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Fishing

Marron seasonFishers itching to drop nets as marron season opens

More than 10,000 fishers have licences to take part in this year’s marron fishery which gets under way from noon this Saturday.

Kellie Balaam

Scaling back?CommentsPremiumRecreational fishers fear devastating new bag limits for WA

The WA fishing industry is bracing for significant new restrictions of prized fish catches such as dhufish and pink snapper.

Steve Butler

Dangerous delicacyCommentsPremiumMan ‘feared for life’ during hour of abalone fishing chaos

Rough conditions and low visibility stifled the 60-minute hunt for abalone on Saturday - where many hunters found trouble in the water and with Fisheries. SEE THE PICTURES

Briana Fiore

Catch of the dayPremiumThe secret behind young fisherman’s success

Denmark youngster Chris Sleeman has a good record of catching big fish and his process is more simple than you’d think.

Scott Coghlan

Huge penaltyPremiumIllegal marron fishers slapped with biggest WA fine

A pair of illegal marron fishers in the South West have been hit with almost $100,000 in fines after catching more than 400 marron — the biggest fine for illegal marron fishing in WA history.

Kasper Johansen

mysterious aquatic deathsCommentsTroubled waters over fish deaths

More than 100 fish have been found dead due to unknown circumstances along Myalup beach, with people warned not to swim or fish near the area.

Kasper Johansen

caught red clawedCommentsPremiumPair caught with marron

A South West pair were allegedly caught with more than a dozen marron during a routine traffic stop by Harvey police.

Kasper Johansen

Fresh catchPremiumProperties raided over Perth’s ‘illegal’ seafood trade

Authorities say they have swooped on an illegal ring selling and trafficking abalone on the black market.

Staff writers

opinion
opinion
Ben HarveyCommentsPremium
opinion
Why WA fishing rule makers are missing the mark

Fishing from the beach will always be a glorious Australian past time. But will it always be free? WA’s fishing rule makers are asking whether punters who fish from the beach should pay a licence.

Ben Harvey

Ben Harvey

shell shockedPremiumGeraldton fisherman’s huge fine for illegal lobsters

A recreational Geraldton fisherman has had his boat seized by authorities and stripped of his fishing rights for excessively capturing protected western rock lobsters.

Michael Traill

On the waterVideoLarge bull shark spotted cruising Swan River

Those thinking about taking a dip in the Swan have been warned after the same breed of shark which mauled a man in Perth’s southern suburbs earlier this year was spotted 50 metres offshore.

Bryce Luff

Fishing futureAnglers asked to speak out about trout

Recfishwest has created a 10-minute online survey to let freshwater anglers have their say on South West trout stocks and fishing locations.

Leeman shark attackVideoCommentsPremium‘I stared into its soul’

Spear-fisherman Alex Dodds has recounted the moment he came face to face with a massive Great White shark off the Leeman coast, an encounter that saw the beast take a 20cm slice from his leg.

FISHING PROSECUTIONPremiumGeraldton fisherman accused of illegal fishing practice

A Geraldton-based recreational fisherman has landed himself in court facing 14 fishing offences allegedly committed over a five-month period last year.

Liam Beatty

‘Grey trade’PremiumHave Aussie crays found backdoor route into China?

Australian fishermen have not sold a single lobster direct to China since November, but they could be making their way via one country where sales have spiked.

Jenne Brammer

Haul a bit fishy?Premium‘Shark Whisperer’ in court over abalone catch

A well-known abalone fisherman who previously survived a shark attack off of Rottnest Island is in another fight for survival — accused by WA’s Department of Fisheries of breaching strict guidelines.

Tim Clarke

Feeling the pinchVideoTrio hit with big fine for undersize crab catch

Three people have been ordered to shell out a hefty fine after they were caught with 30 undersize crabs during a night fishing expedition south of Perth.

Staff reporter

Trout PondsCommentsPremiumHooked on trout ponds

A piece of Pemberton’s fishing history could soon be revitalised with a new project set to restore the site of a former trout pond.

Josh Sunderland

Trade collapsesPremiumCrayfishers seek $21m in fees relief after China blow

Australia’s lobsters were among a suite of Australian products — including wine, barley, timber and hay — blacklisted by China amid deteriorating tensions between Beijing and Canberra.

Jenne Brammer

Local labellingPremium‘State of origin’ seafood push

WA Fishing industry wants origins of seafood listed on menus at local restaurants to help customers chose local sustainably sourced fish.

Jenne Brammer

Non-core salePremiumCraig Mostyn offloads Tasmanian lobster business

The group has sold its Tasmanian crayfish business, saying it is no longer fit for its business model which focuses on the full supply chain, including farmed animals.

Jenne Brammer

investigation
investigation
Catch of the crayComments
investigation
How WA’s cray industry turned crisis into opportunity

It was WA’s $500 million boom industry until COVID — and Chinese trade sanctions — rocked the boat. But has the pandemic returned our crayfishing pastime to its consumer-friendly roots?

Charlotte Elton & Jenne Brammer

investigation
investigation
Catch of the crayCommentsPremium
investigation
How WA’s cray industry turned crisis into opportunity

It was WA’s $500 million boom industry until COVID — and Chinese trade sanctions — rocked the boat. But has the pandemic returned our crayfishing pastime to its consumer-friendly roots?

Charlotte Elton & Jenne Brammer

Cray-zy pricesPremiumRecord low prices spark Easter lobster frenzy

Easter is a popular time to eat seafood, and with the cost of crayfish halving, menus are about to get far more decadent.

Jenne Brammer