Fishing for Rock Lobster (Crayfish), Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, Fish for the Future

Fishing for Rock Lobster

Legal Rock Lobster Pots

A West Australian recreational fishing licence allows you to fish with two pots.

Three types of pots are usually used for lobsters:

Batten pots (usually wood)
Beehive pots (usually cane)
Moulded plastic pots

These are available from tackle shops and other outlets. You must check your pots conform to Western Australian fisheries standards before you use them.

*Escape Gap Construction*
BATTEN POTS Escape gaps should be made of: Steel bar or plate, 3-6mm thick, > 20mm wide, Aluminium plate, 4-6mm thick , > 20mm wide, Fibreglass, 3-6mm thick Re-inforcing on the tip must be 5-8mm deep, > 30mm wide. The lip of the gap should be 12 mm wide or less. EXTRUDED PLASTIC Walls of the escape gaps should be 3-6mm thick. OTHER POTS Escape gaps should be steel flat bar 5-6mm thick and >20 mm wide.

BATTEN POTS
Escape gaps should be made of:

Steel bar or plate, 3-6mm thick, > 20mm wide,
Aluminium plate, 4-6mm thick , > 20mm wide,
Fibreglass, 3-6mm thick Re-inforcing on the tip must be 5-8mm deep, > 30mm wide. The lip of the gap should be 12 mm wide or less.

EXTRUDED PLASTIC

Walls of the escape gaps should be 3-6mm thick.

OTHER POTS

Escape gaps should be steel flat bar 5-6mm thick and >20 mm wide.

These diagrams show maximum pot sizes permissable. Recreational fishing pots are usually much smaller for ease of handling from small boats.

Beehive Pots

3 escape gaps (one on each side and one opposite the hauling rope attachment) or 3 segment escape gap opposite the hauling rope attachment

Batten Pots

3 escape gaps (one on each side and one opposite the hauling rope attachment) or 4 segment escape gaps (two on each side)

Plastic Pots

3 escape gaps (one on each side and one opposite the hauling rope attachment)

POTS must have one entrance only, and three escape gaps if you are fishing north of Cape Leeuwin. Escape gaps:

ESCAPE GAPS

Need to be a minimum of 54mm high and 305mm wide
Should be installed at least 150mm from the hauling rope attachment points and not more than 110mm above the base of the pot, must not be obstructed by ballast, rope or anything else, and must not be between the hauling rope attachment points on any type of pot.

For more detail see Escape Gap Construction above .

HAULING ROPES must be fitted to the end of the pot opposite the escape gaps.

FLOATS must be fitted to every pot rope. The float must be at least 15cm diameter, and stamped with the licence holder's gear ID number, in lettering 6cm high and 1cm wide or larger.

Recreational fishers may not soak pots before the season starts, but they may bait and set pots on November 14.

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