On Saturday 22 February, on the waters of the Dampier Archipelago, a Fisheries and Marine Officer from DPIRD inspected the boat the two men were in and located eight barcheek coral trout, three of which were less than the legal minimum size of 45cm.
Karratha court heard the 44-year-old skipper of the vessel made an admission that he had taken four of the barcheek coral trout. Recreational fishing rules allow a daily bag limit of one for the species, so the fisher had exceeded the daily bag limit by three.
The 56-year-old man was a passenger on the boat and faced the same charges and, like the skipper he was ordered to pay a general penalty of $500, plus an additional mandatory penalty of $1,080 for the fish involved in the offences plus costs.
Also, in Karratha Court last Tuesday (20 May), a 60-year-old man from Toogoom in Queensland was fined $2,229 for fishing offences on Tuesday 8 October last year (2024).
The court heard that the Queensland man was the only one on the boat, when it was checked by DPIRD Fisheries officers at the Johns Creek Boat Ramp in Point Samson.
The officers located six blue tuskfish and four western yellowfin bream that were below the minimum prescribed length. Therefore, the offender was in possession of six totally protected blue tuskfish and four totally protected western yellowfin bream and had exceeded the daily bag limit for blue tuskfish by three.
Recreational fishing rules confirm the size limit for blue tuskfish is 400 millimetres and the totally protected fish ranged in size from 256mm to 299mm.The size limit for Western Yellowfin Bream is 300 millimetres and the totally protected bream ranged in size from 260mm to 277mm.
Director Regional Compliance North Stuart McDowall said fishers should expect that DPIRD Fisheries officers may inspect them at sea or at boat ramps.
“Fishers must make themselves aware of the rules prior to going fishing and ensure that they fish to bag and size limits,” he said.
The rules for recreational fishing are available in the Recreational fishing guide 2025 and information can also be found online by searching the rules by species and location.
Anyone who suspects illegal fishing activity should call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or report the matter via the online form on Crimestoppers.
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