Thousands expected to seek marron this month

The South West’s marron season is expected to bring around 10,000 fishers to the region when it opens this week, drawing those keen to secure one of the state’s most prized delicacies.

The season runs from noon on January 8, until February 5 and allows those holding a licence to catch the freshwater crayfish over the four week period.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the season is tightly managed to ensure the highly valued fishery remains sustainable.

DPIRD researchers have been surveying and tagging marron throughout the South West to better understand their biology and the size of populations in different dams and river systems.

Fisheries Management Officer Aaron Moses encouraged fishers to report if they caught a tagged marron this season.

“This research is a joint effort between our scientists and the public, who are able to contribute by reporting catches of tagged marron,” Mr Moses said.

“Fishers can record when and where the marron was caught and the tag number, as well as taking a photo, and send the details to research.survey@dpird.wa.gov.au or call 9203 0111.

“Legal-sized tagged marron can still be kept as part of a licensed fisher’s daily bag limit of five marron in Trophy waters and eight marron in all other marron waters.

“For WA’s recreational fishers, it’s great to have a chance to catch marron in the wild, along tree-lined rivers, or from popular irrigation dams.”

Mr Moses said almost 10,000 licences had been issued so far ahead of the 2025 marron season for people to enjoy the experience of this unique WA fishery.

DPIRD Education officers will be out and about at key locations as the season opens to help fishers with information and fisheries compliance officers will be checking marron catches are within the rules available in the Marron Recreational fishing guide 2025.

If you suspect any illegal fishing activity, please call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 to make a report.