Boat limit. You have been fishing along time same as fair few on site . Many of us seen cuts ( that never come back) bag limits do not work . Boat limits do .problem started with stocks way before my time . Electronics haven’t helped stocks . Now days someone can send you picture . Download pics on google maps if they have location on (bang there gone) Maps you can buy dirt cheap on phone . Brilliant (photo plus map) easy . Not for me . I find my own . Go to Cervantes or down south . Big numbers of fish easy fish . There estimates are way way out .2 out of every 20 you speak to do well .they know how to read sounder . They know how to make rigs . They know what ground to look for. No disrespect to any other fisherman . Some are happy with a fish every trip . Some hunt . Some happy with fish every now and again . This issue hard to solve . I haven’t got answer to it . Pretty sure fuel price will help . So we get 50 percent reduction . Other fish will cop pounding . Mullys will be one . Myself and my boys stopped this due to us finding out there a family fish (once you take all big ones your gone) spot fucked . Pro told me this. Catch x amount up anchor and leave . I thought wow dollars down the drain for him. But he knew his stuff ( pro looking after the stock). Catching crabs always been told since very young don’t take females . They stay longer, and carry eggs internal . Also I got told you create An in balance in stocks as young kid ( first officer I met ) now days I call that crap . Crabs you can save simple . Why don’t they . My guess dollars . Sharks another story . Big bucks there for pros ( more per kilo than pinks) why don’t they ? There is more than 50 percent reduction there . ( they chase the money) . Anyway I repeat and repeat all the time . Put focus on sharks . There out of control atm . With my mathematics ( pretty sad) it will make pros ( or pretend pros) a shit load more money than stinky pinks . If they know what to do .interesting times coming

Brilliant job . Now days Your can take oversized hairy females .( big breeders) There texture and taste yuck . No one likes a hairy one . Why did they do this $$$$$. Why don’t they stop taking female crabs $$$$$. Why will they stop us from catching dermersals no $$$$.

 so fisheries publish and congratulate themselves on the herring stock being well managed and jumped back in numbers-  NO change in quota

same research as the knee jerk reaction to the shark bay - cut 20kg to 10kg -with no scientific research, just the locals complained

pros will have to do NOTHING - even though they take more than us (or will after this reduction) unless they get bought out.

some history for people here (I’ve been involved in this for 20 years sadly and management has always been reactive rather than proactive. Hence why we are at this point now.) Dept is a disgrace.

There was a 1997 benchmark date established for history. Then with pressure from the pro sector that was forgotten and disregarded and pros were told allocation would be based on history. This led to four year of absolute pillaging by the pros. Previously they had caught 600 tonnes. In the early 2000s they were catching upwards of 1000 tonnes. They were then rewarded for this with an allocation of 480 tonnes...it should’ve been 300 (ie half of 600) 

This is the shit we are dealing with now and why it is about to get very very expensive for recs to buy this allocation back because of this ifm bullshit that many people including myself warned people about at the time. 

This is also why the pros are going to have to do basically nothing in this catch reduction. We were screwed and are now.

Is from the Bunbury Electorate, Don Punch, see email address below.

Minister.Punch@dpc.wa.gov.au

and at his electoral office

Bunbury@mp.wa.gov.au

 Bunbury is a big fishing town and the electors I would think would not be too happy.  Need to get them riled up and hitting his office hard with protests, as I doubt he will listen to people outside his electorate.

I have written to the Fisheries Minister this morning, will be interesting to see if he replies.

Just received acknowledgement of my email to the Minister, I can expect a response in 4 to 6 weeks, wow totally unacceptable in my opinion.

 I see they are going to reduce the total catch for demersals by 50%.

I cant see where it says the bag limit will be reduced to 1 demmersal. 

I find that unlikely given all the talk on reducing effort/catch/etc re barotrauma leading up to the 'consultation' process.

Surely the demersal ban will just be extended.

Happy to be corrected.

 Some people are so concerned about getting kilos of fish when they put the boat in the water. The cost of running a boat is high already so I can understand. In saying that , yes I do like to get my fish as much as the next person so I'm not rubbishing anyone for doing what they do. 

There has been many times we have put our boat in t he water and come home with enough fish for 1 or 2 feeds and that's it, there have been days we have come home with a dozen whiting , yeah it's disappointing but still got a feed. If you are worried about cost per kilo of fish you shouldn't own a boat. In my opinion it's about the enjoyment of being out there . Don't get me wrong I would love to get out and bring home a 10 kg dhuie and a nice size fish of another species. 

1 fish per person is a ridiculous idea , wasn't that long ago when you could go out and if you were lucky bring home 5 fish each . I could understand a staggered 5 month ban 1 part stays where it is and just throw in another couple of months somewhere else.  

There are some that go out for a fish purely catch and release .

Yeah I am now up in the pilbara but will be limiting our fish not fish to our limit. 

You would think it would line up with pink ban start date.( sep/oct/nov/dec/jan ) . Makes it simple and easy .

 This new rule is the Last straw for me.

I put my boat on the market today.

 On a different note it is tough watching YouTube vids of 30-40cn dhuies get hoisted up from the deep then just tossed over the side without any consideration. Surely that doesn't help our cause?

Eyes good . Not bloated . Never tagged them . So I haven’t proof . But got few other day with my son 450 to 500 long . Stopped pulling in once we seen them ( without hitting surface) rod in holder for 5 mins . They start kicking, bring them in . Un hook them they hammer for bottom, slow and steady all way up . As stated I have no proof , 95 percent do seem to go back very well without lead. I have caught same fish 3 times in one area over a 2 month period (45 meters) got a left stuffed eye . Under 500 mm. She always seems okay ( apart from eye).

Firstly, to be absolutely clear, there are no immediate rule changes to come into effect such as halving of west coast demersal bag limits and doubling of the closure – as some believe there to be.

The Minister’s announcement indicates the start of a process with fisheries managers and the recreational, commercial and charter sectors to look at management options to get the recovery of the stock back on track.

We have been reassured that no management changes will be considered by the Fisheries Minister without full community consultation with the opportunity for you to have your say and put forward your ideas.

As your peak sector body, we will ensure consultation on this issue will be genuine and that our voices as a community will be heard and duly considered in any final decisions that are made.

We are meeting with DPIRD fishery managers tomorrow to discuss what this process will look like, the timeline involved and to make clear our expectations.

This is a complex, multi-species fishery stretching from Augusta to Kalbarri and a much more dynamic approach needs to be adopted than simply resorting to the blunt instrument of reducing bag limits and increasing the closure across the whole bioregion.

We will continue to keep you updated at every turn on how the process progresses from here. In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch and share your thoughts and ideas.

Below is the full statement we made following the Minister's announcement on Friday...

What happens next? 

Following the Minister’s announcement, Recfishwest will meet with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to understand the intended management timeline and ensure recreational fishers have ample opportunity to make comments and put forward innovative management ideas.

This is a multi-species, multi-sector fishery spread over a very large area. Demersal fish are long lived and slow growing and there is a significant variation in the current rate of recovery between different species and locations. The right management for the right species, in the right areas, is required.


Dynamic management approaches need to be adopted to ensure the sustainability and abundance of pink snapper like these.

All sectors working together to explore new ideas and rethink the traditional management approaches can ensure this fishery is sustainable and delivers the optimal social and economic returns for generations to come. This will likely require a package of measures and adequate resourcing to implement those measures.

Rather than simply relying on adjustments to bag limits and seasonal closures, outside the box thinking needs to be investigated including:

• Targeted protection for spawning activity;
• Investments in stocking and habitat enhancement;
• Increasing education aimed at reducing post-release mortality;
• Reducing the extent of shark depredation on demersal fish;
• Management arrangements that reduce the need to release fish;
• More real time catch data for all sectors;
• Options for tradable allocations across sectors;
• Investments in redirecting effort onto less vulnerable species; and,
• Understanding the impact a changing climate is having on key indicator species.

Government must adequately resource a comprehensive management response 

Applying a system of management that balances sustainability with the optimal environmental, social and economic values of the resource is not easy and will require a significant investment of time, money and effort.

We do not want to see Government selectively pursue individual pathways that sees the process railroaded towards the cheapest, quickest and simplest management response.

Recfishwest has a strong appetite to work constructively with all sectors and stakeholders and develop a comprehensive suite of appropriate management responses that deliver good outcomes for this fishery.

Recfishwest understands the science has shown the recovery of some of our favourite fish in the West Coast Bioregion is not tracking as well as hoped or expected.

There is a need for additional action to support the recovery of pink snapper and dhufish stocks. We welcome the opportunity to continue working with all sectors to meet the sustainability challenge this fishery is facing.

Recreational fishers care deeply about these prized fish. We always have and always will do our part to ensure sustainability of our fish stocks.

Today’s announcement from Fisheries Minister Don Punch signals the State Government’s appetite to tackle this challenge.

 Yep just read the email. Had a bit of a chuckle at how differently this one is written/worded

There are 2 types of swim bladders in fish, Physostomes are species that have an "air duct" between the swim bladder and gut, as a fish changes depth to shallower less pressurized water the bladder expands, excess gas is

expelled into the gut.

Dhufish and other species are Physoclists and vent excess gas through capillaries into the blood stream. To dissolve this excees gas into the blood is slower then gut venting therefore rapid pressure change during ascent (skull dragging) is most likely fatal.

Even dragging a fish up slow is no guarentee that it will survive for very long upon release, theres a good chance the fish is full of bubbles and all internal organs are damaged among other problems.

IMO we urgently need to know what the ascent rate for a Physoclists species is to be surfaced in perfect health ( Although stressed and very tired) from all known depths.

For example: Dhufish........45mtrs........30 minute ascent rate with 5mtr deco stop 10mins, who's going to do that? it might take longer or a lot shorter hopefully, I'd like to know exactly what those numbers are.

Ahhh yes...... The fish of a lifetime has been deco stopping just under the boat for the last half hour, high fives, beers, then a grey suited taxman rocks up on the scene....

I personally have is Calling fish when you hook it ( queenie I struggle with) every other fish you can pick ( in my books).dhue, baldie . Pink . Black ass . Shark . Blue gropper . They all have there signature moves and bites . All my boys know this .even if you hook monster dhue . It’s always steady steady. ( don’t want to loose it . Are hooks set ?)Small and unsure steady steady . Each to there own . Care factor zero (attitude ) If time is a factor ( while fishing) shouldn’t fish . nothing wrong with trying to save smaller fish. let it sit have soft drink or a beer .Deco works . Works for us . Fish no different . Except deep drop. Hence why they took size limits of deep drop critters . Each to there own .i personally think education way to go . Not bans .

With gummys. Give away right at end d. They don’t float

 So here's my reply lol. 

Thank you for your email regarding the State Government’s recent announcement regarding future management of the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR).

Released in November 2021, the latest scientific stock assessment of two indicator species Pink Snapper and Dhufish found that the WCDSR was not recovering fast enough to safeguard the future sustainability of these iconic fish.

Current management arrangements and the responsible fishing practices of recreational anglers and commercial fishers have helped halt the decline in demersal stocks, but there has been very limited recovery and more needs to be done.

A Harvest Strategy Reference Group comprised of Recfishwest, the WA Fishing Industry Council, Marine Tourism WA and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommended to reduce the total fishing mortality for demersal species by 50 per cent in order to meet recovery targets.

From this point, DPIRD will work with the fishing sectors to develop management options to meet the new catch limit and any measures to reduce fish mortality.

No decisions have been made on potential management options, including bag limits, and the government welcomes feedback on what might be done to sustainably manage this vital shared resource. I have passed your feedback onto the Minister’s office.

The State Government welcomes any proposals from the sectors to assist with the implementation of the new total catch limits. Proposed management options developed through discussions with the sectors are due to be released for wider public consultation in April this year.

Thank you for writing to me regarding this matter and for your interest in sustainable management of WA’s fisheries.

Kind regards

Hannah Beazley MLA

Member for Victoria Park

Something needs to be done agree . How f-$k knows . Unless people fish smarter , mortality rate will be high. doesn’t matter if it’s a longer ban or reduction . Without education loosing a fighting battle . Realease led Mandatory . There shit just hiding dead fish on bottom . Big or small my boys and myself go slow . In deeper water . That’s up to the individual how you do it . No right no wrong . Just my belief . Do a dive coarse treat fish same way . Survival rate you would assume be a heap higher . The size of them in metro has dropped . Go north big and easy . Go south ( weather permitting) big and easy . Metro has a heap less structure compared to sth and north . Dhues creatures of habit . Once you figure out ground to fish and depth . There pretty easy . Snapper stock is unreal atm . Sound producing all year like old days .( great job). Outwide there a pest . Went for swim other day . Big schools of gardies everywhere ( big ones). Tailor everywhere . My belief on smaller fish ( stopped netting) G nets down south got stopped years ago ( hence why herring fishing is good now days) . Anyway that’s my cry for night :) a heap more nasty thing happening in world atm .

often regulators will look elsewhere for inspiration on what to try.. circle hooks are mandated in the US in some places for some species so i wouldnt be surprised if the locals started looking at those options.

they definately work, i switched to circles last few fishing sessions and every single hook up as been lip hooked and easy to unhook. 

based on the recfishwa response it seems like everything is on the table so it might be they try a range of options that try to address all of the different issues in some shape of form, which might in turn reduce a knee jerk into simply halving the take.

Who gives a fuck about your catch and release bullshit? We are talking about saving Demersals from rec fisherman, not about killing fish for enjoyment

 In the ocean now as well

Wanting to know how they arrived at this assumption, it appears to be from this study as it is referenced on one of the previous links, link below:

frr191.pdf (fish.wa.gov.au)

In summary: 

"The results of this study provide several recommendations for fish handling.

The shotline release method should be used on suitable benthic species such as WA dhufish and breaksea cod but venting should not be used.

Circle hooks should be used in preference to J hooks to reduce mortality from gut-hooking,

and Careful capture and onboard handling can improve survival."

They basically caught and released fish, tagged for recapture or put back in cages for this study. Regarding gut hooking they found this was much more common in dhufish than snapper.

The most important factor by far was depth of capture, basically if you catch and release from > 45m depth they are not likely to make it.

"The mortality rate of dhufish increased with depth of capture from 21% at < 14 m to 86% at 45-59 m.

Overall, 49% of the caged dhufish survived: barotrauma accounted for 38.4% of deaths, with hook-injuries contributing a further 13.2% mortality of caged dhufish.

Post release mortality of G. hebraicum at any given depth was high compared to other demersal fishes, indicating that dhufish are particularly susceptible to barotrauma"

"Overall, 65.4% of the caged snapper survived. The most important factor affecting release mortality in snapper was depth of capture,

i.e. the cause of death was barotrauma. Post-release mortality of snapper from < 30 m depth was low (3.4%), with an increase to a high rate of mortality (69%) at 45 m and 65 m.

Mortality due to hook-injuries was low because < 2% of snapper swallowed the hook, with circle hooks swallowed less often than J-hooks. Venting did not improve survival of snapper."

The minimum size requirement needs a serious look at. Throwing them back if caught at depth cause they dont meet that requirement is justed a wasted fish.

 Here is an idea. Why not just double the allowed quota per person so no upgrading would come into play ,with the amount of breaksea out there you would likely take 1 or 2 home with you instead of returning them so you can catch a bigger species  . Still keep the dhuie limit as is .

survey from recfishwest out.