The maximum quantity of finfish (includes scalefish, sharks and rays) you may have in your possession – either whole or in pieces – is:
- 20 kg of fish fillets; or
- 10 kg of fish fillets and one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks; or
- two days’ bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
At the Abrolhos Islands the possession limit is:
- 10 kg of fish fillets; or
- one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
In Shark Bay’s Freycinet Estuary Management Zone, the possession limit is:
- 5 kg of fish fillets; or
- one day’s bag limit of whole fish or fish trunks.
Definitions and exclusions
‘Fillet’ means any particular piece of a finfish, other than a whole fish, fish trunk, head, tail, fin, backbone or wing. For these pieces to be excluded from the possession limit they must be entirely removed from the fillet. ‘Trunk’ means a fish that has had its head and tail removed.
These limits apply throughout WA, including permanent and temporary places of residence.
The following baitfish are not included in the finfish possession limit: hardyhead (Atherinidae), sardines/pilchards (Clupeidae), whitebait (Engraulidae), garfish (Hemiramphidae) and mullet (Mugilida).
Commercially purchased fish are not included, but you may be asked for proof of purchase.
Some species have a specific possession limit, including barramundi.
Note: Unless it can be proven otherwise, you are assumed to be in possession/control of the fish if you are using/in control of a vessel, vehicle, refrigerator, freezer, icebox or other storage device in which fish are found.
Labelling stored fish
If the quantity of fish stored in a single container/freezer exceeds one person’s possession limit, the fish must be clearly labelled with the name of the owner(s).
Labels, of at least 75 mm long and 25 mm wide, must be securely attached to each container or package of fish. The full name of the owner must be legibly written on the label and be clearly visible for inspection.
Labels are not needed if:
- You are within your daily bag limit and still on your fishing trip.
- The fish are in the possession and under the direct physical control of the person who took the fish and are not stored with anyone else’s fish.
Landing filleted or processed fish
Fish with a minimum size limit can be carried at sea and landed:
- as fillets, skin and scale on, a minimum 30 cm length;
- trunked, skin and scale on, a minimum 30 cm length; or
- whole (can be gutted and gilled).
When filleting fish at sea, a minimum fillet length applies only to fish with a minimum size limit. Fish with a maximum size limit need to be landed whole.
Unless they are being prepared for immediate consumption or being eaten, estuary cod, Malabar cod and barramundi (which all have a maximum size limit) must be carried whole at sea (although can be gutted and gilled), on estuaries and on rivers and landed whole.
Fish without a size limit can be carried at sea and landed:
- Filleted, skin on;
- Trunked, skin on; or
- Whole (can be gutted and gilled).
Note: These rules also apply if you are returning from an island.
Transporting of unaccompanied fish
Unaccompanied recreationally caught fish cannot be transported by commercial couriers (or any other person). You must accompany your fish if transporting it by land, sea or air.