WA Fishing Regulations Changing...

[Gryphen]

Strict new rules to protect recreational fisheries | PerthNow

Boat Fishing $30 per year (any person actually fishing)
West Coast Demersal Scalefish
1 Day – $20
Fortnight – $ 60
Annual – $150

[g0zer]

thats good to know.. it would suck to get caught by fisheries unawares, their non compliance fines are usually cripppling

[Barfrangipani]

wots a Demersal Scalefish? Is it related to a Patagonian Toothfish, or is it more like a mullet?

[Gryphen]

Pink Snapper, Dhu fish and Baldchin Groper are in the group

[t bone]

I will check this out at my local tackle store tonight.
As I can read it I will need a $30 for my boat and $150 for Demersal for mee and I get 1/2 price for my kids. so it will cost me $360 to take my kids fishing in my boat.
This also means if you want to come fishing with me for a day you need a license $30 for the boat and $20 for the day sounds a bit steep good thing my boat is cheap to run. Not that I am against it I just hope most comply.

[Captain Starfish]

Plus for those of us interested in other stuff (marron, crays, abalone etc) the rec fishing umbrella licence has been removed and the fees for individual licences have increased to $45 so for the opportunity to be frustrated by a lack of abalone and crayfish that are too smart for me I now get to pay $90 a year.

Crap.

edit: from what I've seen elsewhere TBone, aren't kids under 16 supposed to be free?

[t bone]

Under 16 and pensioners 1/2 price 2x kids and me = $360
good thing the wife dosent come not paying for her to be sick

[Captain Starfish]

boat = $30
you = $150
2 kids = $150
wife = $150

Yeah, that's fucking expensive berley...

[Desmo]

So even if I go out in the boat just for sport fishing, I still need a licence?
What a crock. 99% of the fish I catch go back into the ocean, it's a good idea in principle, but it penalizes those who do actually do the right thing.

[g0zer]

this article seems a bit off

they are saying the licenses are to increase the protection of fish stocks yet bag limits remain unchanged..

[St Ives]

I think their intention is to make sure the majority of regular people are no longer interested in enjoying recreational boating (or fishing). The rich people can just pay the fees. For the rest of us, if you've caught sweet FA, decide to anchor up at the back of Rotto for some whiting so you don't come home empty handed then you can also pay the hundreds of dollars for the privaledge.

[Captain Starfish]

Not quite.

The $30 is for hanging a line off the boat. Now can someone confirm whether that's per person or per boat?

The $150 is for fishing for specific species of fish.

AFAIK Whiting, skippy, herring and yellowtail aren't amongst those species so the usual shitfish don't need the big bucks.

It's still crap. Why make me pay more, instead of reducing bag limits? The rich guys who go a'slaughterin in their big shiny boats won't care: they'll just pay it. Pay for ten people and it still costs less than fuelling the boat for a day out.

It's mum and dad in their 16' cuddy who go and try catch a couple of red emperor every month or two who are going to get raped by this bullshit.

[Desmo]

I also see a lot of people getting the "i've paid my dues, I can take what I want" attitude.

[g0zer]

the thing that annoys me, is they are hiding a new tax under the guise of increasing the protection of the fisheries.

if you asked fisheries dept of wa if they have created the new fees to discourage the number of people fishing i bet they would say no, the money is being used to fund studies ect which indirectly protect fish stocks.

fisheries wa is funded by wa state govt.. so if these fees are being used to supplement that funding (and what else could it be being used for?) then its just a new tax

[Gryphen]

Not quite.

The $30 is for hanging a line off the boat. Now can someone confirm whether that's per person or per boat? PER PERSON see below

The $150 is for fishing for specific species of fish.

AFAIK Whiting, skippy, herring and yellowtail aren't amongst those species so the usual shitfish don't need the big bucks. CORRECT

It's still crap. Why make me pay more, instead of reducing bag limits? The rich guys who go a'slaughterin in their big shiny boats won't care: they'll just pay it. Pay for ten people and it still costs less than fuelling the boat for a day out.

It's mum and dad in their 16' cuddy who go and try catch a couple of red emperor every month or two who are going to get raped by this bullshit.

CORRECT

What activities does a Recreational Boat Fishing
Licence apply to?

A Recreational Boat Fishing
Licence will be required for any person fishing with
the use of a boat. Activities will include:

•

Line fishing (handline, rod and line,
squid jigging)

•

Catching crabs

•

Spearfishing

•

Octopus trapping

•

Dip-netting for prawns

•

Any activity where fish, crabs or shellfish
are taken where a boat is used to access
the fishing location.

NOTE:

A Recreational Boat Fishing Licence will
NOT be required where an existing licensed
fishing activity (e.g. rock lobster or abalone
fishing) is conducted with the aid of a boat,
providing that the only type of fishing undertaken
on that trip is within the scope of the licence.

Example:

A recreational rock lobster fisher
setting or pulling rock lobster pots with the
aid of a boat would not require a Recreational
Boat Fishing Licence if that is the only activity
undertaken. If the rock lobster fisher also fishes
by line on the same trip, a Recreational Boat
Fishing Licence would be required to cover the
line fishing activity.

Do all passengers on board a boat on a fishing
trip require a Recreational Boat Fishing
Licence?

No. Only those who are actively
engaged in fishing need a licence.

Will a person fishing from a charter boat require
a Recreational Boat Fishing Licence?

Yes. They
would also need to hold a West Coast Demersal
Scalefish Licence if they are fishing for demersal

scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion.

[Barfrangipani]

So if you go out trying to catch soem bream, and accidentally catch a bigger fish, to keep it you need to pay $150?

[Desmo]

So what if i'm out targetting permit and bonefish, do I still need a licence? What if I hook a snapper and release it?
Yet another bullshit WA law that's been rushed through without enough information.

[g0zer]

case in point re: fisheries calling tax 'fisheries protection'

SW fresh water fishing license

both red fin perch and trout are introduced species that damage the native marron stocks

yet i need a SW freshwater fishing license to fish for them

[JiggyJigs]

This is BULLSHIT!!!!

[Satan1]

So what if i'm out targetting permit and bonefish, do I still need a licence? What if I hook a snapper and release it?
Yet another bullshit WA law that's been rushed through without enough information.

If you release it wouldn't be a drama afaik.

No different to catching a protected species and letting it go I would assume.

case in point re: fisheries calling tax 'fisheries protection'

SW fresh water fishing license

both red fin perch and trout are introduced species that damage the native marron stocks

yet i need a SW freshwater fishing license to fish for them

Yep, sucks doesn't it.

I like the 'pay to fish for redfin but btw if you catch one we recommend you not return it to the water