Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) pre-season sampling of blue swimmer crab stocks indicate recreational fishers can expect a great fishing season, especially in the Peel Harvey Estuary.
Last year, fishers reported one of the best seasons ever for the Peel Harvey and good catches in Cockburn Sound, which was open to recreational crab fishing for the first time in a decade.
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, which begins on Monday 1 December, DPIRD research scientists have been out in Peel Harvey Estuary and Cockburn Sound conducting fisheries independent surveys. The boost in crab numbers has likely been driven by warmer water temperatures, resulting in a larger proportion of crabs moulting to size early in the season.
Along with the expectation of great recreational crab fishing experiences between the Swan River and Binningup (south of Bunbury), comes the reminder to fish within the limits and be aware that a proportion of the crabs will still be undersize early in the season.
Principal Fisheries Management Officer Bianca Brooks said carefully checking the size of each crab caught was important to ensureundersize crabs less than 127mm carapace are returned to the water.
“The size limit protects immature crabs and provides a chance for them to breed before they’re caught,” Ms Brooks said. “Apart from checking they’re legal sized, fishers should also examine any female crabs for eggs (berried crabs). If a female has eggs, return it safely to the water before continuing to fish, just like you would for undersized crabs.
“Check the rules for your favourite crabbing spot before you head out, using the West Coast Region Crabbing for blue swimmer crabs guide available online.”
Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage fishing rules have the same bag limits for the Swan River, which allow five blue swimmer crabs per day and a boat limit of 20 per day (when four Recreational Boat Fishing Licence holders are on board). Outside Cockburn Sound and the Swan River, a daily bag limit of 10 legal size crabs, applies. Geographe Bay fishers may only have a maximum of five female crabs within their bag limit.
People fishing in the Swan or Canning Rivers, where the toxin-producing algae Alexandrium can be present, are advised not to eat the crab guts of blue swimmer crabs. Instead, the health advice is to remove the head, mustard and gills and wash crabs prior to freezing cooking, or eating the crab meat.
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal crab fishing activity is urged to report it to DPIRD’s 24/7 FishWatch service on 1800 815 507 or online at Report • Crime Stoppers Western Australia (crimestopperswa.com.au) – click on the special FishWatch link for your report.
