See what's biting across WA in Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 10 December 2021 🎣

Small trevally have been caught near Cable Beach this week, alongside the occasional queenfish. Bluenose salmon are still being caught near Cable Beach and Town Beach, with metal slices proving most effective. If you're fishing from the shore at Broome next week, be sure to tag #recfishwest in your fishing photos on social media. Also, if you're planning a Kimberley adventure to chase barra, read how to best target the enigmatic species on our 'I Love Fishing' website!

Game fishers with their sights set on marlin have reported good catches this week. Tom Miller was among those to make the most of the world-class billfish fishery off Exmouth, achieving two black marlin in a dynamic session on Monday afternoon. The Exmouth Game Fishing Club held its Betta Billfish Bonanza from November 4 to November 7 with 12 boats competing across the three days. While windy conditions were persistent, a total of 56 billfish were caught comprising of 36 sailfish, 13 blue marlin, six striped marlin and one black marlin. Mat Svenson landed a brute GT from his kayak this week. Find the photo here! Spanish mackerel are being found on the west-side and around the tip of the cape, with fishers popping for GT reporting bycatch of Spaniards in 2m depths. These fishers chasing GTs have been actively avoiding the Spaniards this week... what a 'problem' to have! Coronation trout have been caught on the west-side, but the reports regarding coral trout catches have gone quiet in recent days.


Sight-casting mackies on stickbaits, you can't beat that! Jimmy Bastow was stoked with this fun session! 

Permit, queenfish exceeding 1m and the occasional giant herring have been tempted by fly fishers enjoying the quality wilderness fishing experiences on offer in the Exmouth Gulf this week. Golden trevally have also been caught by fly fishers in the Gulf and anglers spinning lures along the west coast's accesses. Spangled emperor have been caught by land-based fishers on the west-side, in addition to queenfish and smaller GTs. The best areas to try for spangled emperor and queenfish are any area featuring reef between Tantabiddi and the Mildura Wreck. Along the west coast accesses, bluebone are being caught on prawn and crab baits. It's important to note, these baits must be fresh, the bluebone have been very finnicky when it comes to taking old baits lately.

What a catch! Matt Denton tempted this permit in the Exmouth Gulf recently. 📸 Ningaloo Fly Fishing

The water has been a bit dirty off Kalbarri this week when skippers have been trolling for Spanish mackerel and yellowfin tuna. Skippers are still reporting plenty of bait balls near the cliffs, however, mackie and tuna catches have been few and far between. It's anticipated both predators will show up in larger numbers in the coming weeks. The Murchison River is producing good catches of both blue swimmer crabs and mud crabs this week.

Tailor up to 45cm have been caught on poppers, metal slices and baits in the morning and evening at Wittecarra and Red Bluff this week. Wagoe Beach is still producing solid mulloway, with fishers catching and releasing 'silver ghosts' between 15kg and 20kg this past fortnight. Surprisingly, bonefish to 80cm have been a regular bycatch at Wagoe this week by fishers who've been bait fishing for other species. 

Strong winds have meant not many crews have been fishing from the boat this week. However, for those fishers who did manage to find a gap in the weather window and get out, the occasional Samson fish has been found along the reef structure. Reports of western rock lobster catches has been relatively slow this week, but potters to the south of Geraldton have managed to find a few.

Although the winds have not been favourable, the tailor run has been exceptional, as proven by Campbell Surtees and Ben Svenson. Drummond's Cove has been among the best locations to try for tailor this week, with reports of most catches coming in the morning when the wind hasn't been too prevalent. At Coronations, the mornings and evenings are fishing equally well for tailor to 40cm while Tarcoola has been producing two major runs each day — at dawn and again at 7am. The herring fishing has been hit-and-miss, but the bread-and-butter fish have been found at West End and near Southgate Dunes. Fishing for whiting has been difficult with seaweed and wind an issue, however, if you find a clear patch of water, they have been in good numbers.


Ben Svenson scored himself this fun-sized tailor when casting lures on Tuesday afternoon!

The Esperance Jetty has been fishing very well for squid this week, with regular catches of the great-tasting cephalopods from the late afternoon and well into the evening. Herring and skippy have also been caught from the safe and accessible structure this week, in addition to the Taylor Street Jetty. Beaches to the east of Esperance have been fishing well for mulloway this week, including one notable catch of a reported 29kg specimen last weekend. Decent salmon schools have been found at Roses this week, while scattered schools have been seen at Poison Creek. Salmon Beach, as its name suggests, has been one of the more reliable places to target the iconic southern sportfish. 

Small boat fishers wetting a line in Albany's sheltered Oyster Harbour have caught skippy and herring when anchoring and burleying. A burley trail has also attracted King George whiting and flathead for those fishing Oyster Harbour, while squid are being picked up along the areas featuring seagrass. Boats that managed to fish the 70m to 90m depths, when conditions were suitable, achieved queen snapper and pink snapper this week. Closer to shore, there were reports of harlequin fish and breaksea cod.

Black bream catches are improving in the Kalgan River, with regular reports of fish to 35cm or more. Fishing for bream in the King hasn't been as consistent, but anglers putting in the time and effort have achieved good results. Rock fishers near West Cape Howe and Cheynes are still reporting blue groper and the occasional yellowtail kingfish this week. If you're planning to fish from the rocks, read more about safe fishing here. Land-based fishers are enjoying good sessions on bread-and-butter species, namely herring and squid, at Princess Royal Harbour.


Recfishwest Safety Ambassador Gideon Mettam with an eye-catching harlequin fish while land-based fishing on the south coast! 

The 20m depths are producing King George whiting off Eagle Bay, Quindalup and Siesta Park. Boat fishers targeting the sought-after species off Bunbury seem to be achieving the best results in 15m. Samson fish have been caught at the Dunsborough artificial reef this week, alongside skippy. Potters and divers are reporting good numbers of crayfish across the South West. Small boats and dinghys dropping nets in the Leschenault Estuary are finding blue swimmer crabs, but most are slightly undersized at the moment. 

Shore-divers searching for western rock lobster along the coast to the north and south of Bunbury have continued to enjoy consistent catches this week. Binningup and Buffalo both had crays on offer closer to shore, as did those trying off Hastie Street and Dalyellup. The beach fishing has been relatively hit-and-miss this week near Bunbury, however, there were reports of tailor to 35cm at Belvedere at the weekend. Yellowfin whiting are taking surface lures along the flats in the Leschenault Estuary. Farther south, land-based fishers have been landing squid to 30cm off Busselton Jetty while yellowfin whiting have been caught at Quindalup. Tailor have been caught at Moses Rock, Injidup, Smiths Beach and Bunker Bay, with most catches coming in the evening.

Samson fish are continuing to keep boat fishers jigging off Mandurah in 40m and beyond entertained. There have been regular reports of Sambo catches between 10kg and 15kg, with the occasional specimen approaching 20kg also landed. The Mandurah artificial reef has Samson fish on offer too, albeit they're smaller models. The beaches to the north of Mandurah are starting to produce good tailor and the occasional mulloway in the early morning, with Golden Bay being the pick of the spots. Beaches to the south of Mandurah are consistently producing tailor, too. Tim’s Thicket and Preston Beach have both produced tailor to 50cm. Peel-Harvey Estuary has gone a little quiet for anglers chasing bream, however, fish have been caught in the Serpentine near the traffic bridges after dark. Other areas worth looking at are Mandurah Quays and up around Murray Bend, with kayakers having some success casting lures at and near structure. For those who are prepared to do a little wading along the sandflats in the estuary, yellowfin whiting are active and taking small surface lures.

Many of the region's jetties have been producing herring and tailor this week. Shoalwater Bay has been the standout this week, with good catches of both yellowfin whiting and an occasional King George whiting. Tarwhine and skippy have also been caught on the incoming tide. Whiting and occasional flathead have been reported on the sand flats between the mainland and Penguin Island. Herring are being caught from the local beaches in the morning and a few tailor are being caught of an evening. Long Point, Kwinana and Warnbro beaches have all been producing good tailor during this past week.

King George whiting to 50cm have been caught in 20m off Mindarie, Hillarys and Rottnest Island, alongside good-sized skippy. The safe and accessible waters of Cockburn Sound have had plenty of squid on offer this week, however while catches have been consistent, the size of most of the cephalopods have not been huge. Samson fish across most of the metro area have remained prevalent this week, while sportfishers targeting the hard-fighting species reporting catches to 20kg. Yellowtail kingfish have been found near reef featuring white wash in areas north of Perth. Potters and divers are reporting increased catches of crayfish as the whites run continues. Those soaking pots off Two Rocks, Mindarie, Hillarys and near Garden Island have done particularly well this past week.

Flathead fishers will be aiming to catch their target species with hardbody lures or soft plastics in the Swan River this Saturday and Sunday, after reports of multiple catches measuring more than 50cm throughout the week and last weekend. When conditions have suited, tailor have been caught along the coast between Two Rocks and Yanchep Lagoon. Click here for more helpful information to effectively fish for tailor.


The west coast zone's abalone season gets underway tomorrow, 11 December, between 7am and 8am.

Catching abalone is an awesome hands-on fishing experience, enjoyed by almost 20,000 fishers each year. The latest west coast season is set to take place tomorrow, as thousands of metro abalone fishers look for tasty mollusc on the city's doorstep. Ahead of the season starting, Recfishwest is urging all abalone fishers to be prepared by wearing appropriate clothing, understanding your swimming ability and checking the conditions. If you’re not confident, simply don’t go in the water!