Question 1

Do I need a separate licence to fish Wellington Dam?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a South-West Freshwater Angling licence from DPIRD is required to fish for trout, redfin perch, freshwater cobbler or marron in WA's inland south-west waters. It is a separate licence from the marine recreational fishing licence and covers the four named species under one fee. Check the current DPIRD freshwater guide for season dates and bag limits before fishing.

Question 2

Are the trout still being stocked?

Accepted Answer

Rainbow trout are released into Wellington Dam under the annual Recfishwest and DPIRD stocking programme, with cooler-season release windows that vary year to year. Brown trout have featured in earlier programmes and a small holdover population persists. Redfin are not stocked — they are a naturalised introduced species and are managed as a pest under WA rules.

Question 3

Can I fish from the bank or do I need a boat?

Accepted Answer

Bank fishing is workable from Potters Gorge, Stones Brook, Long Gully and along the dam edges, particularly for redfin. A kayak, canoe or small boat opens up the points and bays that produce the better trout sessions and lets you reach the deeper cobbler holes after dark. The dam wall itself is closed to vehicles but accessible on foot for shore casting along the lower river.

Question 4

What do I do with redfin once caught?

Accepted Answer

Under WA rules redfin perch are a declared pest and must not be returned alive to the water. Dispatch them humanely on the bank and either take them home as table fish (they are good eating, white-fleshed and mild) or dispose of them away from the waterline. Returning live redfin spreads them through the catchment and is taken seriously by DPIRD.

Wellington Dam (Collie)