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See what's biting across WA in Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 4 March 2022 🎣

| By Seamus on 3/3/2022 9:14:34 PM | Views (887)

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Recfishwest
Fishing Report

04/03/22

Picture: Daniel Schluter

Our contributors

Sedin Hasanovic

Jade Relph

Peter Fullarton

John Curtis

G'day <>,

March already, that's gone quick! Autumn is here and for many fishers in the State's south, myself included, that means it's time to focus on salmon.

East coast fishers envy our West Aussie salmon, and for good reason too, given they're hard-fighting and grow beyond 5kg — the biggest in Australia.

Our abundant salmon stocks underpin amazing fishing experiences for tens of thousands of WA fishers, who spend $331 million annually chasing the iconic southern sportfish.

We've teamed up with our partners Shimano and Western Angler to again host the Awesome Autumn of Salmon, highlighted by the Salmon Slam!

Click the links above to see what's taking place as part of the salmon celebration and how you can potentially in great fishing prizes.

For anyone wanting to contribute to the weekly fishing report, photos reflecting Recfishwest's responsible fish handling practices will be given preference.

Tight lines and safe fishing!

Zach Relph

RECFISHWEST FISHING REPORT EDITOR

Catch of the Week!

Exploring the creek systems near Broome recently, Celeste McDonald-Holland, of Reef Chief Australia, landed this barramundi! That's a great barra, Celeste, and a 'Catch of the Week' winner. 🙌

Your fishing photos

If you want to be included in our weekly State-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to zach@recfishwest.org.au to potentially be featured.

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Shhhhh, secret spot

This longtail tuna proved no match for Johnny Utah's Shimano Stella off Dampier. Great catch! 👏

Shhhhh, secret spot

Big red! Somewhere in the Pilbara, Jess Oudt pulled this red emperor up from the depths. 🔥🔥🔥

Broome catches

Mack and cheese! Jade Relph has been encountering many mack tuna schools off Broome recently.

Boats

Thunderstorms and damaging winds have made boating a near non-event off Broome this week, writes local fisher Jade Relph, with many of us monitoring the movement and development of ex-Tropical Cyclone Anika. Although it has been howling, the forecast for the weekend was looking fairly decent at the time I was writing this. Once the weather improves, it's likely queenfish and tripletail will be found throughout Roebuck Bay. Offshore, Rankin cod and coral trout will likely be achieved near reef in 30m and beyond. Mack tuna, and the occasional Spanish mackerel, were being found fairly regularly off Entrance Point before the wild weather set in.

Shore-based

Entrance Point will likely still have queenfish once the weather improves. Before the strong weather took over, land-based fishers using metal slices and floating stickbaits were getting the best results. Cable Beach and Coconut Wells will also likely have bluenose salmon on offer for those who are wanting to wet a line post-storm. Many fishers are already keen to see what the Fitzroy River's barramundi activity will be like after the weather clears, given the amount of rain that has fallen.

Exmouth catches

Young gun Sam successfully tempted and landed his first permit on fly along the Exmouth Gulf's flats! Well done, Sam, we're sure that's a catch you won't forget anytime soon. 📸 Ningaloo Fly Fishing

Boats

There's something about targeting Spanish mackerel on top-water, reports Recfishwest's Sam Russell. They hunt their prey with such ferocity, which makes for really visual fishing when casting surface lures into schools of them. The pelagic species, which are one of my favourites, have been caught by fishers casting stickbaits behind the reef on the west-side and also near the Murion Islands. In the Exmouth Gulf, coral trout have been caught near shoals, while cobia and golden trevally have also been found nearby. Reef fishers have been catching red emperor, Rankin cod and spangled emperor in the 60m to 90m depths.

Casting stickbaits for Spaniards off Exmouth, "you can't beat it" says Recfishwest's Sam Russell. 😁

Shore-based

Parts of the Exmouth Gulf are still producing yellowfin whiting for light tackle fishers, while fly fishers exploring farther down into the Gulf are still having the opportunities to present their fly at permit. The Exmouth Marina has mangrove jack on the bite in the evening, while squid are an option during an incoming tide. The west coast accesses have produced spangled emperor, while bluebone are a possibility along Mildura Wreck Road. VLF Bay has queenfish and small trevally species on offer.

Join Recfishwest on the run for the 2022 Awesome Autumn of Salmon!

Autumn is here! Join us on the run and celebrate salmon as the iconic southern sportfish they are.😁

Today, Recfishwest is proud to officially launch this year’s Awesome Autumn of Salmon, proudly supported by Shimano and Western Angler. This kicks off our FREE Salmon Slam 2022 app-based fishing comp that runs over the next three months and gives salmon fishers of all abilities and ages the chance to win a heap of sensational fishing and outdoor prizes just by catching a salmon! For entries to be valid, include the ‘#SS2022‘ tournament code next to the catches you enter — either on your brag mat or in the sand next to the fish. Salmon season marks exciting times, with big schools of big salmon soon to start migrating from the south coast northwards along accessible parts of the lower west coast and potentially to the metro area. Click here to download the 2022 Salmon Slam app to compete!

Kalbarri catches

Boats

Strong winds and less than ideal conditions have made boating opportunities off Kalbarri limited this past week. Once skippers head back out offshore, Spanish mackerel will likely take a liking to rigged garfish and minnow lures trolled to either the north and south of the river mouth. Yellowfin tuna were have also been found off Kalbarri fairly regularly in recent weeks, alongside other tuna species. The reefy areas in the 40m to 50m depths north-west of town will likely be holding Rankin cod and potentially red emperor. If you're planning to go fishing off Kalbarri in the coming weeks, be sure to tag #recfishwest in your photos on social media.

Shore-based

Tailor have been a common catch along the beaches to the north and south of town this week, with dart also taking metal slices intended for the toothier predators. Chinaman's Beach and Frustrations seem to be offering the best tailor fishing in the mornings and evenings. Mulloway have continued to be caught in the lower reaches of the Murchison River, while black bream are taking small hardbody lures at the jetties and pens. Drone fishers are still targeting Spanish mackerel from Wagoe Beach.

Geraldton catches

Geraldton guru Mat Svenson with a slab of silver from somewhere near the Mid West city. 👀👀👀

Boats

The Leeuwin Current has seen marlin and yellowfin tuna wide of the Abrolhos Islands in recent weeks. Closer to the islands and also in certain areas closer to Geraldton, fishers have been reporting the occasional Spanish mackerel. African Reef has also been fishing well, when boats have been able to get out, for a variety of reef species. Samson fish have been encountered at many of the near-shore reefs.

Shore-based

Mat Svenson, pictured above, has been among Mid West fishers to make the most of the deep gutters forming along the coast and target mulloway. Close to Geraldton, the stretch between Flat Rocks to Greenough River is offering decent mulloway for those who are willing to put in the long hours soaking baits. The same coastline is fishing well for tailor in the mornings and evenings as well as bread-and-butter species, such as herring. Dhufish can sometimes be found closer to shore off Geraldton during the autumn months — a very welcome catch for land-based fishers.

Lancelin catches

Schnaaappppperrr! Chris Hartanto joined Peter Fullarton for a session surf casting for pink snapper, near Lancelin, this week and had a terrific time.

Boats

School mackerel and Spanish mackerel have been caught between the 10m and 20m depths, writes Tailored Treks' Peter Fullarton. Red and white coloured bibbed lures have been successful, but floating string weed has made trolling very difficult at times. Baldchin groper have been in good numbers recently. If you're unfamiliar with fishing off Lancelin, there’s no special locations to find them. Drifting blindly in depths greater than 28m will usually result in a baldie, without much difficulty. Dhufish and pink snapper have been caught inside White Bank in 10m to 15m. Fishing inside of the bay has been seeing herring and skippy caught, while those chasing squid have been reporting excellent catches of large cephalopods.

Shore-based

Lancelin's jetty has fished well for herring and tailor most evenings. There's been a great run of tailor, most measuring about 50cm, along the surf beaches at dawn and dusk, while herring and dart have been caught in the mid-morning. Please exercise caution while driving along the beaches at high tide, because areas of the coast have steep cut outs while others can be awash to the back dunes. Beach fishers have spotted Spanish mackerel free jumping within a few hundred meters of the shore. The forecast easterlies for this long-weekend could provide the opportunity to score a mackerel from the sand. Drone fishers have found the pink snapper close to shore early in the mornings.

The updated Recfishwest fishing rules app is here!

We have proudly launched the updated version of the very popular Recfishwest rules app! The go-to, easy-to-use source for all fishing rules in Western Australia. The app is now even easier to use, with a fresh new look and exciting new features. Download the app for FREE:

If you've got an Apple iOS device, download via the Apple App store here!
For Android users, download the through the Google Play store.

Esperance catches

Catching salmon along world-class beaches near Esperance — it doesn't get much better than that, does it, Tyson 'TNT' Tietjens!? If you're chasing salmon near Esperance, enter the Salmon Slam.

Boats

Esperance's Cooper Reef has good numbers of skippy on offer for small boat and dinghy fishers. The structure has been a pretty reliable spot recently, especially for those who are really putting effort into their burley trail. Strong south-westerlies have been persistent, but for those who are able to get out this weekend expect nannygai and queen snapper to be near the lumps offshore towards the islands. Inside the bay, King George whiting and squid are both fishing well. Also, the Esperance Deep Sea Angling Club will be hosting the 29th Esperance Archipelago Offshore Angling Classic on March 13. If you're taking part, tag #recfishwest in your fishing photos on social media.

Shore-based

To the east of Esperance, nice gutters have formed along certain parts of the coast, with beach fishers reporting mulloway to a respectable 12kg. Salmon have been reported in fairly good numbers this week, just in time for the Salmon Slam fishing competition! Holidaymakers have reportedly come across salmon schools at Roses, Poison Creek and Salmon Beach. The Esperance Jetty is offering a mixed bag of bread-and-butter species, namely herring. Out of town, those safe fishing from the rocks when the conditions are suitable are catching blue groper and harlequin fish. Read more about safe fishing here.

Proposed south coast marine park

Whether you're fishing from the boat or along the beach, the south coast offers fantastic fishing.

If you’re a south coast fisher, come to one of our three info sessions to get a better understanding of the State Government's proposed marine park. We will be hosting the sessions to provide you an opportunity to engage directly with Recfishwest on the subject of marine parks at:

Thursday, March 10: Bremer Bay Sports Club from 6pm to 8pm;
Friday, March 11: Hopetoun Southerners Sporting Club from 6pm to 8pm; and,
Monday, March 14: Esperance Deep Sea Angling Club from 6pm to 8pm.

We are strongly encouraging the south coast fishing community to get involved in this process to make your views and voices heard. The State Government has plans for the proposed marine park to potentially stretch 1,000km from Bremer Bay all the way to the South Australian border. Click here to find out more about the south coast marine part process.

Great Southern catches

Albany angler Steven Plant with a lovely Kalgan River bream caught on a Mussel Vibe. 🙌👏🐟

Boats

Small boats enjoying the inshore fishing off Albany are reporting good fishing for bread-and-butter species including herring, King George whiting and squid. Squid are can be caught all year in good numbers near Albany, with southern calamari found in King George Sound, both Oyster and Princess Royal harbours, and at Two People’s Bay. When conditions have been suitable, those chasing reef species have reported a mixed bag of queen snapper, breaksea cod and the occasional dhufish near reefy areas in about 40m to 60m of water.

Shore-based

Bluff Creek, Cheynes Beach, Nanarup and Cables are among the spots where salmon schools have been reported this week by fishers taking part in the 2022 Salmon Slam. If you're chasing salmon along the world-class beaches in the Great Southern, be sure to download the Salmon Slam app and compete in the free, three-month fishing comp. To the west of Albany, black bream are being caught in the systems in this area, while the King and Kalgan rivers have been a reliable option for bream anglers closer to Albany. The Albany Marina has provided great access to herring and squid. If you want to read more about land-based fishing options at Albany, read this Scott's Spots article.

South West catches

Off Cape Naturaliste yesterday morning, Rowan Edwards - aka the Row Boat - caught this dhuie!

Boats

The Bunbury artificial reef has been a reliable location to target Samson fish this week. For those anchoring near the structure, the occasional pink snapper has followed the skippy into the burley trail. Dunsborough's Four Mile Reef has also produced the occasional pinkie, with King George whiting and skippy also found. Dhufish have been caught in up to 40m of water off Cape Naturaliste near structure. Sportfishers who have found time to travel to the Cape Naturaliste FADs, deployed as part of the State-wide FADs program, are reporting dolphinfish to about 1m.

Shore-based

Mulloway, albeit not monsters, are being caught in parts of the Collie River along the stretch between Eaton and Australind. Most of these fish are in the 50cm to 70cm range, however, there've been local murmurings of specimens closer to 1m landed. Buffalo and Belvedere beaches are still producing tailor to about 45cm in the evening, while herring and whiting have been found along this stretch of coast too. A salmon school has been spotted along Cape Naturaliste's west coast beaches, but they're apparently not too interested in lures cast their way. As always, the Busselton Jetty is producing plenty of squid.

Mandurah and surrounds

Mandurah

The Mandurah artificial reef has produced pink snapper and the occasional baldie this week. Dhufish have been caught in about 40m and beyond by bait fishers and those using jigs. Land-based anglers are reporting tailor along the northern beaches, while mulloway to 1m have been landed in the evening. Whiting and herring have been caught from early to mid-morning. Herring, tarwhine and chopper tailor have been caught in the Peel-Harvey Estuary, while schools of white bait under the Port Bouvard Bridge are expected to attract larger predatory fish late at night. The Serpentine and Murray rivers are both fishing well black bream, with fish to 1.5kg found at Gordon Road Bridge and well up the Murray.

Secret Harbour / Warnbro / Port Kennedy / Rockingham / Safety Bay

Kayakers have landed pink snapper in the Warnbro Sound this week, while squid have also been picked up by egi enthusiasts out of the 'yak. The pelagic action off Rockingham has been excellent, with plenty of tuna species found in open waters and near the Mangles Bay Fishing Club's FADs. For land-based fishers, tailor are being caught from the southern surf beaches. The beaches near Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour are still producing tailor, skippy and tarwhine. Big tailor are being taken from boats trolling just off-shore along the same stretch of coast during the early evenings. Mulloway up to 8kg are also coming from these beaches.

Perth catches

Metro mackie! Wetting a line in the Cockburn Sound, Anthony Pecotic ordered himself a Big Mac. 🍔

Boats

Cockburn Sound's safe and accessible waters are home to fantastic fishing opportunities, with Spanish mackerel among the pelagic species sometimes encountered during the summer months. Anthony Pecotic, pictured above, has been among the metro anglers who've targeted Spaniards off Perth this summer and managed to land one! Kayak fishers have reported squid along the Sound's seagrass beds this week, alongside skippy and herring. In case you missed it:

YouTube: The Snapper Guardians story — celebrating the fishing community's love for Cockburn Sound!

The FADs deployed off Perth as part of the State-wide FADs program are still holding plenty of bait, with dolphinfish and tuna found nearby. The north metro artificial reef is offering skippy and smaller Samson fish. The 30m depths off Hillarys and Mindarie are producing baldchin groper and pink snapper.

Shore-based

Tailor have been caught throughout the Swan River this week, with many of the popular land-based fishing spots providing access to them. Como Jetty and Claremont Jetty have been among the locations where tailor have been found, while fish to an impressive 40cm have also been landed closer towards Fremantle. For beach fishers, tailor are being caught at many known metro haunts including North Mole, Cottesloe, Grant Street, Swanbourne, Trigg, Mindarie and Yanchep. Herring can be targeted at the northern rock walls and jetties, together with skippy and squid. Yellowfin whiting are taking lures in the lower reaches of the Swan River. It comes as black bream have been caught near the Causeway and other parts of the Swan near Burswood, taking small hard-body lures.

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Recfishwest · 3/45 Northside Drive Hillarys · Perth, WA 6025 · Australia

Catch Information

Species:
Australasian Snapper

Barramundi

Black Bream

Breaksea Cod

Coral Trout

Dhufish

Fourfinger Threadfin

Golden Trevally

Mangrove Red Snapper

Mulloway

Nannygai

Queen Snapper

Queenfish

Red Emperor

Samson Fish

Spangled Emperor

Spanish Mackerel

Tripletail

Whiting

Yellowfin Whiting

This Fishing Report was submitted on 3/3/2022 9:14:34 PM by Seamus and last updated on 3/4/2022 12:17:08 AM.

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Hillarys, WA AU

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