With around 25,000 people taking about 400,000 individual rock lobsters annually, rock lobster fishing represents a major recreational activity. It provides an important social benefit to the WA community.
The recreational catch is managed through a combination of measures including bag, size and possession limits.
Recreational fishers must have a licence to fish for any species of rock lobster and produce it when requested to by a Fisheries and Marine Officer. Gear specifications apply.
It is prohibited to sell or use recreationally caught rock lobster for any gain or reward (including barter or exchange for other goods or services).
For rock lobster bag and size limits, see the tables below.
Bag limits
Bag limits, all rock lobster species combined
| Statewide |
8
(All species combined – Panulirus and Jasus spp.) |
24
(All species combined – Panulirus and Jasus spp.) |
24
(All species combined – Panulirus and Jasus spp.) |
* This maximum boat limit can be taken only if there are three or more licensed fishers on board.
# Includes the fisher’s permanent place of residence.
Rock lobster pots
There is a limit of two rock lobster pots per licensed fisher. Pulling someone else’s pots is not permitted.
In all regions six pots may be pulled when there are three or more licensed fishers on board. No more than six pots may be pulled per boat trip. No more than six pots may be carried on a boat at any time.
You may not fish for rock lobster using any bovine material (other than gelatine or tallow), any skin or hide, anything to which any mammal skin or hide is attached, any abalone material or any lobster material.
If you are fishing in certain areas you are required to fit sea lion exclusion devices (SLED) to your pots. For more information see 
sea_lion_exclusion_devices.pdf
Diving
Divers may only catch rock lobster by hand, or by a hand-held snare or blunt crook. Spears, nets and similar devices that can damage rock lobster are illegal. Diving for rock lobster is now permitted at the Abrolhos Islands.
Open season
There is a closed season when fishing for western rock lobster is not permitted.
The western rock lobster season is open from 15 November – 30 June in all regions.
The exception is in the Abrolhos Islands. The islands are within the West Coast Region but have a separate and shorter open season for rock lobster, from 15 March – 30 June annually.
Size limits
Legal sizes for keeping rock lobsters – Statewide combined
Southern rock lobster
(Jasus edwardsii) |
98.5 mm |
N/A |
Tropical rock lobsters:
|
76 mm
(for both) |
N/A (for either) |
Western rock lobster
(Panulirus cygnus) |
76 mm
(all season) |
95 mm North-West Cape – Green Head
105 mm Green Head – Cape Leeuwin |
More information
For more information see Recreational Fishing for Rock Lobster - 2012/13 Guide.