Marron season to start with more than 10,000 licensees signing up

More than 10,000 fishermen are set to cast their lines in South West waters as the 2023 marron season starts this weekend. Kicking off at noon on Sunday, January 8, licensed fishers will have the chance to take part in the freshwater fishing experience in the hope of catching the local species before the limited season winds up at noon on February 5. Wild marron are endemic to the South West, with the limited season carefully managed to maintain stock and species preservation. The fish can be found in several locations in the region including Collie River, Deep, Gardner, Warren, Donnelly, Blackwood, Capel and Preston rivers and their tributaries, Moore and Hutt rivers and their tributaries as well as Murray River. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development aquatic resource management director Nathan Harrison said past and future stocking projects offered an important contribution to the future of the fishery and enhancing the marron fishing experience. “Recreational licence fees invested in the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund have been hard at work supporting the fishery through a marron stocking project,” he said. “Between February 2021 and July 2022, a total of just over 300,000 juvenile marron were released into two popular South West fishing spots at Logue Brook Dam and Waroona Dam. “With funding from the Recreational Fishing COVID Response Project, planning is also underway to stock Harvey Dam with around 100,000 juvenile marron.” Part of managing marron stocks includes an ongoing tagging system — with fishers able to catch marron with green and yellow T-bar tags. Fishers may also keep any legal-sized tagged fish they catch. The marron season is also greatly beneficial to many South West businesses, with additional visits to tackle stores, camping locations and other local accommodation options. Fishermen wishing to buy a marron licence can do so via fish.wa.gov.au.