Cray season opens early to offset ban

South West crayfishermen have been out in force as the rock lobster season opening a month earlier than usual.

The season officially opened on Tuesday to offset the two-month ban on prized bottom dwelling fish such as dhufish and pink snapper.

Rock lobster hunter and Sportsmarine co-owner Mark Collett was excited about the extension of his favourite hobby.

Mr Collett said he used to dive for his desired catch, but now used pots.

“I do it every year and try to get a few in before Christmas,” he said.

“We like to get a little creative with the cooking by cutting them down the middle and frying them in their shell on the barbie with a little bit of garlic butter.”

He said a few mates had already dropped pots and he would follow suit once the weather improved.

Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said the increased rock lobster season would allow recreational fishermen a better chance to catch the allocated 300-tonne quota.

“While dhufish are off the menu, fishers can diversify and go rock lobster fishing instead,” he said.

“The recreational sector has a 5 per cent share of the overall resource and in recent years has only got about half of it.”

He said the demersal fishing ban started in 2009, after statistics in 2008 revealed a serious downturn in bottom dwelling fish stocks.

“Although it was unpopular at the time, signs show there has been recovery in these stocks,” he said.

“Bottom dwelling fish are slowgrowing fish. Most dhufish don’t reach sexual maturity until they are at least six years of age — so the recovery will take a while.”

He said because the management systems were improving the stocks, the rules could be relaxed within the next few seasons.

Mr Rowland said if fishermen were not crayfish lovers, they could still catch skippy, samson fish, tailor or mulloway.

The rock lobster season is now open until June 30, but the demersal ban remains until December 15.

According to the Department of Fisheries, possession of a demersal finfish during the ban could result in hefty fines of up to $5000 for the first offence.