Potting some tasty lobsters! by Ian Sewell

Every year as the days get warmer and the boat covers start to come off, the waters off the West Coast start to stir with a massive underwater migration.
Western rock lobster start their trek from offshore reefs into the shallow inshore reefs and await the signal to start a massive synchronised malt. The exact date varies every year, but it's safe to say late spring is the approximate time frame. At this time, western rock lobster shed their dark red shell for a light coloured pink/white shell. These lobster are most commonly referred to as 'whites'. After a week or two, the new shell hardens enough and then just about every boat ramp in the south of the state starts to swell beyond capacity at sun-up every day for the mass migration of rec anglers making the most of the 'white run'.
It is thought that western rock lobster take part in this mass migration event at least once in their lifetime, usually only after they become sexually mature, or a year or two after. For us as recreational fishers, it is a time of the year where we can catch a good feed of rock lobster with relatively little effort.
Back in July 2018, there was a significant rule change that allowed rock lobster to be fished all year round. This is a great outcome from years of managing the fishery so well. This fishery is so well managed it also has Marine Stewardship Council certification as a sustainable fishery. It was granted certification back in 2000 and has since been recertified four times, the last time being in 2017.
Interestingly WA's rock lobster industry has over 50 years of research and science behind it, which I think speaks volumes. It is also WA's most valuable commercial fishery.
GETTING POTS
If you want to get in on the action this year, there are a few things you need to do and think about. The first one is that you will need to buy a recreational Rock Lobster Fishing Licence. This is different to your Boat Fishing Licence, and can be bought online from the fish.wa.gov.au website.
Once you have a licence you will need to buy a couple of pots, or if you are handy with your hands and have the time and the inclination, you can build your own. If you do want to build your own, be aware that there are strict rules for dimensions of the pot as well as the placing of the compulsory escape gaps. Depending on where you put the gaps, you will need three or four. These gaps have to be of a very specific size and can be bought or made. Be sure if you buy pots that they have the gaps already in them or that they are supplied when you buy it so that you can fit them yourself.
There are quite a few commercially available pots, and these are made out of various materials. There are two types of plastic pots, a wire collapsible pot, as well as commercial wooden slat pots, which can come in pine or jarrah. Pine pots are generally used for the white run and jarrah pots are usually used for chasing 'reds' when the white run finishes.
Then there are amateur size pots, which are also referred to as 3/4 pots, and these also come in jarrah and pine. Activ Industries produce a great range of pots that are ready to fish, are built well and work just fine. These come in three sizes right down to their smallest Mini A, which is perfect for tinnies or small boats. If buying from Gumtree, be aware that there are a lot of dodgy pot makers out there trying to make a buck. If they are new pots, ensure they have escape gaps properly fitted and are correct dimensions.
You are allowed to use two pots per licence, and you are allowed to have a maximum of six pots on a boat, but you are only allowed to pull six pots in a day with three licensed fishers on board. Two licenses would equal four pots. Recently we have also been allowed to pot share, which means you can put another licensed fishers gear ID on the same pot and this person is also able to pull the same pot. For more info on the finer details be sure to check out the regulations on the fish.wa.gov.au website.