The 3 spines will get you, one on top dorsal and other 2 on the side pecs.  They are serrated so once they go in, they're a bitch to get out and I'm not sure if its actual poison but more a toxin that helps the sting.  Hot water helps but generally your going to hurt for a while.

As for catching them, always had luck on prawns but that was a lot of years ago.

we use to get them lots with gidgies and a bright light at night also use to get sole that way in the shallows

as for spines they kill for hours i know as i have had one before

We used to take pliers for the spines, but remember they will work after being snapped off, so dispose of them thoughtfully.

how do you cook them??

you skin them and cook like any fish

they are very tasty fish

We used a soft pine donger so when you give them a whack the spine sticks in the wood and snaps off.

The only way to pick them up is with your index and middle fingers in the gill flaps and the thumb on its nose.

Small whole prawns or crabs are the way to go for bait.

They tend to hang close in, so you just need to keep your bait close to the rocks.
Prawns, squid, white bait, etc. are good baits. Definately stay away from the spikes. I can vouch that they sting like hell.

there aren't too many left around, but yes rockwall is an ideal start, and if u get stung, hot water it the way to go.

I have also heard of urinating on it

Sting like a MOFO B*TCH!!!

Best treatment is hot water (as hot as you can bare) for aslong as possible, sting lasts around 5-7 hours generally 6 hours.

And they hang around weed, so mullaloo is a good place for them aswell.

Was down there the other weekend and talking to a guy from fisheries who said that they have plenty of Freshwater Cobbler

hi scottland ,i used to catch cobbler with a running bean sinker ,running to a small swivel tied to about 12 lb mono about 50cm tied to a number 2 baitholder hook using whole river prawn or freshly dug swan river bloodworms.i would generally cast into the shallows near broken rocky weedy to sandy bottom and wait,soon as your line starts to run,strike as you feel the cobbler run,and start winding like crazy with minimal drag to keep the cobbler of the bottom,because they go into their holes

just be aware of their thee spikes,to get of the hook ,iwould stand on the head(using strong heeled shoes ie steel toed work boots) and use a pair of pliers to get the hook out ,but if its a big 1 use a spanner or wrench to knock him out,by wacking him over the head,if you want to know more,send me a message and i will tell you more

Bloodworms or Mussel flesh on a baitholder is the go. As for the freshwater Cobbler, they taste like mud.

Don't forget that Cobbler are protected in the Swan-Canning system until 2012.  I guess the beaches are fair game, though.

Good tasting fish from memory, although we haven't had them since I was a lad!

i found over the years i caught them , the best bait was prawn or fresh blood worm . the main thing to remember is go as light as possible on the leader and make sure there is no tension on the hook , as soon as they feel any pressure they will let go of the bait. they can be a very frustrating fish to catch

is there a size limit?

430 cm minimum size and maximum bag limit is 4.

Check here for confirmation.

And if you catch a sized one do what carnarnonite said and "dong" it with a lump of wood or anything handy before handling it, cut the head off making sure the cut is behind the spikes and the head is disposed of safely.

If undersize cut the line and leave the hook in it's mouth and release it. Hook will rust out.

Agree with Joe and FF regards the best rig (running sinker etc) and have found the bloodworms to be the best bait.

As for getting stung by a spike..... DON'T let it happen as it is f'ing painful and I was done by baby cobblers both times. As others have said hot water is the best relief but make sure that you try a different part of your body to put in the water first as the stung part will be partialy paralysed and won't feel the temp fully.... Could end up being burnt!!!

Another option that an old timer told me first time I got done (and it worked) is to PEE on the spike zone... apparently the heat and acid counteract the pain. Worked for me when I was spiked under the old mandurah bridge 30 years ago. Only embaressing thing was doing it in front of 3 girls..... and funny thing is one of them is now my wife... maybe she saw something that night that she wanted

Just wondering if cobbler is the same as catfish?

then nail its head to a tree and skin the sucker. Simple as......

Caught plenty of cobbler!!! awesome eating fish to boot.

Yes banned to catch in the swan and canning at the moment (2017 not 2012 as stated before), but I've heard their numbers are growing rapidly and they are now even schooling which i was unaware they did

Best bait by a long way is the rock crabs you see on rock walls. Peel the head off and cut the legs off, then cut them into 4 pieces. The head and legs make great burely so just throw in close to the rocks.

As for handling, I've been done by a dig boy a few years ago, and its not going to kill you but lets just say its pretty painful, and makes your glands know about it!

Dong them on the head if your going to keep one. or if a small one, i used to step on their head with steel cap boots to remove the hook.

I suggest not spearing or using a gidgee. Its too hard to tell the size of cobbler in the water, and this probably needs more looking in to, i cant remember this exactly but i think the size measurement comes from the back of the head to the tail correct? some reasno this rings a bell.

a gidgee through the head sorts em out quick.. and then youve got a handle attached to avoid the spikes... skinning the barstards is the hard part .. last time i got a couple of cobbler i nearly amputated my thumb.. then i remembered how my redneck buddies skin their catfish ...NAILED through the head to a tree..

Luke