You Are Here: HOME > Recreational Fishing Licences
Department of Fisheries

Recreational Fishing Licences

Licences and Fees  

Recreational fishing licences are required from the Department of Fisheries for these the following types of fishing within Western Australia:

You must have a recreational fishing licence from the Department of Fisheries for these types of fishing within Western Australia:

Rock Lobster Fishing Rules $38.00
Abalone Fishing Rules $44.00
Marron Fishing Rules $26.00
Freshwater Angling Fishing Rules $26.00
Net fishing (gill, haul, throw) Fishing Rules $31.00
     
All of the Above   $87.00

Please note that all pricing is in Australian Dollars.

Licensing Information

All revenue from all recreational fishing licences is used to protect and conserve our vulnerable fish stocks and help ensure the future of recreational fishing throughout Western Australia.

To apply for a new licence or to renew, vary or replace your existing licence. You can obtain an application form from any Department of Fisheries Office or online in a printable format.

You can also get a new licence or renew your existing licence online.

If you apply for a licence for all five types of fishing at the same time, you are entitled to a special discount fee of $87 - a saving of $78.

People under 16 years of age are not required to hold a licence to go freshwater angling.

If you apply at different times for different types of fishing, then the full fee will apply for each fishing activity.

NOTE: Recreational licences are not required for prawning, crabbing or saltwater angling, HOWEVER gear restrictions, bag limits, size limits and seasons may still apply.

Concessions:

Where a recreational fishing licence is applied for by the following persons, only one half of the fee otherwise applicable is payable:

  1. a person under the age of 16 years;
  2. a person receiving -

    (i) under the Social Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth, an age, disability support or widows' pension or allowance;

    (ii) a pension under the Coal Industry Superannuation Act 1989;

    (iii) under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth, a pension as a widow of a member of the forces, a service pension or the special rate of pension as a person who is totally and permanently incapacitated;

  3. a person who is the spouse, widow or widower of a person referred to in paragraph (b); or
  4. a person who is the holder of a Senior's Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests.

To apply for a new licence, change your address or to renew, vary or replace your existing licence, please use the application form, and forward to the Department of Fisheries.

Note: The granting of a recreational fishing licence is at the discretion of the Department of Fisheries' Chief Executive Officer.

Recreational Fishing by Aboriginal Persons

Under Section 6 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, an Aboriginal person is not required to hold a recreational fishing licence to the extent that the person takes fish from any waters in accordance with continuing Aboriginal tradition if the fish are taken for the purposes of the person or his or her family and not for a commercial purpose.

Fishing licences

You may apply for a new licence by post or in person at any Department of Fisheries' office. Licence application forms can also be obtained from Australia Post outlets or here online.

You may also apply for a new licence or renew or vary your licence online here.

An application for renewal of Recreational Fishing Licences will be posted to existing licence holders before the expiry of the current licence. These can be validated by payment at Australia Post outlets or at any of the Department of Fisheries offices listed below.

Alternatively, you can post your interim licence application form or your application for renewal with the appropriate fee to the:

Department of Fisheries
PO Box 7769
Cloisters Square
Perth, WA, 6850.

(Cheques should be made out to "Department of Fisheries").

Please note you are not entitled to fish until you receive a receipted licence from the Department of Fisheries.

A plastic card licence will be forwarded to you within 14 days of your licence being receipted.

However changes to licence details cannot be accepted at Australia Post offices. Variations to your existing licence must be made at a Department of Fisheries office.

You should apply for a licence well in advance of when you will need the licence.

Gear identification numbers - Rock Lobster & Net floats

Gear identification numbers are based on the first initial of both your given and surname and the month and year of your date of birth. You must supply details of your date of birth on your licence application.

For example, if Jenny Saltwater was born on 4.11.59, her gear identification number would be JS1159.

You must supply details of your date of birth on your licence application.

If a date of birth is not supplied, then a licence cannot be issued.

You must display your gear identification number on all floats. Floats must be at least 15 cm in diameter and stamped or branded with the user's gear identification number in letters 6cm high and 1cm wide.

The gear identification number helps fisheries officers detect people illegally lifting your pots and nets.

Fishing Guides 

Fishing guides will normally be posted to you with your recreational fishing licence or they are available online within this web site.

If fishing rules for the coming season have not been finalised when your licence is issued, then a guide can be obtained from the Department of Fisheries as well as most tackle shops.

 Licensing Offices

 

  Top  Next >
Fish for the Future
© Copyright Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia
Published: Jul 2004 | Last Updated: Jun 2009