Registrations are still open for those interested in meeting well known fly angler, casting instructor and photographer Peter Morse when he visits Bluewater next week.

Please contact Melville (9330 7766 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Morley (9375 9800 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for your free booking and to be eligible for 10% off all fly gear plus bigger discounts on sale items.

Peter will be holding tackle demonstrations at two Bluewater stores.

He will be at Bluewater Melville on Thursday October 8th from 6:30pm and Bluewater Morley on Friday October 9th from 5:30pm. Keep these nights free if you're a keen fly fisho!

Peter will be on hand to answer any questions from the floor, as well as handing out some general advice on tips and techniques.

But the highlight of the night for keen fly fisherman will be some of the latest fly gear from Sage on show.

A few of the new Sage saltwater rods will be introduced - including the Xi3's and a big range of TCX's (5- 10 weights). There will also be the new range of Gillies Wildfish rods on display.

Peter will also talk about a few of the new fly lines from Rio.

Special in-store discounts will apply on both nights.

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 The WA Department of Fisheries has placed a general overview of the recently announced modified arrangements for recreational fishing on its website. Key elements of the new package from the site include:

• No West Coast Demersal Scalefish Licence will be introduced;
• Possession of a "release weight" will be required when fishing from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion;
• A two-month seasonal closure on the take of "high risk" demersal scalefish by recreational fishers in the West Coast Bioregion will apply from 15 October to 15 December inclusive;
• A boat limit of two dhufish will apply in the West Coast Bioregion (six for charter boats);
• A state-wide Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) will be introduced with an annual fee of $30. Fishing from kayaks or other boats that are not required to be registered under the WA Marine Act 1982, will not need a licence;
• Any fisher not holding a RFBL will be allowed to fish from a boat in the company of a licensed boat fisher within the bag limit;
• Charter boat passengers not holding a RFBL will be required to purchase a per-trip $15 Charter Boat Fishing Licence;
• The recreational ‘umbrella' licence will be replaced with individual licences to allow more comprehensive monitoring of recreational fishing activities and fisheries in WA;
• Fees for existing recreational fishing licences will be made uniform at $40 with a 10 per cent discount when more than one licence is purchased at the same time;

All funds raised from the sale of recreational fishing licences will be placed in the Recreational Fishing Trust Account and spent on the management of recreational fishing.

More information on the new rules can be found here.

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Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has expressed disappointment at the Federal Government's decision not to provide any financial assistance to commercial rock lobster fishers as the industry adjusts to a record low puerulus count.

Mr Moore said the industry was facing exceptional circumstances similar to those that farmers face in a long drought and it was the Federal Government's responsibility to provide assistance.

"As a result of three years of low puerulus counts, the Liberal-National Government had to make the responsible decision to halve the Western Australian rock lobster catches over the next three years to ensure the industry remained sustainable into the future," he said.

"Unfortunately there will be financial impacts on fishers in the short term and the Commonwealth should step in and provide exceptional circumstances financial support to those in need."

The Minister said the Federal Government's only response to the situation was a demand to take over running the WA rock lobster fishery rather than helping the fishers cope.

"I'm not sure what management role the Commonwealth is proposing when we have already announced the management plan for the next three years," he said.

"Maybe they want to duplicate the existing State fisheries department complete with boats and fisheries officers, but that isn't going to be of any benefit to fishers."

Mr Moore said exceptional assistance funding in the farm sector had never been dependent on any increase in the Commonwealth's role in managing the agricultural sector.

"The Commonwealth has benefited from all the taxes that have been paid by this industry so it is quite appropriate that they take financial responsibility for helping these fishers in these exceptional circumstances," the Minister said.

"As the State Government is not in a financial situation to assist individual fishers we will continue to invest in research along with implementing a long term management strategy that will allow fishers to plan ahead in the knowledge that the fishery will be sustainably managed into the future."

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One of Bluewater's most popular styles of rod belt has arrived in time for anglers looking to gear up for the upcoming jigging season off Perth or some general boat fishing  as the weather improves.

Maritec rod belts are our most popular all-rounders. This 30cm-wide model is rigid double-moulded plastic with a full high-density extra thick foam pad, and a design that directs the rod butt on to the gimbal pin without the need to look. The generous length, 50mm wide strap has hook-and-loop overlapping closure for a quick fit.

Check them out here.The full range of other Maritec belts can also be viewed on our site.

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Here's a preview of this week's Sunday Times fishing column...

METROPOLITAN

Shore based anglers working beaches and rock walls to the north of town are finding herring and tailor. Ben Simpson and Shannon Edwards landed some terrific tailor to 60cm. Samson fish around 60-70cm featured from inside Mindarie Marina. Good skippy were on the bite at Two Rocks and Mindarie Marinas with a few flathead active from nearby beaches.

Offshore adventurers fishing out from Two Rocks were pleased to encounter some outstanding action from pink snapper using soft plastics with the largest fish to 12kg. Cockburn Sound snapper chasing has been hit and miss, but the area has now closed for the pink's breeding season. Ben Weston and his fiancé Amanda enjoyed heaps of fun on big pinks in 100 metres of water. The Five Fathom Bank has plenty of skippy - many of them around a kilo.

North Mole continues to turn up large pink snapper during rough spells with only some successfully landed but others lost. Squid came from Hillarys Marina while in Cockburn Sound they're still about but the general size is decreasing. Woodman Point and nearby rock walls have turned up some squid. Challenger Beach has rewarded early morning fisherman with some tailor.

A 15kg mulloway was caught from Mosman Bay but river waters are still quite discoloured. This has made bream fishing difficult although some Canning River spots are worth a go. Flathead spotted in the Canning have been inactive due to cool water temps. Numbers of herring and tailor have pushed into the lower Swan.

 
MOORE RIVER

A friendly rivalry between Al Hunton and Joff Weston at Moore River for bream proved an upset result with Weston catching more than local guru Hunton. The bream responded to slow sinking minnow lures fished near the mouth and up to Diamond Island. All the bream were released.

FRESHWATER

The plentiful rainfall has been both a blessing and a blow for freshwater fishers. Dam levels are way up and making finding fish hard - although some trout were spotted at Harvey Dam. Meanwhile, some south west rivers not usually associated with productive trout are proving well worth a try. The high water levels in lesser rivers have created good opportunities where stocked fish are biting - so get the maps out and do some exploring.

JURIEN

Offshore anglers have recorded good catches of jewies to 15kg, baldchin and breaksea cod.

The beaches are holding good numbers of tailor, herring and sand whiting along with some good flathead on occasions. A 15kg mulloway was caught from the jetty and skippy came from the rock walls outside the marina.

GERALDTON

Tailor have made a great target for beach anglers right along the Geraldton coastline. Greenough First Point is fishing well during early morning and late afternoon. Poppers cast over white water for bigger tailor. Second Point yielded herring, pike and a few tailor. There are many small mulloway about - with the "soapies" plentiful right up and down that coastline. An odd larger mulloway also fell to shore anglers.

Low tide at Southgates has yielded tailor in early mornings and during the evening with school sharks late at night. The Lighthouse region has turned up some nice tailor, small mulloway and school sharks also. At the back of the Breakwater herring, whiting, skippy and yellowtail have featured.

 
The north side of the new Marina held some fair sized tailor as did the Chapman River mouth.

Boat fishers near the Abrolhos Islands came back with jewfish, pink snapper, sweetlip and spangled emperor. Others working 15-20 kilometres offshore were rewarded with snapper, moderate size jewfish to 6kg, breaksea cod and baldchin. Soft plastics have worked well.

EXMOUTH

Last week's Exmouth newsletter can be viewed here.