fishers.
Most important shore-based locations were aligned with access points, such as marinas and carparks.
Most important boat-based locations include Hillarys to Mindarie, capturing locations such as Three-Mile Reef and Staggie Reef.
A heat map from our survey showing the most popular fishing spots within the proposed Marmion Marine Park extension.
South Coast Marine Park Survey Findings
427 responses from mostly shore-based fishers only (169), closely followed by shore-based and boat-based fishers (147).
110 respondents fished at least 20 days per year or more.
The majority of survey respondents fished between Bremer Bay and Cape Arid.
Eastern sections of proposed marine parks were fished less due to limited boat launching opportunities but were still rated incredibly important for wilderness fishing experiences.
A heat map from our South Coast Marine Park survey, showing the highest fishing activity between Bremer Bay and Cape Arid (top section), with less fishing occurring in the eastern region (bottom section).
Most important factors to fishers across both proposed areas
Easy accessibility to their favourite fishing spots, including boat ramps, four-wheel-drive tracks and launching sites.
Spending quality time with friends and family.
Being able to combine camping opportunities with fishing experiences.
The mental and physical health benefits that fishing provides.
Fishing safety.
Thanks to everyone involved with the fantastic feedback gathered above.
We will keep you updated on the planning processes for these marine parks and will ensure they are underpinned by peer-reviewed science and feedback from public consultation to improve recreational fishing experiences in these areas with no net loss of amenity.
Recfishwest continues to work with DPIRD, the Fisheries Minister and the State Government towards a sensible outcome that ensures west coast demersal fish stocks continue to recover without wrecking the lifestyle and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of WA fishers.
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland met with the Fisheries Minister, Don Punch, last week and had a “frank, but constructive” conversation around the Government’s proposals – further discussions have also taken place with DPIRD fisheries managers around our alternative proposals.
“I reiterated our sector’s commitment to sustainability and our opposition to a nine-month ban when there are alternative effective measures available,” said Andrew, “The meeting with the Minister was frank, but the communication lines appear to be now open. While the official public consultation period is over, we have received assurances from Government that no decisions have been made. The Minster also told Parliament he has committed to re-discussing the issue with Recfishwest prior to any decision being made.
“We are continuing to meet with DPIRD and we’re pleased that the conversation is continuing. We’re having discussions around solutions that put the fish first, while delivering a more balanced outcome than the Government’s initial nine-month proposal.
“As WA’s not for profit, independent peak sector recfishing body, it’s really important that Recfishwest continues to impress upon Government that the 700,000-plus West Aussie fishers we represent, who spend $2.4 billion on fishing every year, is too important as a sector to neglect.”
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland was recently on the road visiting tackle store crews from Geraldton down to Augusta to discuss their concerns and views on the west coast demersal issue.
A loud and clear message from the WA fishing community
Andrew spent the previous week out on the road talking to local fishing club members and tackle store owners from Geraldton to Augusta. The Recfishwest team also had a big presence at this year’s Perth Boat show and we would like to thank the thousands of fishers who came and gave us their support.
“What we continue to hear from our community hammers home the level of concern there is out there about the future of our fishing lifestyle, community life and associated small businesses.
“It also highlighted how united our community is in finding a better way to speed up the recovery of the fish stocks without the social and economic fall-out of a nine-month demersal ban. The Government needs to understand this.”
“The messages we have received loud and clear from fishers, fishing clubs and businesses is everyone cares deeply about sustainability, supports protection of fish during peak spawning times and are happy to support science-backed rule changes. There is also great concern about fair and equitable sharing of publicly-owned fish stocks and the lack of consideration given to the social and economic impacts of management proposals.”
The online petition is another example of just how much the fishing community’s oppose the Government’s proposals. At nearly 18,000 signatures, it is the biggest online Parliamentary petition in WA history! There’s still time to sign it if you haven’t already done so, but be quick as we hear it is planned to be tabled in Parliament next week.
How’s this for a show of strength! Lancelin Angling and Aquatic Club showing how united they are on this issue.
What you can do
While the official community public consultation is over, the Government is yet to make a decision – so you can still make your views known by:
Contacting your local MP and let them know how the proposals will impact you and your family. Find tips on how to reach out here.
Calling your local talk back radio station and let listeners know what fishing means for you and your family. 6PR and ABC mornings are great places to start in Perth.
Writing aletter to the West Australian newspaper - all letters must be SIGNED and include the writer’s full-name, address (not postal) and telephone number.
Sign the petition if you haven’t already and encourage your family and mates to do the same.
Sharks – ‘the tax man’, ‘men in grey suits’ or an expletive-riddled combination of both. Whatever you call them, they can ruin a day’s fishing.
Over the course of 400 million years – give or take a few – sharks have perfected hunting in oceans and rivers. Their powerful noses easily detect electrical signals from marine life, combine this with lightning speed and rows of sharp teeth and it peaks their odds on finding a meal.
Unfortunately, their meal can often be the prized fish on the end of a line. As the fish fights, it sends out distress impulses which can act as a dinner bell for nearby sharks.
In some cases, once one fish is attacked, multiple sharks will congregate in that area and commence a feeding frenzy on any hooked fish. Many WA anglers on boats who experience this are forced to pull in the lines and change location, meaning more time is spent finding shark-free spots instead of getting the most out of a day’s fishing.
For fishers who don’t move location and decide to battle it out against mother nature’s most ancient marine predator, it can see a high fish mortality rate and a burnt hole in the pocket from lost rigs.
In what could be a potential game changer to reduce fish mortality, fishers are reporting good results from the new shark repellent gear coming on the market like ‘Sharkbanz’ – one of the products tested as part of DPIRD’s recent shark bite-off study.
Essentially a powerful magnet, Sharkbanz is simply attached to the bottom of your fishing rig around one metre above your sinker. Its manufacturers claim it overwhelms a shark’s powerful nose sensors as it zones in on your catch.
At $100 a pop, they’re an expensive investment to lose if a shark tears through your rig. It’s a purchase you don’t want to make repetitively after each fishing trip.
With this in mind and given the Sharkbanz magnet needs a unique rig setup to work at peak efficiency, we asked Ashley Ramm, owner of Tackle World Miami in Mandurah, to explain the best rigging tips for using Sharkbanz to minimise the loss of your gear and fish.
