The Demise of Fishing Charters in the South West
No More Fishing Charters
Legend Charters has been operating fishing charters from Busselton and Dunsborough since 2010.
In 2023 the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development brought new legislation into WA to protect demersal fisheries in the various regions.
Tags which were distributed to the various tour operators were limited and this meant it was no longer viable for tour operators to continue offering fishing charters to guests in the south west region.
Whale Watching Charters Grow
Before Legend Charters ceased operating fishing charters they opened up whale watching tours from Dunsborough, Augusta and Busselton towns.
This has become very popular, not just with visitors to the region but with locals.
Legend Charters took on a larger 23 metre catamaran and had it renovated to suit the ocean conditions in Bremer Bay, commencing killer whale tours from the harbour.
This catamaran is the Alison Maree and the business has grown and is operating under the Naturaliste Charters banner, with their home office located in Dunsborough.
Naturaliste Charters now operates whale watching tours in Augusta and Dunsborough from May until November each year and killer whale tours from Bremer Bay from December to April each year.
This means they now operate all year around!
Book an Augusta Whale Watching Tour May-August
Book a Dunsborough Whale Watching Tour August-November
Busselton Whale Watching Tours now leave from Dunsborough
What Can you See During the Various Seasons
Therefore, whilst we may not be able to offer you a fishing charter, we can still take you out onto the ocean to view the variety of whales and cetaceous species that inhabit the waters off the Western Australian coast.
Bremer Bay: Season December until April – Varieties seen include Killer Whales, Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Giant Squid, Pelagic Bird species, Sea Lions, Sharks, Sperm Whale, Sunfish this is not limited to these species however.
Augusta: Season May until August – Varieties seen include Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Dolphins, Pelagic Birds, Sharks this is not limited to these species however.
Dunsborough/ Busselton: Season May until November – Varieties seen include primarily Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Blue Whales, Dolphins, Sharks and Pelagic Birds but this is not all that we may see from this location.
Book one of our bucket list tours here – https://legendcharters.net.au/book/
