Can You Fish At Burns Beach? What You Need To Know

Western Australia‘s Marmion Marine Park is a part of the ocean that stretches from Trigg Island to Burns Beach. Since marine conservation is part of the park’s focus, some areas in Marmion Marine Park are closed to fishing. So is Burns Beach one of those closed areas, or is it open to recreational fishing?

You can fish at Burns Beach. Some of the main species near Burns Beach are the western rock lobster, abalone, whiting, mulloway, Australian herring, pink snapper, dhufish, and tailor. Before you fish at Burns Beach, you should get your recreational fishing licence and approved gear.

In the rest of this article, I’ll explain what you need to know about fishing in Burns Beach. If you want to know everything about fishing at Burns Beach – from the recreational fishing licence to approved fishing gear and where you can find more information – keep reading!

Is Recreational Fishing Allowed At Burns Beach?

Recreational fishing is allowed at Burns Beach, provided that anglers follow the Western Australia Government’s fishing rules. There are guidelines for bag and size limits, acceptable fishing gear, and closed seasons. You must also obtain a recreational fishing licence to fish legally.

Burns Beach is a popular fishing spot, with thousands of anglers fishing annually. Some of the most common species caught in this area are:

Abalone
Whiting
Mulloway
Australian herring
Pink snapper
Tailor
Dhufish
Rock lobster

Burns Beach is also a popular swimming and snorkelling spot due to a large number of reefs just off the coast.

Do You Need A Permit To Fish At Burns Beach?

You need a permit to fish at Burns Beach. Anyone fishing at Burns Beach must get a Recreational Fishing Licence from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

You will need a fishing licence for any one of these:

Rock Lobster
Marron
Abalone
Net fishing
Fishing from a boat

A recreational fishing licence is also required for freshwater fishing in Western Australia, but that licence does not apply to fishing along the shore at Burns Beach.

Each type mentioned above requires a different licence. However, if you’re applying for multiple licences, you can also apply for a 10% discount on the total cost.

The cost for each licence is as follows:

Fishing from a boat – $40
Rock Lobster – $50
Abalone – $50
Marron – $50
Freshwater fishing – $50
Net fishing – $50

The fees from the Recreational Fishing Licences help pay for the conservation and protection of marine species. Each year, the Government of Western Australia earns approximately $8 million through recreational fishing licence fees. This money goes towards the following projects.

Funding Recfishwest – Western Australia’s representative fishing body.
Creating artificial reefs.
Creating and maintaining fish-attracting devices.
Research projects into rare or popular marine species.
Restocking dwindling fish populations.
Surveys and oversight of fishing activities.

You can apply for your Recreational Fishing Licence in three ways.

Apply online for your recreational fishing licence.
Download an application form in PDF format.
Get an application form from a DPIR D office.

It can take up to 14 days for you to receive your licence after applying. Thus, you should ensure that you apply well before your fishing trip.

Types Of Fishing Gear Allowed At Burns Beach

The Government of Western Australia outlined what type of fishing gear is legal in their Recreational Fishing Guide PDF. Any gear that isn’t mentioned in this guide is illegal.

Here’s a quick list of legal fishing gear you can use at Burns Beach.

Rods, lines, and hooks with up to three baits or lures on each line.
Rock lobster pots.
Spearfishing
Haul, set, or throw nets.

You can view the specifications for each type of equipment in the Recreational Fishing Guide.

Note: Fishing and tackle shops may keep equipment that is not permitted in Burns Beach. Always check your equipment against the specifications listed in the Recreational Fishing Guide to ensure that it follows the rules of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Recreational Fishing Guide

The Government of Western Australia has released a Recreational Fishing Guide that lists everything you need to know about fishing in the state.

This guide includes information about legal fishing equipment, bag and size limits, licences required, closed fishing seasons, and more. The guide is available online on the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) website, as a downloadable PDF, and as hard copies in fishing and tackle shops.

Before fishing in Western Australian waters, you should grab a copy of the Recreational Fishing Guide and ensure you follow its rules.

How To Get Up-To-Date Information On Fishing Rules At Burns Beach

The Government of Western Australia reserves the right to amend or change fishing rules for marine preservation. Updated information about closed seasons, bag and size limits, protected species, etc., can be hard to find. So here’s a list of places to check for updated information about fishing rules for Burns Beach.

You can get updated information about fishing in Burns Beach through these websites/apps.

Government of Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website – Recreational Fishing Rules.
Recfishwest App, which can be downloaded here for Android and here for iPhone.
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) – Marmion Marine Park.
Western Australia Government website – Recreational Fishing Rules.

Of these options, the Recfishwest App is probably the most convenient since government websites don’t always have mobile-friendly web pages for when you’re on the go. The Recfishwest organisation regularly works closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to provide updated information about fishing across the west coast bioregion.

Thus, the information provided in the Recfishwest App is always updated and complies with governmental rules.

burns beach boat ramp — **Marmion Marine Park**

Final Thoughts

While fishing is allowed at Burns Beach, anglers are expected to adhere to a strict set of fishing rules regarding protected species, bag and size limits, closed seasons, etc. These rules are outlined in the Recreational Fishing Guide, available online, as a downloadable PDF, or in hard copy form from fishing and tackle shops.

You can also access up-to-date information about fishing rules in Western Australia through the DPIRD, DBCA, and the Western Australia Government websites or the Recfishwest App.