- Salmon season is the perfect time to 'switch your fish'
- McGowan Government investing in recreational fishing initiatives
Fisheries Minister Don Punch said tomorrow (1 March) marks the start of the annual salmon run, a popular time of year for recreational fishers to target the iconic sportfish.
Australian salmon are mostly found in waters along Western Australia's southern and southwest coastlines, with many recreational fishers eagerly anticipating the first reports of schools of salmon appearing.
To kick off the salmon season, Recfishwest is running its annual Salmon Slam fishing competition for the months of March and April.
The free competition encourages fishers to download the Salmon Slam app, take a photo of their salmon catch and upload it via the app to be in the running to win a prize.
Alongside the competition, Recfishwest will also roll out the annual 'Keep the sand between your toes' program, funded through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives, to bring awareness to rock fishing safety and encourage anglers targeting salmon to fish from beaches.
With the McGowan Government's 'Switch your fish' campaign underway encouraging fishers to target non-demersal fish species, the start of the salmon run provides the perfect opportunity.
As part of the campaign, the McGowan Government has also invested $1.5 million to expand the popular Fish Aggregating Devices program over the next three years providing more exciting sport fishing opportunities targeting non-demersal species such as mahi-mahi, tuna and wahoo for recreational fishers.
For more information on the annual Salmon Slam event and salmon fishing safety visit
recfishwest.org.au
Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"The annual salmon run is very popular with recreational fishers bringing thousands of visitors to our southern coastal towns, supporting local businesses from accommodation providers to tackle shops, cafes and restaurants, injecting an estimated $331 million into regional economies.
"It also provides a fantastic alternative fishing experience while the demersal fishery is closed for recfishers to switch it up and join the Salmon Slam fishing competition.
"It is timely to remember to make your safety a priority when heading out salmon fishing and choosing to fish from the beach as your first option.
"Make sure you also download the SharkSmart WA app before you head out to keep up-to-date with the latest information and alerts."
Minister's office - 6552 6200