Fishers participating in the second session of the 2024-25 West Coast Zone abalone season have been advised to proceed with caution and should evaluate the local ocean and weather conditions to ensure they have sufficient water skills to manage the risk.
The area north of Moore River to Greenough River Mouth is not patrolled by Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA). Fishers are urged to wear the right gear, be aware of conditions and keep an eye on ocean swells and waves that wash across reef tops.
SLSWA advice for the Perth coast this Saturday between Halls Head and Yanchep indicates all factors currently carry a medium rating, however, fishers should remain cautious and alert as ocean conditions may be challenging for those with little to no swimming or self-survival capabilities. It’s imperative to fish safely at all times.
Monitoring from SLSWA in the past two days has shown average wave height to be around 1.5 metres, but conditions may change rapidly, and fishers need to assess their local conditions on Saturday before getting in the water.
SLSWA uses the best available information on conditions from multiple sources and rates the risks for factors such as wind speed, wave height, tide and swell period.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Principal Fisheries Management Officer Bianca Brooks urged fishers to remain alert, stay safe and abide by the rules.
“The fishing rules for all species are available in DPIRD’s Abalone Recreational fishing guide 2024/25“, Ms Brooks said. “Measuring all abalone before they are removed from a reef is the vital first step If the abalone is too small, fishers can’t keep them, and once removed from a reef, the survival rate for undersize abalone is reduced. Please leave them attached to grow and provide future catches”
“It’s important abalone fishers comply with the minimum size limit of 60mm for Roe’s abalone, measured across the widest part of the shell.
“If an abalone is in your catch bag it’s considered your catch, and the WCZ bag limit for Roe’s abalone is 15.”
DPIRD Compliance officers will again be at abalone fishing locations along the WCZ to check compliance with the rules. In addition to this Saturday, 7am-8am fishing sessions have been set aside for 1 February and 15 February subject to ocean conditions.
