The Best Fishing Spots in Western Australia
Western Australia offers a huge variety of recreational fishing from the tropical north to the cool southern coast, with great options for shore, estuary and boat anglers. Kimberley and the Pilbara produce iconic tropical targets like barramundi, Spanish mackerel, golden trevally and reef species around Ningaloo such as coral trout. On the west and south coasts around Perth, Geraldton and Albany you can fish for pink snapper, dhufish, mulloway (jewfish), yellowtail kingfish and lots of hardy trevally. Methods range from light tackle and lure fishing to fly and live baiting, and popular grounds include rocky reefs, offshore pinnacles, estuaries and sandy beaches. Whether chasing big game offshore or casting from the shore, Western Australia delivers diverse species and scenery for recreational anglers.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Albany
(1 km to coast)
Australind
(1 km to coast)
Balcatta
(10 km to coast)
Baldivis
(11 km to coast)
Balga
(12 km to coast)
Ballajura
(18 km to coast)
Bayswater
(19 km to coast)
Bunbury
(3 km to coast)
Busselton
(2 km to coast)
Butler
(3 km to coast)
Clarkson
(3 km to coast)
Como
(14 km to coast)
Dianella
(15 km to coast)
Duncraig
(5 km to coast)
East Perth
(15 km to coast)
East Victoria Park
(19 km to coast)
Geraldton
(3 km to coast)
Greenfields
(5 km to coast)
Halls Head
(0 km to coast)
Hamilton Hill
(5 km to coast)
Hillarys
(2 km to coast)
Karratha
(3 km to coast)
Kingsley
(8 km to coast)
Kwinana
(4 km to coast)
Landsdale
(15 km to coast)
Leeming
(14 km to coast)
Mandurah
(1 km to coast)
Marangaroo
(12 km to coast)
Maylands
(17 km to coast)
Morley
(19 km to coast)
Mount Lawley
(14 km to coast)
Nedlands
(8 km to coast)
Nollamara
(12 km to coast)
Perth
(13 km to coast)
Perth city centre
(12 km to coast)
Port Kennedy
(3 km to coast)
Rivervale
(19 km to coast)
Rockingham
(1 km to coast)
Rockingham city centre
(2 km to coast)
Scarborough
(3 km to coast)
Secret Harbour
(2 km to coast)
South Hedland
(11 km to coast)
South Perth
(14 km to coast)
Spearwood
(4 km to coast)
Stirling
(8 km to coast)
Subiaco
(9 km to coast)
Success
(11 km to coast)
Waikiki
(3 km to coast)
Wanneroo
(9 km to coast)
Warnbro
(1 km to coast)
Wembley
(8 km to coast)
Willetton
(17 km to coast)
Yokine
(13 km to coast)
River Fishing
Avon River
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Peel Inlet
A vast, shallow system renowned for blue swimmer crabs, tailor, herring, and canal bream, with summer bait schools drawing predators onto the flats; access from Mandurah and channels toward Harvey Estuary on moving tides.
Nornalup Inlet
A scenic southern estuary producing black bream, mulloway, and seasonal salmon, with flats work for whiting and channels for predators; access from Walpole and the junction with the Frankland River fishes well on tide changes.
Cape Naturaliste
Rocky points and beaches around the cape see strong autumn runs of Australian salmon, plus reef options for dhufish and powerful samsonfish offshore; productive shores include Bunker Bay and Eagle Bay in lighter winds.
Leschenault Inlet
A sheltered estuary near Bunbury producing black bream, yellowfin whiting, cobbler, and summer blue swimmer crabs; work flats and channels, or the tidal flow through The Cut for predators chasing bait.
Hillarys Boat Harbour
Breakwalls and inner marina edges produce easy-access herring, skippy (trevally), squid, and dusk tailor; work the rock gaps and lighting at the marina near Sorrento when sea breezes ease and bait gathers.
Exmouth Gulf
Sheltered flats and mangroves produce sight-fishing for queenfish, golden trevally, threadfin salmon, and mangrove jack, while deeper channels hold longtail tuna and mackerel; popular access includes Bundegi and the eastern flats when bait is thick.
Dampier Archipelago
Dozens of islands and reef systems offer coral trout, red emperor, spangled emperor, and fast pelagics like Spanish mackerel and GTs; most crews stage from Karratha to work pressure points in Nickol Bay .
Hamelin Bay
Famous for the autumn run of Australian salmon along the beaches, plus herring, skippy, and reef-dwelling species on calmer days; fish gutters and points between Augusta and Cape Freycinet with bait schools in sight.
Lancelin Bay
Surf gutters and reefs yield tailor, sand whiting, and herring, while nearby offshore lumps hold dhufish and pink snapper; target wind lanes and reef edges north toward Ledge Point when conditions settle.
Jurien Bay
Inshore reefs and offshore lumps deliver dhufish, baldchin groper, pink snapper, and crayfish, with beaches yielding tailor and whiting; launch from town or fish near North Head when the swell is manageable.
Shark Bay
Expansive seagrass meadows and ledges produce pink snapper, whiting, tailor, and roaming cobia, with flats action for golden trevally; launch or wade near Denham and Monkey Mia when tides push bait across the banks.
Busselton Jetty
This historic pier is famed for squid, herring, and garfish in calm conditions, with summer shots at bonito and occasional samsonfish off the end; fish the light lines and reef edges extending from Busselton at dawn, dusk, or under night lights.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest offers rock and boat access to yellowtail kingfish, Australian salmon on their autumn run, reefy tailor and herring, plus offshore dhufish and tuna; target headlands like West End and ledges near Cathedral Rocks when the swell and wind align.
Houtman Abrolhos
These coral-limestone islands are a premier venue for dhufish, coral trout, baldchin groper, and pelagics like tuna and mackerel; most trips depart Geraldton to work ledges, bombies, and current lines.
Ningaloo Reef
Fringing reef flats and drop-offs hold spangled emperor, coral trout, and marauding giant trevally, with Spanish mackerel and occasional sailfish along current lines; work gutters near Turquoise Bay or run the edge from Learmonth on clear, warm-water days.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Ord River
From the diversion dam downstream to the lower reaches, the Ord holds barramundi, threadfin salmon, and cherabin; fish eddies, rock bars, and shaded banks near Lake Kununurra and down toward Wyndham on warmer flows.
Lake Argyle
Australia’s largest freshwater lake produces warm-season barramundi, sooty grunter, and catfish around timbered bays and rocky points; trips commonly stage from Kununurra with early and late light best for surface bites.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Swan River
Perth’s iconic waterway produces black bream, flathead, tailor, and occasional mulloway, with summer runs of prawns and blue swimmer crabs; fish the flats, bridges, and drop-offs from Fremantle to Canning River as baitfish push through with tides and sea breezes.
Murchison River
At Kalbarri , the lower river and mouth produce tailor, whiting, and mulloway, while upstream snags hold black bream; work the sand flats, rock bars, and jetties around tide changes for ambush bites.