Fishers' boat seized and fined $7,600 after illegal catch

Two recreational fishers in Western Australia were fined over $7,600 and had their boat, trailer and rods seized after authorities said they caught undersized fish in closed waters north of Cape Naturaliste. The men, aged 21 and 22, were allegedly found with eight pink snapper during a traffic stop by WA police, despite rules that restrict targeting demersal scalefish in the West Coast bioregion (Kalbarri to Augusta). The demersal ban began in December and covers about 900 kilometres of coastline, with recreational boat demersal fishing closed until spring 2027 and commercial fishing permanently closed. WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said later searches found eight undersized pink snapper at the men’s home and six pink snapper fillets. Prosecutors sought forfeiture of the boat, trailer, five rods and four reels, plus a fine, after the pair appeared in Busselton Court.