Covering almost a third of Australia, the massive state of Western Australia will overwhelm you with an abundance of fishing opportunities for avid anglers. With over 20,000 kilometers of coastline, you won’t be short of fishing spots to choose from!
One of the most significant challenges anglers face in Western Australia isn’t finding somewhere to fish; it’s finding somewhere fantastic to fish and then knowing what sort of tackle to use and the best techniques to land big fish. Don’t worry, though. We’ve got you covered!
In the following guide to fishing in Western Australia, we’ll cover:
It’s hard to beat some of the unbelievable fishing opportunities available to anglers in Western Australia. However, if you’re looking for a new challenge in Australia, check out our article, Your Complete Guide to Fishing in Tasmania, Australia, in which we cover everything you need to know to master fishing in Tasmania.
Even with local knowledge and experience, catching fish in W.A., Australia can be a real challenge, but thanks to the premium Fishbox, you’ll have access to advanced technology, including the best time to go fishing in Western Australia and when you’re better off relaxing at home.
Types of Fishing in Western Australia
In Western Australia, you’re blessed with two excellent fishing opportunities, saltwater, and freshwater fishing, which presents anglers with many opportunities regardless of what type of angling you prefer.
With over 20,000 km of the world’s most pristine saltwater coastline, obviously, saltwater fishing presents you with the most opportunities, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to capitalize on excellent freshwater fishing.
Freshwater Fishing In Western Australia
Two of the biggest freshwater fishing opportunities in Western Australia are at Lake Kununurra and Lake Argyle. Both lakes are located in the north of the state and give freshwater anglers the opportunity to catch popular freshwater species such as Redfin Perch, Rainbow Trout, Barramundi, Catfish, and much more.
There are also some productive river and dam fishing opportunities in the south of the state, where large Barramundi and other freshwater species present anglers with a challenging fight on light tackle and tricky circumstances.
Saltwater Fishing in Western Australia
With so much coastline to choose from, you’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to saltwater angling and your preferred method of catch. From beach or surf fishing along the coast to large, sheltered estuaries and bays and deep-sea fishing chasing offshore species such as Tuna and Marlin, there are hundreds of exciting species and many different methods to catch them.
Best Fishing Spots in W.A.
In this section, we’ll cover some of the top fishing locations in Western Australia, including Perth and surrounding suburbs, Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef, Shark Bay, Broome and the Kimberley Region, Busselton and Margaret River, Lake Argyle and Kununurra.
Perth and Surrounds
Perth has some beautiful beaches and almost perfect weather, and there are some fantastic fishing opportunities. The Swan River winds its way through the city of Perth and is fed by the Leeuwin, a warm-water current that naturally feeds large tropical saltwater fish into the area. Along with river fishing in the Swan River, there’s also lots of beach fishing.
If you venture offshore from Perth, you have the opportunity to chase large gamefish such as Mahi Mahi, Tuna, and Marling. If you’re limited to inshore fishing, there are some great opportunities near Ocean Reef Marina, Two Rocks, Rottnest Island, and Cockburn Sound. For those chasing a delicious feed of Pink Snapper, the area around Rockingham consistently delivers some great fish, but fishing pressure in the region is typically high.
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef
It’s going to require a short flight or a two-day drive if you’re departing Perth, but Exmouth is known among Western Australian locals as an excellent destination for fishing trips. It will take some planning if you want to drive or fly there, but the fishing available is definitely worth the expense and time.
Part of the attraction for anglers heading to Exmouth is the Ningaloo Reef, not only a World Heritage Site but also the world’s largest fringing reef. If you love fishing and don’t have easy access to offshore boats, then you’re in luck because Exmouth offers some of Western Australia’s best charter boat fishing. Be sure to book your charter beforehand if you’re planning a trip during the peak season.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is another World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO and offers excellent fishing, diving, and sightseeing opportunities. Popular species to catch in Shark Bay include Pink Snapper, Flathead, Spanish Mackerel, Whiting, and Tailor.
Broome and the Kimberley Region
Thanks to its isolation, Broome is well-known for its premium saltwater fishing, including popular species such as Sailfish, Trevally, Permit, Barramundi, and Mangrove Jacks. Closer to sure you have popular table species, including Flathead, Bream, Cod, and Queenfish, if you’re up for a challenge.
Some of the popular Broome fishing locations include Broome Jetty, Coconut Wells, Willie Creek, Disaster Rock, Jewie Holes, and Gantheaume Point.
Covering over 424k square km, the Kimberley Region is massive and presents anglers who are adventurous enough to travel there with some genuinely fantastic fishing opportunities.
With hundreds of small creeks and rivers teeming with fish, especially Barramundi, which can grow to over one meter in length, you’ll never be short of fishing opportunities in this region. In the bays and estuaries, you can chase the hard-fighting Mangrove Jack along with Queenfish and Trevally.
Busselton and Margaret River Region
About a three-hour drive from Perth, the Busselton Jetty is a popular local fishing spot and includes the second-longest jetty in the world! Some of the fish you can expect to catch from the Busselton Jetty include large hard-fighting Mulloway and Samson, along with Salmon when they are in season and plenty of Squid, Flathead, and Crabs.
Lake Argyle and Kununurra
If you prefer freshwater fishing, you won’t be disappointed with Lake Argyle and Kununurra. Both lakes are filled with Trout and a local species, Silver Cobbler, which is similar to a Catfish. A variety of large rivers feeding into the lakes are whole of large Barramundi that are lurking and ready to put up a big fight.
Top Species to Target
Although there are hundreds of fish species available to anglers in Western Australia, some fish species continue to be the target species of choice for most anglers. These fish species include Barramundi, Snapper, Tailor, Mahi Mahi, and Trevally. In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular fish in Western Australia!
- Barramundi – One of the biggest freshwater species in Australia, the hard-fighting Barramundi lurk in rivers and can grow up to 70kg and almost 7 feet in length. In small rivers full of snags, these monster freshwater fish are indeed a challenge to land. Barramundis live in fresh and saltwater, migrating up and down coastal areas.
- Snapper – Sought after for their excellent eating, Pink Snapper is a popular target for anglers in Western Australia. Snapper spend most of their time living close to the bottom, so bait and sinker setup is the most effective way to catch them. Closely related to Bream but much larger, Pink Snapper not only puts a great fight but also tastes delicious, making them highly sought-after.
- Tailor – Tailor, otherwise known as Bluefish by the locals, thanks to their blue coloring, are one of the fastest and most prolific coastal saltwater species and can be found up and down the Western Australia coastline. Tailors live in large schools and congregate around structures such as shipwrecks, jetties, wharves, and reefs. Looking for large schools on the surface feeding is an effective way of bagging out quickly, and Tailor will readily strike a range of lures and take live bait.
- Trevally – Australia, and Western Australia in particular, are home to various Trevally species, including Golden Trevally, Giant Trevally (GTs), Silver Trevally, and Bigeye Trevally. GTs are the standout variety, putting up a massive fight thanks to their impressive size of up to 5ft in length. Lurking near coral reefs and atolls, GTs are a once-in-a-lifetime fish to fight. Closer to shore, Golden Trevally is the most prevalent of the Trevally species.
- Mahi Mahi – Mahi Mahi, otherwise known as Dolphin Fish or Dorado, are prolific along the coastal areas of Western Australia and are often caught by offshore anglers targeting Tuna and Marlin. Caught mostly in summer and autumn when the water temperatures are warmer, Mahi Mahi puts up an impressive fight, often leaping repeatedly from the water in an attempt to shake the hook.
Fishing Techniques and Tips
In Western Australia, you have three main options, with most fishing done in saltwater. These include:
- Beach Fishing – While you can fish from the beach with a regular spinning rod and reel combo, using a proper beach fishing setup will allow you to cast much further and get your bait out over the crashing waves close to shore. Spinning along the surf line is an effective way to catch schooling fish such as Salmon and Tailor, but bait fishing is the most popular method.
- Boat Fishing – If you can access a boat, the entire coastline of Western Australia is open to you. However, if it’s only a small boat, you may want to avoid heading too far offshore, but that doesn’t mean there are not hundreds of fishing opportunities closer to shore in calmer waters. If you’re fishing from a boat, trolling lures are effective, but one of the easiest and most productive methods is bait fishing live bait close to underwater structures.
- Estuary Fishing – For shore-based anglers, estuaries teem with various inshore fish species, including Bream, Flathead, Snapper, Tailor, Salmon, Mangrove Jack, Barramundi, and many more. If you’re planning on targeting larger fish like Barramundi, you’ll need to upgrade to a heavier line, rod, and reel, or you’ll risk being snapped off. For most other species, a light to medium spinning rod will serve you well. Bait, soft plastics, and spinning lures are the most popular techniques.
Fishing Regulations in W.A.
Before you hit the local beach with your rod and reel, it pays to check out the Western Australia fishing regulations to ensure that you don’t get yourself into any trouble. You can visit the Fish WA website for a full list of their regulations, including season, size, and bag limits.
In Western Australia, recreational fishers aren’t required to purchase a fishing license if you’re fishing in saltwater from the shore. However, if you’re fishing from a boat in saltwater, taking a boat to your fishing location, or fishing in freshwater, you must purchase a recreational fishing license.
Seasonal Fishing Guide
You have a lot of fishing opportunities in Western Australia. Still, like most other locations, seasons will play a significant role in not only the availability of species but also catch rates. While some fish species are available year-round, the weather will impact how many fish you can expect to catch at given times of the year.
One notable fish closure is the Barramundi season. Barramundi is closed to fishing from around November to January, so if your destination fish is centered around Barramundi, keep this in mind when you’re planning your trip.
Summer, December through to February, is peak offshore fishing, along with some excellent estuary fishing for those sticking closer to shore. As the water temperatures start cooling down in March, the Tuna and offshore species, such as Spanish Mackerel, start biting hard, along with Salmon closer to shore.
During Winter, beach fishing is popular with local anglers, targeting species such as Threadfin Salmon, Barramundi, Herring, Tailor, Salmon, and much more. In Spring, you’ll want to target Pink Snapper, Flathead, and Jewfish.
Local Resources and Community
If you’re looking to plan a fishing trip to West Australia, there are some excellent local groups you can join that will provide information, tips, and advice for new anglers.
For offshore anglers chasing large gamefish such as Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Marlin, Giant Trevally, and much more, the WAGFA – Western Australian Game Fishing Association is a great place to start. It also contains a lot of information about the world-renowned West Australian Game Fishing competitions.
For anglers who prefer sticking closer to shore, the W.A. Landbased Fishing Club, which has over 40k members on Facebook, will be a wealth of valuable information, tips, and local advice.
If you want to double-check any bag limits or season limits or purchase a fishing license, be sure to check out the Fish WA website.
Experience the Best of Western Australia Fishing: A Complete Guide | Conclusion
It’s not always easy when you’re new to an area like Western Australia to immediately understand the local fishing techniques and how to catch local species, but don’t stress. We’ve got you covered without a guide to Western Australia fishing, and thanks to the angling advice above, you’ll be catching fish like a local pro in no time.
Even experienced anglers need a boost every now and again, and thanks to the premium fish forecasting application Fishbox, you’ll know the best times to go fishing and access local knowledge, fishing spots, tide, and weather information. The Fishbox App utilizes accurate weather, tide, and fishing conditions to predict the best time to get out on the water to catch your target species.
Have you spent a lot of time fishing in Western Australia? Would you like to share some tips and tricks with anglers new to the area? Then drop a comment below! We’d love to hear from you. Your advice could potentially help a new angler become a lifelong enthusiast.
