Tag: marroning

Top marroning tips and a welcome marron habitat enhancement commitment by the Fisheries Minister

On behalf of the Cast of Thousands, Recfishwest welcomes Fisheries Minister Don Punch’s announcement to improve marron habitat at Harvey, Logue Brook and Wellington dams if his party is re-elected.

Improving marron habitats will give increased productivity and provide juvenile and breeding marron with greater protection, improving the quality of marroning for WA’s 10,000 licensed marron fishers.

Marron habitat enhancement is something Recfishwest has asked all political parties to commit to ahead of the election and it’s good to see the huge social, health and wellbeing benefits fishing gives West Aussies are already being recognised in this way.

In the lead-up to the 2025 State Election, Recfishwest has developed a manifesto calling for investments into fishing over the next four years from ALL parties to ensure our great fishing experiences are safeguarded for generations to come.

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “This is good news for WA marron fishers because improving marron habitat will provide juvenile and breeding marron with more protection – increasing productivity and the quality of marroning.

“We’re pleased Labor has listened to what we have asked for on this and it’s good to see the huge social, health and wellbeing benefits fishing gives West Aussies already being recognised in this way. 

“We look forward to seeing other fishing commitments being made by all political parties in the next few weeks running up to the election.”  

More shelter for juvenile and spawning marron will benefit fishers with more abundant marron and a more robust fishery.

Marron mania get its claws into West Aussie fishers 

The marron season kicks off today and runs til noon on 5 February is set to snare the interest of thousands of mums, dads and kids, who will eagerly grab their gear and venture to our picturesque freshwater dams and rivers to try and grab a delicious feed. 

Recfishwest crustacean ‘tragic’ – and Operations Lead Matt ‘the marron whisperer’ Gillett, says marroning is one of the great South-West fishing experiences and is relatively easy for mums, dads and kids to do.  

“In addition to a marron licence, all you need is to fashion a snare out of some plastic-coated wire and attach to a five-to-six-foot pole – a fishing rod will work – some chook pellets for bait, a head torch to spot the marron and you’re good to go. You can still catch marron with drop nets, but the old fashioned snare is the best way to go,” said Matt.  

“It’s such good fun and so popular in the South-West. That’s why we’d really like to see commitments to invest in the future of this iconic fishery from all political parties that will support and enhance fishing experiences through habitat enhancement and ongoing stocking programs.” 

Matt’s magic marron snaring tips 

  1. Pick a night with less wind to help spot the marron feeding on the chook pellets easier. 
  2. Marroning on a waning moon or new moon is better.
  3. Pick the highest quality head torch you can.
  4. Don’t put the chook pellets out too early otherwise the ducks might nab them! Don’t put them out too far out either…the marron will come close to the bank for a feed. 
  5. Look for a stretch of bank where logs and rocks are submerged in the water – it’s the kind of habitat the marron like. 

South-West dams such as Harvey, Glen Mervyn, Waroona and Logue Brook all play an increasingly important role in supporting good marron catches. It’s crucial that we investigate different opportunities to improve these waterways and enhance the stocking program amid increased pressures on marron populations. 

Recfishwest wants to ensure fishers can continue to catch marron in our South-West for many, many more years to come and we are dedicated to achieving our vision of expanding the current month-long season towards year-round marron fishing.  

Recfishwest’s marron ‘whisperer’ gives top tips for marroning and calls for more stocking of South-West icon

The marron season starting tomorrow (8th Jan – 5th Feb) is set to snare the interest of thousands of mums, dads and kids, who will eagerly grab their gear and venture to our picturesque freshwater dams and rivers to try and grab a delicious feed.

Recfishwest crustacean ‘tragic’ – and Operations Lead Matt ‘marron whisperer’ Gillett, says marroning is one of the great South-West fishing experiences and is relatively easy for mums, dads and kids to do.

“In addition to a marron licence, all you need is to fashion a snare out of some plastic-coated wire and attach to a five-to-six-foot pole – a fishing rod will work – some chook pellets for bait, a head torch to spot the marron and you’re good to go,” said Matt.

“It’s such good fun and so popular in the South-West. That’s why we’d really like to see commitments to invest in the future of this iconic fishery from all political parties that will support and enhance fishing experiences through ongoing stocking programs.”

Whether you decide to snare marron like Recfishwest’s Tim Grose (left) or drop nets for these delicious critters, marron fishing is great fun for the entire family and very easy to do!

Matt’s marron snaring tips 

  1. Pick a night with less wind to help spot the marron feeding on the chook pellets easier.
  2. Marroning on a waning moon or new moon is better.
  3. Pick the highest quality head torch you can.
  4. Don’t put the chook pellets out too early otherwise the ducks might nab them! Don’t put them out too far out either…the marron will come close to the bank for a feed.
  5. Look for a stretch of bank where logs and rocks are submerged in the water – it’s the kind of habitat the marron like.

For even more marron fishing tips, click here!

Endemic to the South-West, marron are a highly sought after and iconic catch. From excitedly patrolling banks in the evenings with a torch, to the contagious laughter heard capturing these freshwater critters in a snare – marron fishing is highly infectious and is a cherished West Aussie family summer fishing activity.

With marron now under more environmental pressure than ever before from reduced rainfall and stream flows, Recfishwest is asking the State Government to invest in securing the future of marron to the benefit of the WA community and our regional economies.

A well-coordinated marron stocking program is crucial in supporting and enhancing the fishery.

South-West dams such as Harvey, Glen Mervyn, Waroona and Logue Brook all play an increasingly important role in supporting good marron catches. It’s crucial that we investigate different opportunities to improve these waterways and enhance the stocking program amid increased pressures on marron populations.

Recfishwest wants to ensure fishers can continue to catch marron in our South-West for many, many more years to come and we are dedicated to achieving our vision of expanding the current month-long season towards year-round marron fishing.

Scott’s Species – Marron – the craze for freshwater crays

Marron

Eating: 5 stars

It has been some years since I marroned with a purpose, but the memories of chasing them in our beautiful southern forests remain strong and it is something I probably should try again before too long.

I fondly recall a great night spent on the old Harvey Weir, before it was flooded to become what is now Harvey Dam, chasing them not long after I got my driver’s licence. We parked the car by the water, started a fire and then threw in some pellets.

Using drop nets, we ended up with a nice feed of marron and enjoyed a night to remember over a few cold drinks. Life was simpler back then…but I digress. There are few more uniquely West Australian fishing experiences than catching marron.

A juvenile marron (left) and Graham Stewart holding the prized catch that so many marroners chase!

Found from Esperance all the way north to Hutt River, past Geraldton, but endemic to the South-West, they are our own freshwater crayfish and despite having to endure some serious challenges in recent years, they continue to offer a great fishing option in many of our freshwater waterways during a limited season.

Dropping rainfall and reduced river flows due to increased community demands on water have meant marron have faced some real habitat issues, but the good news is that current stocking programs supported by Recfishwest are helping boost numbers and might even ultimately lead to longer seasons.

On a trip to Pemberton last summer to chase trout, I saw heaps of marron in the Warren River and Lefroy Brooks, which was hopefully a good sign for the future. Although I haven’t chased marron in recent years, they are a common encounter when trout fishing.

I remember standing on a rock in knee-deep water at Waroona Dam and being surprised when a large marron emerged from under that rock. It was not quite “methuselah” of the Freshwater Fishing in South West Australia book fame, but it was a beauty. I also remember foul hooking a big one on a Celta at Cascades on the Lefroy Brook one year. After admiring it for a few seconds I let that one go.

Locations stocked in recent years include Waroona Dam, Harvey Dam, Big Brook Dam and Logue Brook Dam. A licence is required to catch marron during the January-February season. There are detailed rules around bag and size limits which vary in different locations, with Harvey Dam, Waroona Dam and the Hutt River regarded as ‘trophy waters’ with tighter regulations to enhance the chance of catching trophy specimens.

Matt Pullella trying his luck marroning in a small stream.

Some locations are also snare only, including Big Brook Dam, Logue Brook Dam and Harvey Dam, with the full list and the latest comprehensive rules available at www.fish.gov.au.

There are three main ways of catching marron and a baited drop net is the most simple and effective, especially in deeper water such as the Warren River. A simple stocking filled with chook pellets can be used as bait, or other meat baits like chicken necks or fish. However, I always reckon the greatest fun to be had is in stalking them in the shallows with a snare or scoop. This is even more fun with a good headlamp at night. The reward, of course, is a feed of one of the tastiest crustaceans on the planet!

Fisheries Minister fixes DPIRD’s Harvey Dam marron stocking blocking with 100,000 juveniles to be released

After a long three-year stocking hiatus, Harvey Dam is finally set to see 100,000 marron make a splash into its waterways in 2023. 

The announcement by the Fisheries Minister Don Punch fixes a decision by DPIRD to prevent marron being stocked into Harvey Dam as part of a stocking program funded by the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund and launched by the Premier Mark McGowan at the dam in 2019.  

Read the full media release from the Fisheries Minister here.  

Harvey Dam is the most popular recreational marroning location in our South West and provides an ideal habitat for marron spawning and growth.

Over the last few years, the team from Aquafarms, supported by Recfishwest, helped release 300,000 marron into the popular Waroona and Logue Brook dams.  

Large numbers of marron were also supposed to be released into Harvey Dam last year as part of this project, but one month before stocking DPIRD advised Recfishwest that, approval to stock Harvey Dam would not be provided.  

DPIRD’s rationale for refusing permission to stock Harvey Dam was largely based on two-decade old research. However, this rationale did not extend to Logue Brook or Waroona Dams, leaving local marron fishers confused and disappointed that the premier marroning location of a recreational-only fishery was missing out, despite assurances it would be a focus of the stocking project.  

Recfishwest raised our concerns directly with the Fisheries Minister and is pleased that he cut through the red tape put in place by DPIRD to ensure marron would be stocked in WA’s premier marooning location as intended.

This photo, taken in December 2019, was the last time marron were stocked into Harvey Dam, shortly after Premier Mark McGowan announced the RFIF-funded marron stocking program.

A sensible outcome  

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “We thank the Minister for listening to Recfishwest and overcoming needless Government bureaucracy to right this wrong – it’s a sensible resolution that ensures a good outcome for the community.  

“By working with the Minister and DPIRD, we hope to achieve a similar sensible resolution for the west coast demersal fishery and avoid the extensive social and economic damage the Government’s initial proposal for a nine-month ban would cause. 

“Marron is an icon of the South-West and marroning is a hugely popular pastime, with Harvey Dam the most popular marroning location.  

“The marron season brings in thousands of freshwater fishers from around the state to the pristine South-West waterways, helping inject millions of dollars back into our regional tourism economies.  

“Stocking initiatives like this can future-proof the marron fishery and take us closer to our vision of year-round marroning.” 

Breeding from the marron captured at Harvey Dam has already begun, with restocking expected to start as early as June next year.

Check out our marron fishing tips on our ilovefishing website. 

Marroning in Harvey Dam is hugely popular, especially when larger catches like these are made possible thanks to the dam’s ideal conditions.