Many demersal fish stocks throughout Australia are facing sustainability challenges, with their recovery critical to sustaining livelihoods and fishing experiences. Key to the success of strategies to recover stocks of over-exploited fishes is the ongoing collection of data at appropriate spatial and temporal scales to detect changes in population dynamics and exploitation. We review the evolution of strategies used for monitoring, assessing and managing the recovery of the over-exploited snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and West Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum) along 1,000 km of coastline off south-western Australia. Improvements to biological sampling programs and the collection of fisheries catch data have been fundamental to overcome challenges associated with early data limitations. Further refinements to the recovery strategy for this resource have included explicitly accounting for the impacts of post-release mortality of discarded fish, developing integrated assessment models that incorporate data from all fishing sectors and management areas, and developing a mutually agreed harvest strategy to ensure responsive and transparent decision-making. Future recommendations for recovering demersal fishes are discussed, including an increased focus on improved safeguarding of stock reproductive capacity and resilience in a rapidly changing climate and environment.