Notably, from December 1, Cockburn Sound will be open to recfishers catching a bluey for the first time in a decade.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) most recent stock assessment showed Cockburn Sound has a sufficient stock to support limited recreational fishing.
Fishing rules in the Sound are consistent with bag limits for the Swan River of five blue swimmer crabs per day and a boat limit of 20 per day (when four RBFL holders are on board). This limit improves fishing opportunities, whilst ensuring there are plenty of crabs for the future. A specific Cockburn Sound crab fishing guide is available online.
It’s important to check the crab rules for your fishing area before you head out and to measure each crab as you catch it, carefully returning undersize or berried crabs to ensure they survive and making sure you stick to your bag limit helps to ensure sustainability.
While crab numbers in Cockburn Sound have not returned to historical levels, there should be some decent sized crabs in the Sound over summer.
Outside Cockburn Sound and the Swan River, a daily bag limit of 10 legal size crabs, applies and in Geographe Bay fishers may have a maximum of five female crabs within their bag limit.
Following a closure since the beginning of September to protect female crabs during the spawning season, DPIRD researchers advise that in early December there will again be high proportions of undersize (less than 127mm) blue swimmer crabs in most of our fisheries. These juveniles are likely to moult to legal size in late December or January.
Senior Fisheries Management Officer Bianca Brooks said fishers need to inspect and measure each crab to ensure they’re complying with recreational crab fishing laws.
“Estuarine fisheries, particularly the Peel Harvey, are likely to find many undersize crabs early in the season, but with a nine-month season, there will be time for those small crabs to grow and allow for great catches in 2025,” Ms Brooks said.
“Remember, if you’re fishing in the Swan or Canning Rivers, where the toxin-producing algae Alexandrium can be present, we advise you not to eat the crab guts of blue swimmer crabs. Instead, the health advice is to remove the head, mustard and gills and wash crabs prior to freezing cooking, or eating the crab meat.”
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal crab fishing activity is urged to report it to DPIRD’s 24/7 FishWatch service on 1800 815 507 or online at Report • Crime Stoppers Western Australia (crimestopperswa.com.au) - click on the special FishWatch link for your report.
For more information on the season check DPIRD’s West Coast Region crabbing guide.
