Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 17 May 2024 🎣

With just over a month left of the public comment period, Recfishwest is strongly urging all fishers to make a submission on the Government’s proposed South Coast Marine Parks - this is the best way to help protect access to our fishing spots. 

We need as many fishers as possible to make a submission telling the Government how important fishing in these places is to them to give us the best chance of getting a good outcome.

YOU CAN NOW EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSION - which can be really easy – simply look at the green zones on DBCA’s map which is where fishing will be prohibited.

If your favourite fishing spots or areas where you might want to fish in the future fall in these green areas, send an email to pscmp@dbca.wa.gov.au with the subject line ‘South Coast Marine Park Submission’. In your email say you want to be able to still fish in these areas and why this is important to you.

Out east good gummy sharks and mulloway have been caught at Thomas River and Poison Creek, while big salmon up to 85cm have come from Tagon Beach along with lots of big skippy. Smaller salmon in the 2-3kg range have been plentiful at Dunns Beach, which were mixed in with chunky skippy. Lots of salmon have been holed up in Lucky Bay and squidding has been good in the corner of the bay. The Town Jetty offered lots of herring during the day and some squid, with the squid catches tending to be better at night. Taylor Street Jetty fished well for garfish, King George whiting and squid, while Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has produced big flathead and King George whiting. Blue Haven Beach held good sand whiting, while 10-Mile Lagoon has been consistent for salmon. Stokes Inlet has been the hotspot for bream up to 35cm this week.

Hats off to the very knowledgeable team at Southern Sports & Tackle for their tips! These guys love their fishing as well, so make sure you swing by their store for the best gear and advice before wetting a line around Esperance. 

Salmon numbers have thinned out a little, but regular haunts like Sand Patch, Lowlands, Shelleys Beach, Cheynes Beach and Nanarup have produced a few. Salmon have been in better numbers around Denmark, with Ocean Beach and McGreary’s Rock fishing well. Reports of sand whiting and flathead have come from Middleton Beach, while squid numbers have picked up around the Town Marina, Emu Point and Frenchman Bay. The marina held plenty of herring and a few small skippy, as did Emu Point, while herring and small King George whiting have been caught at Frenchman Bay. Bream fishing has improved in the Kalgan River with soft plastics and mussel vibes both producing good catches. 

Cheers to the Trailblazers Albany crew for their tips this week! Swing by their store if you're after some top gear and advice ahead of your next fishing trip. Remember, you'll also catch just as many fish off the beaches than the rocks and it is always much safer to go with this option on the south coast. 

Do you fish at South Mole and want vehicle access restored? Make sure you fill in Fremantle Ports short South Mole access survey by clicking here. 

Recfishwest is requesting Fremantle Ports restore vehicle access at South Mole in Fremantle, with the cherished land-based fishing spot being officially reopened to foot-traffic only.

South Mole was closed to fishers and the general public for seven weeks due to illegal camping, vandalism and anti-social behaviour. As one of the safest, most accessible and popular Metro land-based fishing spots, South Mole offers a wide range of species for fishers of all ages and abilities, so maintaining vehicle access for less able-bodied fishers to the Mole is extremely important.

MAKE SURE YOU FILL IN FREMANTLE PORTS QUICK SURVEY BEFORE IT CLOSES ON 6 JUNE BY CLICKING HERE. 

The marinas around Fremantle and the Fishing Boat Harbour have held heaps of juvenile pink snapper, Samsonfish and tarwhine which have been great fun to target on micro jigs. In Fremantle Harbour itself herring have been in good numbers. North Mole continued to fish well for pink snapper from just legal size up to 90cm and several big mulloway were caught near the lighthouse this week. North Mole also held loads of herring and good numbers of squid. South Mole has reopened but not for cars (make sure you have your say on South Mole access in Freo Port's survey before 6 June), however, those prepared to walk out have caught skippy, herring and squid. Tailor fishers have done well in the Cottesloe area, especially at Grant Street. Salmon continued to tease with one or two coming from North Mole, while a couple were picked up at Swanbourne last weekend. One angler enjoyed a hot midweek session in the middle of the day near the Floreat groyne where he also picked up a some decent tailor. Floreat also offered herring, whiting, small skippy and the odd flathead, as has City Beach, while tailor and herring have come from Brighton Beach, Quinns and Alkimos. The far-north metro beaches have produced pink snapper and mulloway, especially for drone fishers, who have also landed the odd small dhufish. Things have been quiet in the Swan River, with a few flathead and the odd tailor coming from the lower reaches, while small flathead have been taking soft plastics behind Optus Stadium. Bream fishers have been doing best by working very lightly-weighted soft plastics or slowly retrieving small hard-bodied lures around structure at Canning Bridge, Garratt Road Bridge and Redcliffe Bridge. Around Guildford the bream have been smaller but less fussy. Mulloway catches have definitely improved and fish around the metre mark have been widespread, with catches reported in both the upper and lower reaches. Mulloway spots worth a try include the Narrows, the Old Brewery, Canning Bridge, Claremont Jetty, the Causeway, Belmont and Bayswater.