Net fishing

Department of

Primary Industries and

Regional Development

Net ﬁshing

Recreational ﬁshing guide 2023

Published April 2023

A licence is required to use a haul, set

or throw net in Western Australia.

Illegal ﬁsh sales

It is illegal for recreational shers to sell their

catch. Illegal sh-selling operations pose a

major threat to inshore sh stocks. Severe

penalties (a ne, plus up to 10 times the value

of the species) apply and all gear used in the

operations may be conscated.

If you are aware of illegal shing or sh

sales, please note details such as car/boat

registration numbers and a description of

offender(s), and call FISHWATCH or contact

the Department of

Primary Industries and

Regional Development

(DPIRD).

Scan to

report online

Important disclaimer

The Chief Executive Ofcer of the Department of

Primary Industries and Regional Development and

the State of Western Australia accept no liability

whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise

arising from the use or release of this information

or any part of it.

Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2023.

Contents

1. Introduction ..................................... 1

Types of netting allowed ....................... 2

Licensing ................................................ 4

Open/closed areas ................................. 5

2. The rules .......................................... 6

General rules for recreational set,

haul and throw netting ........................... 6

Gear identification ............................... 6

Bag, size and possession limits ......... 6

Prohibited and protected species ....... 7

Use/carrying of nets ............................ 9

Specific rules for set netting ................. 9

Setting nets in navigation channels/

near service jetties is banned ............. 10

Setting nets ......................................... 10

Attending/cleaning set nets ................ 10

Specifications for set nets ................... 10

General description of waters

open/closed to set netting ................... 12

Specific rules for haul netting ................ 13

Use of haul nets .................................. 13

Securing haul nets .............................. 13

Specifications for haul nets ................. 13

General description of waters

open/closed to haul netting ................. 14

Specific throw netting rules .................... 14

Specifications for throw nets ............... 15

Introduction Introduction

1. Introduction

Recreational netting is considered by some

shers as a relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors

while shing.

Net shing is the only way to catch certain

species, such as mullet and baitsh, but if used

inappropriately, nets can take high catches of

non-target species and undersized sh.

For this reason, their use has been managed

to minimise excessive catches and to ensure

that sh stocks are protected. Net shing

has previously come under scrutiny, through

regional recreational shing reviews, due to

concerns about bycatch levels and conicts

with other user groups.

As a result of these reviews, recreational haul

and set netting is now prohibited in most waters

of the North Coast Bioregion, and set netting

is prohibited in all ocean waters of WA with the

exception of the Gascoyne Coast Bioregion.

Also, to simplify the rules for set netting in

inland waters of the South Coast Bioregion,

the permitted netting times have been

standardised.

Recreational net shing is only permitted

in WA’s ocean and estuarine waters (those

waters under the inuence of tides) – not

in fresh water. And most of WA’s estuarine

waters are closed to protect juvenile sh

stocks. Details of those waters open to net

shing are given in Section 3 of this guide.

Netters, in general, must lift and clean their

nets at least once an hour.

General description of waters

open/closed to throw netting ............... 15

3. Waters open/closed to netting .......16

Overview ................................................ 16

North Coast Bioregion ........................... 18

Gascoyne Coast Bioregion .................... 22

West Coast Bioregion ............................ 28

South Coast Bioregion ........................... 47

Information and penalties ...................60

Introduction Introduction

Set netting

There are rules

governing size,

mesh, fixing and

attendance of nets

- see Section 2 of

this guide

Throw netting

There are rules

governing size,

mesh and radius of

throw nets

- see Section 2 of

this guide

Haul netting also referred to as ‘drag’ netting,

is done only in ocean waters from a beach or

a boat. A net of up to 60 m in length is ‘shot’

into the water to surround a group of sh then

hauled in.

One end of the haul net may be xed to the

beach and a rope attached to the other end.

Once in the water, the net is kept constantly

moving towards the beach.

Set netting, where permitted, is done in

estuaries or from beaches, where a net of up

With growing shing and environmental

pressures, we need to manage our highly

valued aquatic resources sustainably, to ensure

there are sh for the future. You can play your

part by sticking to the rules, which are based

on extensive research and monitoring.

Types of neing allowed

In WA, it’s illegal for recreational shers to use

commercial netting methods, such as purse

seine and trawling.

It is also illegal to use shing traps of any kind

in WA state waters.

You can only use these recreational net shing

methods:

• haul (drag) netting

• set (gill) netting

• throw (cast) netting.

Haul netting

There are rules

governing size,

mesh and fixing

of haul nets

- see Section 2 of

this guide

Introduction Introduction

to 60 m in length is rmly anchored at both

ends in the outgoing/incoming tide. Set nets

(also called ‘gill’ nets) are xed in position

and catch sh by ‘gilling’ them (the sh are

held behind the gill plate as the head passes

through).

Throw netting, also called ‘cast’ netting, is

the throwing and slow retrieval of a small

circular net with a radius of up to three metres.

Protected and undersized sh must not be

retained for use as bait.

Licensing

A recreational net shing licence is required

for haul (drag), set (gill) and throw (cast)

netting.

A licence is not needed for crab drop/scoop

netting or prawn netting (unless using a throw

net). Refer to the Recreational shing guide

for further information on legal crab and

prawn gear.

A Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence

(RFBL) is required if shing from a powered

boat or using one to transport your catch or

shing gear to or from a land-based shing

location.

Apply for a new licence or renew an existing

licence online through the sh.wa.gov.au

website. Alternatively, application forms are

available from select ofces, the sh.wa.gov.au

website and the DoTDirect website.

Note: Fishing licences issued in other

states are not valid in WA.

Open/closed areas

There are general rules that apply to all three

forms of recreational net shing – set, haul

and throw netting – such as daily bag limits

and the restriction to use only one net at a

time. However, due to the differing gear and

techniques used, there are also rules specic

to each indiividual type of recreational netting.

Most of WA’s inland waters (rivers,

estuaries, inlets, creeks, lakes and their

entrances) are closed to netting. Inland

waters listed in Section 3 of this guide are

only those wholly or partially open to netting.

Inland waters not listed in this guide are

totally closed to netting.

Conversely, most of WA’s coastal waters

are open to netting. Coastal waters listed in

Section 3 of this guide are only those wholly or

partially closed to netting.

The maps in the guide are to help recreational

net shers with some of the boundaries of

open/closed areas of water. They should not

be used for navigational or legal purposes.

To nd exact locations of boundary localities,

it is suggested you obtain the appropriate map

or chart from Landgate (landgate.wa.gov.au)

or the Department of Planning, Lands and

Heritage (dplh.wa.gov.au).

The rules The rules

2. The rules

General rules for recreational

set, haul and throw neing

There are some general rules for net shing

regarding gear restrictions, bag, size and

possession limits and protected species.

These rules are covered below.

Gear identiﬁcation

Set (gill) and haul nets must have end oats

of at least 15 cm in diameter, stamped or

branded with the user’s gear ID number. This

must be displayed with letters and numbers

at least 6 cm high and 1 cm wide. Gear ID

numbers are not required on throw (cast) nets.

When you apply for a recreational net shing

licence you will be issued a gear identication

number. Gear identication numbers are

based on the rst initial of both your given

name and surname, and the month and year

of your date of birth. For example, if Jenny

Saltwater was born in November 1959, her

gear identication number would be JS1159.

If you are Aboriginal, you are not required

to hold a recreational net shing licence. To

identify gear you should use the letter ‘A’

followed by your date of birth (i.e. if a person

was born on 29 March 1959, then the gear

identication number would be A290359).

Bag, size and possession limits

Where netting is permitted, the daily bag, size

and possession limits of sh caught are the

same as for recreational angling. Full details

are in the latest Statewide recreational shing

guide or on our website at

sh.wa.gov.au/guide

Only those individuals who hold recreational

netting licences may take sh (up to their daily

bag limit) from the net.

Once all the netters who possess licences

have each caught their daily bag limit, the net

or nets must be removed from the water.

The daily bag limits for haul and throw (cast)

net shers apply for a 24-hour period from

midnight to midnight.

The daily bag limit for set (gill) net shers

applies for a 24-hour period from midday to

midday.

Any sh caught that are undersized or in

excess of daily bag limits should be returned

gently to the water immediately.

Prohibited and protected species

It is illegal for recreational net shers to catch,

or attempt to catch:

• Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

• Blue swimmer crab (Portunus armatus,

formerly Portunus pelagicus)

• Brown trout (Salmo trutta)

• Freshwater cobbler (Tandanus bostocki)

• Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Blue swimmer crabs may only be taken by

hand, non-piercing wire hooks, wire scoop

nets or drop nets.

All other species above may only be taken by

using a single rod, reel and line, or hand line.

The rules The rules

Any protected or prohibited species accidentally

caught by net must be returned gently to the

water immediately.

Barramundi. Net shers may not catch,

or attempt to catch, barramundi (below).

A blue swimmer crab (below).

Freshwater cobbler. No recreational

netting is allowed for the freshwater

cobbler (below) in WA’s southern

estuaries.

Rainbow trout (below) and brown trout

are stocked in some dams and inland

waters in WA’s south-west. Net shing

for trout is prohibited.

Use/carrying of nets

A person holding a recreational netting licence

may only use one net at a time.

While a boat may be used to assist in

positioning a recreational set net or haul net, it

must not be used to trawl these nets. Fishers

on foot (walking on the beach/seabed) may

drag a haul net.

Where permitted, set netting is only allowed

up to 800 m seaward from the low water mark.

Nets must be drawn carefully from the water,

so as not to kill sh caught in them.

Take care if you are travelling on or near

waters closed to netting – carrying a shing

net on closed waters, or on land adjacent

to them, is prohibited except where specic

permission has been granted by DPIRD.

Speciﬁc rules for set neing

In addition to the general rules for recreational

net shing, there are extra rules for set

netting.

The rules The rules

Seing nets in navigation channels/

near service jeies is banned

Under Department of Transport rules, setting

shing nets across channels used by boats is

banned. You are also prohibited from setting

nets that could prevent access to service

jetties by boats (that is, setting nets from

service jetties).

Seing nets

Using metal stakes, such as star pickets,

for holding set nets in place is prohibited.

Sandbags or anchors are recommended

instead and must be immediately removed

from the ocean/estuary oor when the net is

taken from the water.

At all times, a set net must have one edge

oating on the surface of the water (its oat

line/top edge). Sunken nets are extremely

dangerous and are prohibited.

Setting a net within 50 m of another set net is

not allowed.

Aending/cleaning set nets

When using a set net in most WA waters open

to recreational netting, you are required to

attend and remain within 100 m of your net.

Where you are required to attend your net,

you must lift and clean your net every hour.

For more information, check specic regional

rules contained below for further details.

Speciﬁcations for set nets

All set nets must be made of material that

is not less than 0.35 mm in diameter. This

is equivalent to 6 kg monolament line and

prevents the use of overly efcient ‘mist nets’.

The length of recreational set nets must not

exceed 60 m in length, while the depth, or

‘drop’, of the nets must not exceed 25 meshes

(25 mesh ‘cells’ from top to bottom of the net).

There must be no bags or pockets in the net.

You can roll up and securely tie off older-style

nets, with deeper drops, at the 25-mesh mark,

provided the extra meshes cannot capture sh.

If you are using a set net in inland waters, its

mesh size must not measure less than 63 mm

or more than 87 mm.

Note: A minimum mesh size of 76 mm

applies in the Beaufort Inlet and Pallinup

River (refer to Section 3 page 47 of the

guide).

Similarly, when a set net is to be used in

ocean waters, its mesh size must not measure

less than 75 mm or more than 114 mm.

A net mesh is measured by stretching it so

that the two knots on the left-hand and right-

hand sides of the mesh meet. The size of the

mesh is then the distance between the inside

of the knots at the top and bottom of the mesh

(see Figure 2-1).

Fine mesh mist nets which use very ne

monolament material are strictly prohibited

for net shing.

Measure

mesh at

full stretch

Stretch

mesh until

knots

at left

and right

sides touch

The rules The rules

General description of waters open/

closed to set neing

Most of WA’s inland waters (rivers,

estuaries, inlets, creeks, lakes and their

entrances) are closed to set netting all year.

Inland waters open to set netting for all or part of

the year are covered in Section 3 of this guide –

if an inland water is not listed, it is closed.

All of WA’s ocean waters in the North Coast,

West Coast and South Coast bioregions are

closed to set netting all year.

Set netting in ocean waters is only permitted

in certain areas of the Gascoyne Coast

Bioregion.

Where permitted, set netting in ocean waters

is only allowed within 800 m of the shore low

water mark (Figure 2-2). This is to help protect

tailor and shark stocks.

Ocean waters closed to set netting for all or

part of the year are covered in Section 3 of

this guide.

800m

Where permitted, haul and set

netting in ocean waters is only

allowed within 800 m of the

shore low water mark.

Haul and

set net

fishing

prohibited

Figure 2-2

Speciﬁc rules for haul neing

In addition to the general rules for recreational

net shing, there are extra rules for haul

netting.

Use of haul nets

Haul nets may only be hauled by hand, not

by boats or mechanical devices. They may be

shot/retrieved from a boat as long they are not

trawled.

Securing haul nets

The ropes used on a haul net should be a

maximum of 25 m in length. This is to limit the

capture area of a haul net.

Speciﬁcations for haul nets

All haul nets must be made of material

that is not less than 0.35 mm in diameter.

This specication is equivalent to 6 kg

monolament line and prevents the use of

overly efcient ‘mist nets’.

The length of recreational haul nets must

not exceed 60 m in length, while the depth,

or ‘drop’, of the nets must not exceed 25

meshes (i.e. 25 mesh ‘cells’ from top to

bottom of the net). There must be no bags or

pockets in the net.

You can roll up and securely tie off older-style

nets with deeper drops at the 25 mesh mark,

provided the extra meshes cannot capture sh.

The mesh size of a haul net must not measure

less than 51 mm or more than 114 mm.

A net mesh is measured by stretching it so

that the two knots on the left-hand and right-

hand sides of the mesh meet. The size of the

The rules The rules

mesh is then the distance between the inside

of the knots at the top and bottom of the mesh

(see Figure 2-1 on page 9).

Fine mesh mist nets and commercial trawling/

dredging gear are strictly prohibited for haul

net shing. A smaller mesh size is permitted

for haul nets than set nets because the

techniques used allow the quick release of

undersized or excess sh.

General description of waters open/

closed to haul neing

All of WA’s inland waters (rivers, estuaries,

inlets, creeks, lakes and their entrances) are

closed to haul netting all year.

In contrast, most of WA’s ocean waters are

open to haul netting with the exception of

the North Coast Bioregion, where conditional

haul netting is only permitted in Dampier

Archipelago waters. Where permitted, haul

netting in ocean waters is only allowed within

800 m of the shore low water mark (Figure

2-2 on page 12). Those ocean waters closed

to haul netting for all or part of the year are

described in Section 3 of this guide.

Speciﬁc throw neing rules

In addition to the general rules for recreational

net shing, there are extra rules for throw

netting.

Speciﬁcations for throw nets

The radius of a throw net (from its central

retrieval point to the lead line) must not

exceed 3 m.

The mesh size of a throw net must not exceed

25 mm. A net mesh is measured by stretching

it so that the two knots on the left-hand and

right-hand sides of the mesh meet.

The size of the mesh is then the distance

between the inside of the knots at the top and

bottom of the mesh (see Figure 2-1 on page 11).

General description of waters open/

closed to throw neing

Most of WA’s inland waters (rivers,

estuaries, inlets, creeks, lakes and their

entrances) are closed to throw netting all

year.

Inland waters open to throw netting for all or

part of the year are covered in Section 3 of

this guide – if an inland water is not listed, it

is closed.

All of WA’s ocean waters are open to throw

netting, excluding:

• sanctuary zones in marine parks/reserves;

• total shing exclusion zones; and

• any other area which is closed to all types

of netting at all times.

Areas where restrictions apply to the use of

throw nets – including restrictions on the take

of certain species – are covered in Section 3

of this guide.

Prawns may be taken by throw net in areas

where throw netting is permitted.

Waters open/closed to netting

The rules

3. Waters open/

closed to neing

Overview

Recreational shing is managed within four

broad ‘bioregions’ (biological regions):

• North Coast

♦ Rowley Shoals

♦ Eighy Mile Beach

♦ Montebello/Barrow

Islands

♦ Onslow

• Gascoyne Coast

♦ Exmouth

♦ Muiron

♦ Ningaloo

♦ Point Quobba

♦ Carnarvon

♦ Shark Bay

• West Coast

♦ Kalbarri

♦ Geraldton

♦ Abrolhos Islands

♦ Port Denison

♦ Jurien Bay

♦ Cervantes

♦ Lancelin

♦ Yanchep

♦ Marmion

♦ Scarborough

♦ City Beach

♦ Swanbourne

to Fremantle

(Cottesloe, North

Mole, Rottnest

Island, South

Beach)

♦ Coogee Beach

♦ Garden Island

♦ Kwinana to

Rockingham

♦ Cape Peron to

Safety Bay

♦ Shoalwater

♦ Peel Harvey

♦ Mandurah - rivers

♦ Preston Beach

♦ Myalup Beach

♦ Binninup Beach

♦ Leschednault

Estuary System

♦ Hungry Hollow

♦ Peppermint Grove

♦ Ngari Capes

Marine Park

♦ Busselton Jetty

♦ Geographe Bay

♦ Dolphin Road to

Siesta Park

♦ Dunsborough

♦ Yallingup

♦ Canal Rocks

♦ Cowaramup Bay

♦ Hardy Inlet

• South Coast

♦ Windy Harbour

♦ Broke Inlet

♦ Walpole and

Nornalup

♦ Peaceful Bay

♦ Irwin Inlet

♦ Greens Pool

♦ Wilson Inlet

♦ Princess Royal

Harbour

♦ Beaufort Inlet

♦ Wellstead Estuary

♦ Gordon Inlet

♦ Gairdner River

♦ Hamersley Inlet

♦ Mary Ann Point

♦ Stokes Inlet

♦ Esperance

♦ Thomas River

♦ Sanko Harvest

Wreck

Kununurr

Broome

Karratha

Onslow

Exmouth

Carnarvon

Kalbarri

Geraldton

PERTH

Augusta

Albany

Esperance

Eucla

Black Point

Denham

115º 30' E

114º 50' E

27º 00' S

Ashburton

21º 46' S

River

North Coast

(Pilbara/Kimberley)

Gascoyne

Coast

West

Coast

South Coast

The regional boundaries are shown on the

map (above). There are chapters devoted

to each bioregion, covering both inland and

coastal waters.

‘Recreational netting’, refers to haul, set and

throw netting.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

Most of WA’s inland waters (rivers,

estuaries, inlets and lakes) are closed to

recreational netting.

Most of WA’s ocean waters (waters directly

off the coast) are open to netting, with

the exception of the North West (Pilbara/

Kimberley) region.

So for practical reasons:

• The inland waters listed in this section are

those open to netting.

• The ocean waters listed are those closed

to netting.

The open/closed waters listed in the following

pages are only a guide and circumstances

can change.

Note: Where permitted, recreational haul

and set netting are only allowed within

800 m of the shore low tide mark – see

page 12.

For the most up-to-date information, or if in

doubt about any of the rules, contact your

nearest DPIRD ofce or visit our website at

sh.wa.gov.au

North Coast Bioregion

The North Coast Bioregion (Pilbara/Kimberley)

includes all waters between the Northern

Territory border and the Ashburton River,

south of Onslow. (All WA waters north of

21˚46’ S and east of 114˚50’ E).

The following section lists all ocean and

inland waters closed/open, respectively,

to recreational netting, along with specic

conditions and dates.

• All North Coast Bioregion waters are

closed to haul and set netting at all

times, with the exception of haul netting

from the islands in waters of the Dampier

Archipelago, with the following conditions:

1. Nets must not exceed 30 m in length.

2. Mullet and garsh are the only species

that can be kept. All other species must

be returned to the water.

3. Does not include any tidal inlet, pool,

creek, river or tributary.

Haul

and

set

netting

prohibited

Haul

and

set

netting

prohibited

Restricted

haul

netting

from the islands

Dampier

Karratha

Cape Preston

Cape Lambert

• Throw netting is permitted in ocean waters

in the North Coast bioregion, except for

sanctuary zones in Marine Parks. All waters

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

of Sanctuary Zones in Marine Parks are

closed to all shing at all times. There may

be additional restrictions in Marine Parks

as outlined below.

• Throw netting is permitted in all inland

waters in the North Coast Bioregion for

taking:

○ cherabin

○ mullet (family Mugilidae);

○ garsh (family Hemiramphidae, including

halfbeak but not longtom or needleskin

queensh); and

○ baitsh of the families Clupeidae (bony

bream, bony herring and sardine),

Atherinidae (mostly hardyhead) and

Engraulidae (anchovy).

• Prawns may be caught in a throw net.

♦ Rowley Shoals Marine Park

All waters of the Rowley Shoals Marine

Park are open to recreational throw netting

with the exception of the following areas:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Recreation Zone: All waters of the

recreational zone are closed to all

recreational netting at all times.

Throw nets may be used only in the

General Use Zone.

For specic details on the Rowley Shoals

Marine Park, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Rowley Shoals and Mermaid Reef Marine

Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/rowley-shoals

♦ Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park

All waters of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine

Park are open to recreational throw netting

with the exception of the following areas:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Mangrove

Protection): All waters of the

Malamalajungunya Special Purpose

Zone are closed to all shore-based

shing at all times.

• Special Purpose Zones (Shore based •

activities): All waters of the Pananykarra

and Banningarra Creek Special Purpose

Zones are closed to all shing from a

boat at all times.

For specic details on the Eighty Mile

Beach Marine Park, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Eighty MiIe Beach Marine Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/eighty-mile-

beach

♦ Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine

Conservation Reserve

All waters of the Montebello/Barrow Islands

Marine Conservation Reserve are open

to recreational throw netting with the

exception of the following areas:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

• Special Purpose Zones (Benthic

Protection): All waters of the Northern

Montebello Special Purpose Zone are

closed to recreational throw netting at

all times.

For specic details on the Montebello/

Barrow Islands Marine Conservation

Reserve, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Montebello Islands Marine Park and

Barrow Island Marine Park brochures.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/montebello-

islands

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/barrow-

island

♦ Onslow (Beadon Point to Third Street)

All waters within 450 m of the low water

mark between Beadon Point and Third

Street have been reopened to recreational

throw netting.

Onslow Creeks All creeks with mouths

within a 9 km radius of Beadon Bay groyne

have been reopened to recreational throw

netting.

Gascoyne Coast Bioregion

The Gascoyne Coast Bioregion includes all

waters between the Zuytdorp Cliffs (north of

Kalbarri) and the Ashburton River (south of

Onslow). (All WA waters north of 27˚ S and

west of 114˚50’ E)

The following section lists all ocean and

inland waters closed/open, respectively, to

recreational netting during the year, along

with specic conditions and dates.

♦ Exmouth

Town Beach All waters within 400 m of

the town beach high water mark (between

1000 m north and south of Friedman Way)

are closed to recreational netting at all

times.

Exmouth Gulf (30 km south of Exmouth)

All waters within a radius of 500 metres

of a point on the foreshore formed by the

extension of the southern side of road

15393 (a gravel road) where it meets the

high water mark are closed until further

notice, to recreational netting from

1 April to 30 September.

Minilya-Exmouth Rd

500

Net fishing

prohibited

Gravel Road/Beach Track

♦ Muiron Islands Marine Management

Area Conservation areas within this Area

are closed to recreational netting (all

fishing) at all times.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Ningaloo Marine Park All waters of the

Ningaloo Marine Park are closed to

recreational set and haul netting, with the

exception of specific locations within the

following areas:

• Neds Camp-Mesa

• Winderabandi Point

• Bruboodjoo

• 14 Mile Beach (Warroora Station)

Only shore based netting is allowed in these

areas.

Where permitted in Ningaloo Marine Park,

recreational set and haul netting is only

allowed between 5.30 am and 8.30 am or

between 4 pm and 7 pm. The mesh size of

nets must not exceed 90 mm.

All waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park are

open to recreational throw netting for taking:

• mullet (family Mugilidae);

• garsh (family Hemiramphidae, including

halfbeak but not longtom or needleskin

queensh); and

• baitsh of the families Clupeidae (bony

bream, bony herring and sardine),

Atherinidae (mostly hardyhead) and

Engraulidae (anchovy).

Except in the following areas:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Benthic

Protection): All waters of the Mandu

Special Purpose Zone are closed to all

recreational netting at all times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Shore Based

Activities): All waters of the Murat South,

Murat North, Lighthouse Bay, Jurabi,

Osprey north, Osprey south, Winderbandi,

Maud, Pelican North and Pelican South

Special Purpose Zones are closed to

recreational throw netting from a boat.

These waters are open to throw netting

from shore.

For specic details on the Ningaloo Marine

Park, see the Department of Biodiversity

Conservation and Attractions Ningaloo Coast

World Heritage Area brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/ningaloo

♦ Point Quobba Fish Habitat Protection

Area The coral reef and lagoon area within

Point Quobba Fish Habitat Protection Area

(50 km north of Carnarvon) is closed to

recreational netting at all times. For further

details, see the DPIRD Point Quobba Fish

Habitat Protection Area guide.

fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/recreational_

fishing/fhpa/fpha_point_quobba.pdf

♦ Carnarvon – Gascoyne River and

creeks All waters of the Gascoyne River,

its tributaries, and those within a radius

of 800 m of each of its entrances into the

ocean are closed to recreational netting

at all times. All creeks from 10 km north of

Point Whitmore to 5 km south of Mangrove

Point, including all waters within 400 m

radius of their mouths, are closed to

recreational netting at all times.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

•

Miaboolya

Creek

Point Whitmore

Whitmore

Island

Mangrove Point

Oyster Creek

Carnarvon

The Fascine

Gascoyne River

Net fishing

prohibited

Carnarvon – Gascoyne Carnarvon – Gascoyne

River and creeksRiver and creeks

Indian Ocean

♦ Shark Bay Marine Park All waters of

the Shark Bay Marine Park are open to

recreational netting with the exception of

the following areas:

• Sanctuary zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Marine Nature Reserves: All waters

of the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature

Reserve are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Monkey Mia Recreation Zone: All waters

within 800 m of the Monkey Mia Jetty are

closed to recreational net shing.

• Little Lagoon Recreation Zone: All

waters of Little Lagoon and all waters

within 275 m of the channel entrance

are closed to recreational net shing at

all times.

• Dubaut Inlet Recreation Zone: All

waters of Dubaut Inlet are closed to

recreational net shing at all times.

• Special purpose Zones: Set netting is

not permitted in the waters of the Big

Lagoon, Boorabuggatta or Cape Peron

special purpose zones at any time. Set

netting and haul netting is not permitted

in specied waters of the Gladstone

special purpose zone at any time when

those specied waters are seasonally

closed to boating for the purposes of

Dugong Protection.

• Recreation Zones: All recreational

zone waters are closed to net shing

at all times.

• Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve

is located in the inner Shark Bay Gulf,

adjacent to the Shark Bay Marine Park.

All waters of the Hamelin Pool Marine

Nature Reserve are closed to shing

at all times.

For specic details on the Shark Bay

Marine Park and Hamelin Pool Marine

Nature Reserve, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Shark Bay Marine Reserves brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/shark-bay

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Shark Bay In the waters off Shark Bay,

south of a line from Cape Inscription

(on Dirk Hartog Island) due east to the

mainland, no recreational set netting is

permitted between one and a half hours

after sunrise and one and a half hours

before sunset.

Denham

Dorre

Island

Bernier

Island

Faure

Island

Dirk Hartog

Island

Carnarvon

Cape Inscription

Gudrun

Set netting

restricted

Shark Bay areaShark Bay area

West Coast Bioregion

The West Coast Bioregion includes all waters

between Black Point, east of Augusta, and the

Zuytdorp Cliffs (north of Kalbarri).

The following section lists all of the ocean

and inland waters that are closed/open,

respectively, to recreational netting during the

year, with specic conditions and dates.

All West Coast Bioregion waters are closed

to recreational set netting at all times

except the waters of Peel-Harvey, Leschenault

and Hardy inlets (see relevant sections).

♦ Kalbarri Blue Holes All waters within the

Fish Habitat Protection Area are closed to

all recreational fishing.

♦ Geraldton harbour All waters within the

harbour are closed to recreational netting

at all times.

♦ Abrolhos Islands All waters within reef

observation

areas on the islands are closed

to recreational netting

at all times. For further

details, see the DPIRD brochure The

Abrolhos Islands Information Guide.

♦ Port Denison All waters within the fishing

boat harbour inshore of a line joining its two

groynes are closed to recreational netting

at all times.

♦ Jurien Bay Marine Park All waters of the

Park are open to recreational haul and

throw netting with the exception of:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Puerulus

Monitoring): All waters of the Special

Purpose Zone (Puerulus Monitoring) are

closed to recreational net shing at all

times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Shore-based

Activities): All waters of the North Head

Area 1, North Head Area 2, Boulannger

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

Island and Nambung Bay Special

Purpose Zones are closed to all shing

from a boat at all times.

• Special Purpose Zone (Scientic

Reference): All waters of the Fisherman

Islands, Green Islands and Hill River

Special Purpose Zones are closed to

recreational net shing from a boat at all

times.

• All waters within 400 m of the high

water mark between 400 m north of

the Jurien Boat Harbour and Shingle

Avenue, including all waters inside the

harbour, are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

For specic details on the Jurien Bay

Marine Park, see the Department of

Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions

Jurien Bay Marine Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/jurien-bay

♦ Cervantes All waters within 400 m of the

high water mark between Green Street and

Talavera Road are closed to recreational

netting between 1 December and 31 May

the following year.

♦ Lancelin All waters adjacent to the

Lancelin townsite between Edward

Island and Lancelin Island are closed to

recreational netting at all times.

Lancelin Fish Habitat Protection Area

All waters within the Area are closed to all

recreational netting (and all other types of

shing) at all times.

Lancelin

Navigational

Beacons

Lancelin

Island

FHPA

Jetty

Net fishing

prohibited

Edward Island

Lancelin – Lancelin –

Town BeachTown Beach

♦ Moore River All waters of the Moore River

are closed to recreational netting (including

throw netting) at all times.

♦ Yanchep Beach All waters within 800 m

of the high water mark that lie within

boundaries running 400 m SE of the SW

corner of Reserve 12439, and 800 m NW

of the NW corner of the said reserve are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

Reserve 12439

400m

Yanchep Beach Rd

800m

Net

fishing

prohibited

Yanchep BeachYanchep Beach

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Marmion Marine Park (Burns Rock to

Trigg Island) All waters in the Park, with

the exception of the harbours at Hillarys

and Ocean Reef, are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

Trigg

Waterman Reef

Observation Area

Burns Rock

Hillarys Boat Harbour

Ocean Reef Boat Harbour

Marmion

Three Mile Reef

Centaur Reef

Little

Island

31º 43.367' S

115º 39.372' E

31º 52.560' S

115º 41.772' E

Marmion

Marine

Park

Net fishing

prohibited

Marmion Marine

Park

♦ Scarborough Beach All waters within

800 m of the high water mark between

Reserve Street and 400 m south of

Brighton Road are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

♦ City Beach All waters within 800 m of the

high water mark between a point 800 m

north of the northern groyne to a point

800 m south of the southern groyne are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

♦ Swanbourne Beach to Fremantle (Rous

Head) All waters within 400 m of the high

water mark from a point 800 m south of

Swanbourne Drain to Rous Head harbour

wall (North Mole) are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

Cottesloe

400m

Swanbourne Drain

800m

Cottesloe FHPA

North Mole

Mosman Park

Fremantle

Net

fishing

prohibited

Swan River

closed including

Fremantle Harbour

Swanbourne Swanbourne

to Fremantle to Fremantle

and North Moleand North Mole

Note: All waters of the Swan and Canning

rivers are closed to recreational netting

(including throw netting) at all times.

Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Cottesloe Fish Habitat Protection Area

(FHPA) All waters within the FHPA are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

♦ North Mole Boat Harbour All waters

inside the harbour and within 200 m of the

harbour wall are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

♦ Rottnest Island All waters within 800 m of

the island are closed to recreational netting

at all times.

♦ South Beach (Fremantle) All waters

within 150 m of the high water mark from

the prolongation of Douro Road to the

prolongation of Island Street, including all

waters surrounding Douro Road groyne,

are closed to recreational netting at all

times.

♦ Coogee Beach All waters 460 m north and

south of the Beach Road prolongation, are

closed 400 m seaward of the high water

mark to recreational netting at all times.

♦ Garden Island (Fremantle) All waters

inside and 400 m seaward of a line

drawn from Colpoys Point to Collie Head,

including Careening Bay, are closed to

recreational netting at all times.

Net fishing prohibited by

Department of Defence

Colpoys Point

32º 9.11' S

115º 40.46' E

32º 13.97' S

115º 42.67' E

32º 14.82' S

115º 41.98' E

32º 14.69' S

115º 42.16' E

32º 15.09' S

115º 40.52' E

32º 9.11' S

115º 38.89' E

Collie Head

Garden

Island

Cliff Point

Second Head

Cockburn

Sound

Net fishing

prohibited

(Careening Bay)

Garden IslandGarden Island

There is a Department of Defence ban

on recreational netting all year within

the Controlled Naval Waters of Garden

Island – see map above for co-ordinates.

♦ Kwinana to Rockingham All waters within

800 m of the high water mark from the

T-shaped CSBP jetty due west of the CSBP

factory (prolongation of the east-west

section of Kwinana Beach Road) to a line

due north of John Point (Cape Peron) are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

John Point

Penguin

Island

Cape Peron

June

Flinders Ln

Rockingham

Port Rd

Garden

Island

800m

1600 m

CSBP

Grain Jetty

Jetty

Net fishing

prohibited

Kwinana Kwinana

to Rockingham to Rockingham

and Cape Peron and Cape Peron

to Safety Bayto Safety Bay

♦ Cape Peron to Safety Bay All waters within

800 m of the high water mark from a line due

south of John Point (Cape Peron) to June

Road (Safety Bay), including all waters within

a 1,600 m radius of Penguin Island, are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

♦ Shoalwater Islands All waters of the Park

are open to recreational haul and throw

netting with the exception of:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Special Purpose (Shore-based

activities) Zone: All waters of the

Special Purpose Zone (Wildlife

Conservation) are closed to

recreational net shing at all times.

• Special Purpose (Scientic

Reference): All waters of the Special

Purpose Zone (Scientic Reference)

are closed to recreational net shing at

all times.

For specic details on the Shoalwater

Islands Marine Park, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Shoalwater Islands Marine Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/shoalwater-

islands

♦ Peel-Harvey Inlet (Mandurah) All waters

of the Peel Inlet and the Harvey River

estuary system are conditionally open

to recreational set and throw netting

excluding the channel entrance to Peel

Inlet, the Yunderup Canals, and the Harvey,

Serpentine and Murray rivers.

Net fishing

prohibited

Creery

Island

Old Coast Rd

Halls Head

Boundary

Island

Robert Point

Channel

Island

Mandurah Rd

800m

Pinjarra Rd

Peel-Harvey Inlet – Peel-Harvey Inlet –

Channel EntranceChannel Entrance

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

Recreational set netting is permitted in

the Peel- Harvey Inlet (minus exclusions)

on Wednesday nights from 1 November

until the following 31 July, from 4.30 pm to

midnight. During this period, netters must

attend their nets, clean their nets hourly,

and ensure all nets are removed from the

water by midnight.

Set netting is banned in the Peel-Harvey

Inlet during August, September and

October, which is the main cobbler

breeding season.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in the Peel-Harvey

Inlet at all times.

For further details of closures, see the maps

above.

♦ Mandurah - rivers

Ballee

Island

Murray River

Serpentine River

Navigational

Beacon 484

(formerly 52)

Navigational

Beacon 635

(formerly 119)

Navigational

Beacon 645

(formerly 129)

Yunderup Canals

William

Road

Net fishing

prohibited

Mandurah – RiversMandurah – Rivers

♦ Preston Beach All waters within 400 m of

the low water mark between points 800 m

north and approximately 1,200 m south

of the prolongation of Mitchell Road are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

Net fishing

prohibited

400m

800m

SW corner of former Lot 1

Mitchell Rd

Presto

800m

NW corner of former Lot 1

Lake

400m

Preston BeachPreston Beach

♦ Myalup Beach All waters within 400 m of

the high water mark between points 200 m

north and 200 m south of the prolongation

of Myalup Road are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

♦ Binningup Beach All waters within

400 m of the high water mark between

Quartermaine Court and Valentine Road

are closed to recreational netting at all

times.

Waters within 400 m of the high water mark

from Quartermaine Court north to a point

30 m south from the end of West Coast

Drive are closed from 15 December to the

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

following 15 February, and on weekends and

public holidays from 16 February – 25 April.

Quartermaine Ct

Valentine Rd

400m

Binningup Rd

400m

Seasonally

Recreation Reserve

No. 34630

West Coast Dv

Net

fishing

prohibited

All year

Binningup BeachBinningup Beach

♦ Leschenault Estuary system All waters

of the system are conditionally open

to recreational set and throw netting,

excluding:

• All waters of the Collie River and

waters of the Leschenault Estuary

lying within a 400 m radius of the

northern-most extremity of Bar Island.

• All waters of the channel connecting

Leschenault Estuary to the sea known

as ‘The Cut’, including those within a

400 m radius of the western end of the

northern-most groyne at its entrance into

Koombana Bay.

• All waters of the Preston River

upstream from the northern-most

railway bridge near its mouth.

• All waters of the Leschenault Inlet

(known as ‘The Deadwater’), including

the Koombana Channel.

• All waters of the Bunbury Inner Harbour

Basin.

Recreational set netting is permitted in the

Leschenault Estuary (minus exclusions)

on Wednesday and Friday nights from 1

November until the following 31 July, from

1.5 hours before sunset to 1.5 hours after

the following sunrise, providing the net is

attended and checked and cleaned hourly.

Set netting is banned in the Leschenault

Estuary

system during August,

September and October,

which is the

main cobbler breeding season.

Throw netting (minus exclusions) is

permitted in the Leschenault Estuary at all

times.

Bar

Island

eston River

Collie River

Vittoria

Bay

Leschenault

Estuary

400

Turkey Point

Pelican Point

Point Douro

'The Cut'

Railway

Net fishing

prohibited

Set netting

prohibited

seasonally

Leschenault Estuary to Leschenault Estuary to

the rivers and The Cutthe rivers and The Cut

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Hungry Hollow All waters within 800 m of

the high water mark between Clifton Street

and Beach Road are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

Bunbury Inner

Harbour Basin

Clifton St

Koombana

Bay

800m

Beach Rd

Leschenault Inlet

800m

Hungry

Hollow

Net fishing

prohibited

Leschenault Estuary Leschenault Estuary

and Hungry Hollowand Hungry Hollow

♦ Ngari Capes Marine Park All waters of

the Ngari Capes Marine Park are open to

recreational netting with the exception of

the following areas:

• Sanctuary Zones: All sanctuary zone

waters are closed to all shing at all

times.

• Special Purpose (Shore-based

activities) Zone: All waters of the Eagle

Bay and Cosy Corner Special Purpose

Zones are closed to all shing from a

boat at all times.

Ngari Capes has prohibitions on specic

species in some areas including for:

• Crabs, other than blue manna

• Specimen shell

• Octopus

For specic details on the Ngari Capes

Marine Park, see the Department of

Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Ngari Capes Marine Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/ngari-capes

♦ Busselton Jetty All waters within 400 m of

the high water mark between Guerin Street

and Dolphin Road, and within 800 m of the

jetty, are closed to recreational netting at

all times.

Dolphin Rd

Geographe

Bay

800m

Vasse Estuary

Guerin

400m

Jetty

Net fishing

prohibited

Busselton JettyBusselton Jetty

♦ Geographe Bay

Some areas of water in Geographe Bay

are closed to all recreational netting at

peak holiday periods.

These areas are closed from 15 December

to 15 February, but also at weekends and

public holidays from 16 February to 25

April. The closed areas are:

Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Peppermint Grove All ocean waters

within 400 m of the high water mark

between Lot 11, Wellington Location 531

and Cowrie Court.

400m

during peak

holiday periods

Net fishing prohibited

Peppermint Grove Tce

Cowrie Ct

Lot 11

Peppermint Grove BeachPeppermint Grove Beach

♦ Dolphin Road to Siesta Park All waters

within 400 m of the high water mark from

Dolphin Road to approximately 1 km

west of Siesta Park groyne.

Dolphin Rd

Geographe

Bay

Caves Rd

400m

Lot 45

Bussell Hwy

Net fishing prohibited

during peak holiday periods

Dolphin Road to Siesta ParkDolphin Road to Siesta Park

♦ Dunsborough All waters within 400 m

of the high water mark between the tall

Norfolk Island pines approximately 450 m

east of the intersection of Elmore Road

and Geographe Bay Road to Bird Rock.

Geographe

Bay

Cave

s Rd

Bird Rock

Sussex Location 3976

nsborough

Quindalup

400m

Geographe Bay Rd

Elmore Rd

Net fishing prohibited

during peak holiday periods

DunsboroughDunsborough

♦ Yallingup Bay All waters within 400 m of

the high water mark between the northern

edge of the Yallingup Bay beach and

Yallingup Brook’s entry into the ocean are

closed to recreational netting at all times.

Yallingup Brook

Yallingup

400m

Slippery Rock

Yallingup BayYallingup Bay

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Canal Rocks (near Yallingup) All waters

within an 800 m radius of the centre of

Canal Rocks are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

♦ Cowaramup Bay (Gracetown)

Cowaramup Bay is closed to all netting.

♦ Hardy Inlet and Blackwood Estuary

(Augusta) The following waters of the

Hardy Inlet and Blackwood Estuary are

closed to recreational netting at all times:

• All waters south of a line from Point

Irwin to the Hospital boat ramp (Irwin

Street), including Swan Lake and The

Deadwater.

• All waters of the Blackwood River and

its tributaries upstream of the Fisher

Road boat ramp, and all waters of the

Scott River.

The inner waters of the Hardy Inlet and

Blackwood Estuary downstream of the

Fisher Road boat ramp and north of a

line drawn between Point Irwin and the

Irwin Street boat ramp are conditionally

open to recreational set netting.

• Recreational set netting is permitted

in the Hardy Inlet/Blackwood Estuary

(minus exclusions) during the period

commencing 1.5 hours before sunset on

1 September and concluding 1.5 hours

after sunrise on 31 May the following

year.

• During this period (1 September – 31

May) set nets may be used on any given

day from 1.5 hours before sunset until

1.5 hours after sunrise the following day.

However, this is conditional on the net

being attended and an hourly check and

clean being carried out.

• Set netting is banned in the Hardy

Inlet- Blackwood Estuary during

June, July and August, to protect

black bream stocks.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in the Hardy

Inlet-Blackwood Estuary at all times.

Swan Lakes

Fisher Rd

Augusta

Irwin St

Bussell Hwy

Point Irwin

Molloy

Island

Hardy

Inlet

Point Dalton

Deadwater

Duke Head

Blackwood

Riv

Net

fishing

prohibited

Set netting

permitted

conditionally

Hardy InletHardy Inlet

South Coast Bioregion

This bioregion includes all waters from Black

Point, east of Augusta, to the South Australian

border.

This section lists all ocean and inland

waters that are closed/open, respectively,

to recreational netting during the year, with

specic conditions and dates.

In inland areas open to throw netting, as

listed, any species may be taken except for

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

the prohibited and protected species listed in

Section 2 page 7.

• All ocean waters of the South Coast

Bioregion are closed to recreational

set netting at all times but the inland

waters listed are conditionally open to

recreational set netting.

Recreational throw nets are not permitted

in any ocean waters of the South Coast

Bioregion other than for the taking of bait

sh. Bait sh means sh from the families

Atherinidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae,

Hemiramphidae or Mugilidae.

♦ Pemberton - Walpole area

Broke Inlet

Pemberton

Muir Hwy

Windy Harbour

Walpole

Denmark

Nornalup Inlet

Peaceful Bay

Wilson Inlet

Irwin Inlet

Net fishing prohibited

Shannon River

Hwy

South

Coast

Pemberton – Walpole areaPemberton – Walpole area

♦ Windy Harbour All waters within 400 m of

the high water mark of the Windy Harbour

town beach are closed to recreational

netting at all times.

♦ Broke Inlet (20 km west of Walpole)

All waters of Broke Inlet and all rivers

(excluding the Shannon River, which is

closed to all fishing at all times), streams

and creeks that flow into the inlet are

conditionally open to recreational set

netting between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm

on Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 May until 31 October. Nets must be

attended and checked and cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Broke Inlet at

all times.

♦ Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine

Park All waters of the Walpole and

Nornalup Inlets Marine Park are closed to all

recreational netting at all times.

For specic details on the Walpole and

Nornalup Inlets Marine Park see the

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation

and Attractions Walpole and Nornalup

Inlets Marine Park brochure.

parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/walpole-and-

nornalup-inlets

♦ Peaceful Bay (near Walpole) All waters

from the high water mark to the rock in

the centre of the mouth of Peaceful Bay

are closed to recreational haul netting

from midday 31 October until 4.00 pm the

following 1 May.

This area is closed to recreational set

netting and throw netting at all times.

Boyd Rock

Old Peaceful Bay Rd

Elephant

Rock

Net fishing

prohibited

seasonally

Peaceful BayPeaceful Bay

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Irwin Inlet (20 km east of Walpole) All

waters of Irwin Inlet and the waters of all

rivers, streams and creeks that flow into

the inlet (excluding the Bow River) are

conditionally open to recreational set

netting between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm

on Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 May until 31 October. Nets must be

attended and checked and cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Irwin Inlet from

4 pm on 1 May to 12 noon on 31 October.

♦ Greens Pool All waters of Greens Pool are

closed to all fishing at all times.

♦ Wilson Inlet (near Denmark) All waters

of Wilson Inlet are conditionally open to

recreational set netting and throw netting,

excluding:

• The waters of the inlet between the sand

bar at the mouth of the inlet (low water

mark of Ratcliffe Bay) and a line running

approximately due south of Poison Point

to the Nullaki shore.

• The waters of Hay River, its tributaries,

and those within a radius of 400 m from

the mouth of the Hay River.

• The waters of the Sleeman River, its

tributaries, and those within a radius

of 400 m of the mouth of the Sleeman

River.

• The waters of the Denmark River, its

tributaries, and those within a radius of

800 m from the mouth of the Denmark

River.

Recreational set netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted during the

following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year. Nets must be attended and

checked and cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Wilson Inlet at

all times.

Net fishing

prohibited

South Coast

Denmark

Wilson

Inlet

Wilson Head

Poison Point

Ratcliffe

Bay

Denmark

River

Nullaki Point

Hwy

Hay

River

Sleeman

River

Wilson Inlet - western endWilson Inlet - western end

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Princess Royal Harbour (Albany) All

waters of Princess Royal Harbour are

conditionally open to recreational set

netting, excluding those from the low

water mark between Toll Place and Spit

Head out to beacon 16, 14, 10, 8 and 7

being the waters around the Albany port.

Recreational set netting (minus exclusions)

is permitted during the following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from 1

May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Princess Royal

Harbour at all times.

Approach

Channel

Beacon 8

York St

Albany

Princess

Royal

Harbour

Princess Royal Dve

Albany Hwy

Starboard Beacon 7

Approach

Channel

Beacon 10

Basin Beacon 14

Basin Beacon 16

Spit Head

Geake Point

Port Albany

To ll Pl

Net fishing

prohibited

Albany - Princess Royal HarbourAlbany - Princess Royal Harbour

♦ Beaufort Inlet and Pallinup River (40

km west of Bremer Bay) All waters of

the Beaufort Estuary and Pallinup River

are conditionally open to recreational set

netting during the following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from 1

May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year. Set nets must have a minimum

mesh size of 76 mm. Nets must be

attended and checked and cleaned

hourly.

♦ Wellstead Estuary (Bremer Bay)

All waters of the Wellstead Estuary

downstream of ‘The Narrows’ are

conditionally open to recreational set

netting during the following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned at least once hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Wellstead

Estuary at all times.

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

The Narrows

Wellstead Estuary

Bremer

Bay

Bremer Bay

Borden-Bremer Bay Rd

Net fishing

conditionally

permitted

Wellstead EstuaryWellstead Estuary

♦ Gordon Inlet (15 km north-east of

Bremer Bay) All waters of the Gordon Inlet

are conditionally open to recreational set

netting during the following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from 1

May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Gordon Inlet at

all times.

♦ Gairdner River All waters of the Gairdner

River downstream of a line joining Kent

location 1301 and SE corner of Kent

location 1295 (approximately 11.5 km

upstream of the mouth of the river at

Gordon Inlet) are conditionally open to

recreational set netting between 4.00 pm

and 9.00 pm on Friday and Saturday

nights only, from 1 May until 31 October.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Gairdner River

at all times.

Kent

Location

1301

Kent

Location

1295

ive

Gordon

Inlet

Net fishing

conditionally

permitted

Gordon Inlet Rd

Gairdner

220177

Gairdner RiverGairdner River

♦ Hamersley Inlet (20 km west of

Hopetoun) All waters of Hamersley Inlet

and Hamersley River are conditionally

open to recreational set netting during the

following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from 1

May until 31 October; and

(2) Between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

1 November until 30 April the following

year. Nets must be attended and

checked and cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Hamersley Inlet

at all times.

♦ Mary Ann Point (Hopetoun) All waters

within the area defined in the Hopetoun –

Mary Ann Point map below are closed to

recreational netting from 1 December to the

last day of the following February.

400m

Esplanade

Mary Ann Point

Canning Bvd

Veal St

423m

Hopetoun

Net fishing

prohibited

seasonally

Hopetoun - Mary Ann PointHopetoun - Mary Ann Point

♦ Stokes Inlet (70 km west of Esperance)

All waters of Stokes Inlet and all rivers,

streams and creeks that flow into the inlet

are conditionally open to recreational set

netting between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from 1

May until 31 October.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned at least once hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Stokes Inlet at

all times.

♦ Esperance Bay All waters from the

high water mark north of a line between

Dempster Head and the eastern groyne

of Bandy Creek Harbour are closed to

recreational netting from 1 December – 31

March.

From 1 April – 30 November, recreational

netting is only permitted between 7.00 pm

and 7.00 am of the following day.

Net fishing

prohibited

Esperance

Bay

Esperance

Dempster Head

Bandy Creek

Harbour

Norseman Rd

Harbour Rd

\Projects\206 0250 5\0065 - Rec Fishing Net Gu id e\Mxd\20140715p41.mxd

Esperance BayEsperance Bay

Waters open/closed to netting Waters open/closed to netting

♦ Esperance Jetty All waters contained

within an area that starts 140 m from the

seaward end of the jetty and 50 m either

side of a line drawn from the centre of the

jetty, and following a direct line seaward

from this point along a continuing course

for 260 m, are closed to all fishing,

including recreational netting. This follows

the original footprint of the Esperance Tank

Jetty, and is currently under review.

Net fishing

prohibited

140m

260m

50m

Esp

era

nce

tty

Norseman Rd

Jetty Rd

Esperance JettyEsperance Jetty

♦ Thomas River (95 km east of Esperance)

All waters of the Thomas River, including

those of its tributaries and affluents, are

conditionally open to recreational set

netting during the following periods:

(1) Between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 May until 31 October; and

(2) between 5.00 pm and 10.00 pm on

Friday and Saturday nights only, from

1 November until 30 April the following

year.

Nets must be attended and checked and

cleaned hourly.

Recreational throw netting (minus

exclusions) is permitted in Thomas River

at all times.

♦ Sanko Harvest wreck All waters within

500 m of the Sanko Harvest wreck are

closed to all fishing, including recreational

netting, at all times.

Information and penalties

Information and

penalties

This publication is to provide assistance or

information. It is only a guide and does not

replace the Fish Resources Management Act

1994 or the Fish Resources Management

Regulations 1995. It cannot be used as a

defence in a court of law. The information

provided is current at the date of printing but

may be subject to change. For the most up-to-

date information on shing and full details of

legislation contact your local DPIRD ofce or

visit dpird.wa.gov.au

You should be aware that all shing activities

may be subject to surveillance by Fisheries

and Marine Ofcers. If you break recreational

shing rules you may be given an infringement

notice or legal action may be taken against

you. Fines for recreational shing offences

may be as high as $5,000 plus up to 10 times

the prescribed value of the species.

SHARKSMART.COM.AU

9442 8600

Report shark sightings

to Water Police on

Download the

SharkSmart WA app

Recfishwest

Love your shing? So do we!

As the peak body for rec

shing, our purpose is

to ensure great shing

experiences for all in the WA

community forever.

Visit our website to nd out about some great

shing initiatives.

recshwest.org.au

Hook up to the

rec fishing rules

It’s easy to keep up to date with

Western Australia’s recreational fishing

rules. Whether it’s for bag and size

limits, seasonal closures or licences, all

the rules are at your fingertips.

Grab a copy or

download from

fish.wa.gov.au/guide

The free Recfishwest app

provides access to the rules

even if you’re out of phone

range and has an easy fish

identification feature.

Go to fish.wa.gov.au/rules

for rules covering more than

180 fish species. Use the

interactive maps to discover

information about

marine protected

areas and common

species by region.

dpird.wa.gov.au

ABN: 18 951 343 745

PB009-23 MAY 2023

Scan to

report online

1300 374 731 (1300 DPIRD1)

[email protected].au

Albany Ofce

444 Albany Highway,

Albany WA 6330

(08) 9845 7400

Broome Ofce

401 Port Drive,

Broome WA 6725

(08) 9193 8600

Busselton Office

48A Bussell Highway,

Busselton WA 6280

(08) 9752 2152

Carnarvon Ofce

262 South River Road,

Carnarvon WA 6701

(08) 9956 3333

Fremantle Ofce

14 Capo D’Orlando Drive,

South Fremantle WA 6162

(08) 9432 8000

Geraldton Ofce

20 Gregory Street,

Geraldton WA 6530

(08) 9956 8555

Hillarys Office

39 Northside Drive,

Hillarys WA 6025

(08) 9203 0111

Mandurah Office

107 Breakwater Parade,

Mandurah Ocean Marina

Mandurah WA 6210

(08) 9583 7800