Possession Limits for Recreational Fishing FAQ
Possession Limits
There is a limit on the quantity of recreationally-caught finfish you may possess in WA. The possession limit is a key conservation measure that prevents the accumulation of excessive quantities of fish by individuals on a fishing trip, and sets a clear ceiling for socially acceptable catch levels.
Each person may have a maximum of:
- 20 kilos of fillets or pieces of fish; or
- 10 kg of fillets or pieces of fish plus one day's bag limit of whole fish; or
- Two days' bag limit of whole fish.
These limits only apply to finfish. Possession limits apply throughout WA.
Transporting and storing your fish
All recreationally-caught fish which are being transported or stored must be labelled under the following circumstances:
- Where more than an individual possession limit is stored in a container;
- Where fish are being commercially consigned or transported; and
- On premises involved in the commercial take, processing, transport, storage, sale or dealing with fish.
The label attached to the package or container must be clearly visible and must show the full name of the owner. Labels must be at least 75mm long and 25mm wide.
Fish commercially consigned for transport on a truck or aircraft will be considered the property of the person who consigned it until it is in the possession of the recipient.
Processing your catch at sea
Category One and Two fish can be filleted or trunked at sea provided the fillet/trunk length is longer than 30cm and the skin and scales are attached. Fillets must be stored flat in a form that can be measured. The only fish that can't be filleted at sea are those fish which have a maximum size (e.g. estuary cod, Malabar cod) or slot limit.
The 30cm fillet length requirement does not apply to anglers on a trip involving an overnight on an island. Anglers that can demonstrate they are returning from an overnight stay on an island may have fillets of any length.
Category Three fish may be filleted or trunked at sea provided the skin is attached to the fillet/trunk. A minimum fillet length does not apply to Category Three fish. An angler who has been at sea, or staying on any island, for more than one day, may accumulate up to the possession limit of whole (or trunked) fish or filleted fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does possession mean?
- Do I need to accompany my fish when it's being transported?
- What is a fillet or piece of fish?
- Are heads and tails included in the possession limit?
- Are fish frames included in the possession limit?
- Is a fish with its head and tail removed considered a piece of fish?
- Is my bait included in the possession limit?
- How much is 20kg of fish?
- Why have a 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement for Category One or Two fish?
- Can I fillet at sea regardless of the length of the trip, providing I meet the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement?
- How long is an extended trip?
- Does the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement apply if you are staying overnight on an island?
- If I am on an extended trip and have less than 20kg of fillets, does the number of fillets or pieces of fish matter?
What does possession mean?
Any fish that a Fisheries and Marine Safety Officer considers to be in your ownership or control is in your ‘possession'. This includes fish you may have consigned on commercial transport. The skipper of a boat or driver of a vehicle which contains fish may be considered as ‘in possession', even if they didn't catch that fish. Labelling the fish with the correct owner's name is essential if you are storing or transporting fish.
Do I need to accompany my fish when it's being transported?
Yes - Whenever fish is being transported the owner of the fish needs to be on hand to identify their fish. You do not need to accompany your fish where the fish has been commercially consigned.
What is a fillet or piece of fish?
A fillet or piece of fish is any part of a fish other than the head or tail.
Are heads and tails included in the possession limit?
No – you can have as many heads or tails as you like.
Are fish frames included in the possession limit?
Yes – they are considered to be a ‘piece of fish'.
Is a fish with its head and tail removed considered a piece of fish?
No – this is defined as a ‘trunk' and counts as a whole fish in your possession limit.
Is my bait included in the possession limit?
If you have purchased your bait (or other fish) and can show proof of purchase, it is not included in the possession limit. If you catch your own bait, specific ‘baitfish' families and species are excluded. Species excluded are hardyheads (Atherinidae), pilchards and scaly mackerel (‘mulies') (Clupeidae), anchovies and whitebait (Engraulididae), garfish (Hemirhamphidae) and mullet (Mugilidae). All other fish are included within the possession limit.
How much is 20kg of fish?
This sounds like a strange question but anglers often find it hard to visualise how much 20kg of fillets is until they measure it. 20kg of fillets is approximately 60kg of whole, bottom-dwelling fish and will provide enough fish for 100 large individual serves.
Why have a 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement for Category One and Two fish?
Fisheries and Marine Safety Officers have limited capacity to enforce bag and size limits where unrestricted processing of fish at sea is permitted. The 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement for high-risk vulnerable species ensures that each fillet/trunk was taken from a fish greater than 50cm.
Can I f illet at sea regardless of the length of the trip, providing I meet the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement?
Yes – the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement applies to both day trips and extended trips at sea. However, to enable bag limits to be enforced on day trips only, two fillets or pieces of fish will be considered as one whole fish.
How long is an extended trip?
An extended trip is one which goes beyond midnight. For example, if you departed at 6pm and returned to the mainland at 6am the next morning, you would have conducted an extended trip. You are entitled to land up to your individual possession limit of whole or filleted fish on an extended trip.
Does the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement apply if you are staying overnight on an island?
No – if your trip involves an overnight stay on an island then the 30cm minimum fillet/trunk length requirement does not apply. For a trip to be deemed an overnight stay on an island, the fish must be landed on the island. An overnight stay at anchor or on a mooring is not deemed as an overnight stay on an island.
If I am on an extended trip and have less than 20kg of fillets, does the number of fillets or pieces of fish matter?
No – provided that you have less than 20kg of fillets on an extended trip there is no restriction on the number of fillets. Two fillets or pieces of fish are considered as one whole fish on day trips only to enforce bag limits. However, daily bag limits still apply to each day's fishing.
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