The Department of Fisheries wishes to remind recreational and commercial fishers that seasonal Cockburn Sound and metropolitan pink snapper fishing rules are again in place this year.

From September 1 until December 31, the seasonal restrictions that protect pink snapper breeding stocks will apply to recreational fishing between Cape Bouvard (White Hills) and Two Rocks.

The bag limit in that zone is eight pink snapper per day for each fisher over the legal size of 41cm (included in mixed bag of eight reef fish).

During the restricted period, only two pink snapper over 70cm may be kept per person.

A boat limit (when two or more people are fishing) of four pink snapper over 70cm a day also applies.

Cockburn Sound will again be totally closed to commercial and recreational pink snapper fishing from September 15 to October 31.

The closure is a precautionary measure to protect highly vulnerable breeding pink snapper that gather to spawn in Cockburn Sound during Spring and Summer.

Pink snapper gather in large groups called ‘aggregations' to spawn every year off the Perth coast.

Snapper from a wide area join these aggregations to spawn during this period and their behaviour at this time makes snapper easy to catch in large numbers.

In order to protect the long-term sustainability of pink snapper stocks in the metropolitan area, management measures such as the seasonal closures are needed.

Maximum size limits are also needed as large snapper lay a greater number of eggs than smaller snapper and are therefore a vital part of breeding stocks.

***

 Navigation markers on the Swan River have been upgraded to assist skippers using the waterway, especially at night.

Department of Transport Manager of Navigational Safety and Compliance Ray Buchholz said the installation of synchronised lighting on existing lateral marks on Perth Waters and at Rocky Bay would significantly improve night navigation in those areas.

"Perth Waters and Rocky Bay are some of the busiest parts of the Swan River and the upgrade will make it easier to navigate the designated channels," Mr Buchholz said.

"Earlier this year navigation was significantly improved at Rocky Bay with the installation of new markers and changes made to existing ones to direct vessels away from the sandbar to ease congestion especially during peak times.

"The recent addition of synchronised lighting on the markers at Rocky Bay further improves the safety of those using the waterway at night."

Mr Buchholz said the introduction of synchronised lighting to the navigation markers had cost approximately $51,000 and had been implemented as part of Transport's 2009/10 Navigation Aid Capital Works Plan.

He said Transport would continue with its work to improve navigation aids on the Swan and Canning Rivers during 2010-11.

Transport is responsible for developing and maintaining an extensive network of navigation aids within WA waters to provide safe passage for recreational and commercial vessels.

"Transport currently manages more than 1,100 navigation aides in WA and works closely with stakeholders to identify projects and works to improve navigation and keep boat owners and their passengers safe, " Mr Buchholz said.

People wanting more information about the Department's navigation aid program can visit here or contact Navigational Safety on 9431 1025.

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 Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has ruled out prohibiting fishing at Green's Pool near Denmark on Western Australia's southern coast.

In April this year, the Department of Fisheries called for public submissions on whether fishing should be banned along 600m of beach and headland at the popular tourist and swimming destination located about 15km from Denmark.

Mr Moore said that Green's Pool, a major tourist attraction in the William Bay National Park, was popular almost year round for swimming or fishing because it was protected from prevailing weather and current conditions by a surrounding headland.

But he said conflict between different users of the marine area around Green's Pool had prompted him to ask for advice on whether fishing should be banned.

It was previously suggested that the presence of fishers, as well as fishing hooks and other tackle left behind or lost in the water, was dangerous to swimmers, snorkelers and beach visitors.

"The Department of Fisheries carried out a thorough assessment of the submissions," the Minister said. "Part of the department's advice was that the Denmark Shire Council did not have the relevant legal powers to regulate fishing within the William Bay National Park.

"I have decided not to prohibit fishing at Green's Pool and instead will write to the William Bay National Park Authority asking it to work with the Denmark Shire Council to educate the public about the conflicting needs of fishers and other users of the area."

Mr Moore said the department had received 65 responses to its call for public submissions, 49 for prohibiting fishing at Green's Pool, 13 against the prohibition and two submissions - from the WA Industry Fishing Council and the Department of Environment - neutral.

"It should be noted that most submissions supporting the ban were from individuals wanting Green's Pool to be a marine sanctuary rather than to address the issues of conflict and swimmer safety," he said.

"I believe that with the proper signage and by encouraging anglers to restrict their fishing activities when swimmers are around, most of these conflicts will resolve themselves."

***

 Recfish Australia members have unanimously agreed to join the Boating and Fishing Council of Australia (BCFA). The decision was made at the 26th Annual General Meeting held recently in Melbourne. Recfish Australia is the peak national body for Australia's more than 3 million recreational fishers and the decision to join an alliance of predominantly industry organisations will add a vital dimension to the council and ensure that the voice of recreational fishers is also considered.

"The council is a significant step in strengthening the partnerships within the recreational fishing sector and it will greatly assist us in presenting unified policy and position statements to government." said Len Olyott, CEO of Recfish Australia. "Recfish Australia brings direct contact with state and national peak bodies and their thousands of members ensuring that the council truly represents the views of the community".

The AGM also returned two new board members for Recfish Australia with Max Castle from the NSW Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing (NSW ACoRF) and Frank Prokop from Recfishwest joining the board. Frank was also elected as chair replacing Bruce Schumacher. After 22 years of service to Recfish Australia, Bruce has decided to concentrate his efforts on the NSW recreational fishing community where he serves as ACoRF chair. Frank is no stranger to the top job, having served as president from 2003 to 2004. Russell Conway from VRFish in Victoria was nominated as deputy chair.

The AGM concluded with a workshop to identify the priority areas that Recfish needs to focus on in the next 12 months. Attendees included past members of Recfish Australia such as Sunfish Queensland, the South Australian Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee and Native Fish Australia as well as new members; the Professional Fishing Instructors and Guides Association, the Recreational Fishing Alliance of New South Wales and the New South Wales Council of Freshwater Anglers.

Newly elected chair, Frank Prokop believes that having groups like Sunfish, SARFAC and NFA present sends a clear signal that they are ready to engage with Recfish Australia. "Our challenge is to deliver an organisation that represents the views of all stakeholders. They have told us what we need to do to get them back; we now have to show them we are listening. With national issues such as marine park planning, climate change and promoting healthy outdoor activities like fishing, having a strong national voice for fishing has never been as important as it is now."

Over the next few months, Recfish Australia will revise its constitution to better reflect the needs of the recreational fishing sector. They will also be developing a business case to deliver to the Australian Government and the recreational fishing sector and will look at implementing suggestions for raising revenue contained in the Strategic Revenue Options report which was funded by the Australian Government.

Mr Olyott was looking forward to working with the alliance and our key stakeholders. "The alliance more clearly allows Recfish Australia to separate its leadership and representative roles which we will concentrate on, from the lobbying role of groups like the alliance where recreational fishing interests also need to be promoted."

***

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

METROPOLITAN

Northern beaches are working well for tailor in addition to some memorable mulloway catches with one angler landing a metres long mulloway from north of Two Rocks on 3kg line. Others are doing okay for mulloway along the Floreat/Scarborough stretch of coastline but an abundance of the protected Port Jackson sharks is driving them nuts. Bluewater Melville's Matt Garwood spotted two mulloway in very shallow river water near Fremantle and had two runs but no hook ups. Herring are plentiful off Fremantle near the Stragglers and even inside Hillarys Marina. Skippy were active on the Three Mile and the Five Fathom with the average fish weighing about a kilo. Samson fish to 20kg were spotted in shallow water near reefs around the Straggler. Queen snapper and breaksea cod featured in Five Fathom Bank bags.

Bottom fishing enthusiasts are finding 60-80 metres of water best for the likes of jewfish, pink snapper and breaksea cod. Reports of active southern bluefin tuna have come from north of Two Rocks with the fish around 8-9kg. The Gemini Wreck has held schools of samson fish.

One dedicated squid chaser has landed some beauties from the stretch between Ocean Reef and Mindarie Marinas with some of them with 60-70cm long tubes. Shore squidders aren't missing out. Damien Anderson from Bluewater Scarborough caught some from the Henderson area and gave up after he'd scored seven.

Bluewater Morley staffers Chris Boyling and Peter Birch took their small boats just off Fremantle and had a ball catching and releasing tailor, small samson fish and skippy. On their way back each picked up a good meal of squid. Sand whiting are prolific out from Scarborough.

Bream appear to have moved back upstream in the Swan with the Ascot/Maylands region fishing reasonably well for them.

MANDURAH

Bottom bouncers are coming back with jewies from 30 metres of water. Tony Warnet was back at the ramp within one hour with a good jewie. Pink snapper and baldchin were also a feature in that depth of water. James Service Reef is holding heaps of sand whiting. The Dawesville Cut makes a terrific spot to try for the herring, tailor and small salmon. To the south of town, White Hills and Tims Thicket have yielded some great mulloway.

Black bream are especially active on lower parts of the Murray River system around Mandurah with the Ravenswood Hotel a hot spot.

KALBARRI

A feature for Kalbarri fishers has been the numbers of pink snapper taken from the cliffs with an 8kg fish but many near 5kg landed. Boat anglers are also picking up a few snapper.

Tailor provided some fun for beach fishers with a 105cm, 6.8kg fish from north of the Murchison. At Wittecarra a 19kg mulloway was taken. Skippy and dart added to the action from most beaches. A black bream of 44cm was encountered about 5km up river.

CARNARVON

Boat groups fishing near the islands have come back with top catches of pink snapper. The schools are patchy but when located yield some terrific fish. Good size mulloway are another feature for bottom bouncers fishing out deep but many were also caught inshore. Tailor are active all over the place. There are heaps of bream from the beaches with squid plentiful in channels and from over weed banks - especially near Bush Bay.

Strong seabreezes have hampered Quobba angling. Locals are becoming increasingly excited about the re-opening of the entire jetty. The famed Carnarvon Jetty will be fully usable for fishers from about the 25th October.

EXMOUTH

This week's Exmouth newsletter can be viewed here.