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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
24 April, 2026
Pic of the Week goes to Tim Farnell for this silver slab of a mulloway landed during a productive sunrise session. The Vexed Dingle Dangle worked beautifully.
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For your photos to be featured, make sure they follow our responsible handling and photography guidelines, which means fish held horizontally and not vertically by the gills, no blood, one hand under the belly and the other holding the tail, preferably water in the background etc). Stay safe, have fun, and keep sharing your awesome catches!
How awesome is this new all-abilities fishing platform in the heart of Mandurah!
Located under the new Estuary Bypass Bridge, this platform is already seeing some great captures of whiting, herring, tarwhine, crabs and much more for people of all ages and abilities.
Recfishwest believes every coastal town should have a fishing platform like this one and we applaud our partners Fishability along with the City of Mandurah and the State Government for helping deliver another top fishing spot in an area that lives and breathes fishing.
Click here for more info on this new platform.
A cracking muddy for the Way Out West Adventures crew and a very impresive barra landed by Jesse Wood @woody_49 given the amount of pylons that could’ve pinged his line!
Crews that made the most of the good weather have done well on Rankin cod, red emperor and Spanish flag out wide. Inshore has been much quieter, although Spanish mackerel and tuna have been active towards Cape Leveque at times. In town, Dampier and Crab creeks have held threadfin salmon, a few barramundi and mud crabs. Trolled Jackall Squirrel lures have worked well on the barra. The Fingers has offered these species too, but the fishing has been quieter there. Both arvo’s over the weekend look inviting and all of Monday also looks nice on the forecast at this stage.
Shore-Based
Small queenfish and trevally have been caught at Town Beach Jetty and Entrance Point. Town Beach and Cable Beach have offered whiting, with the odd threadfin salmon at the latter. Threadfin salmon have been hit or miss at 80-Mile Beach, while up at Derby northern mulloway have been landed at the jetty and the creeks have held small barramundi and a few threadfin salmon. Willie Creek has thrown up the odd mangrove jack.Big thanks to the crew from Tackle World Broome for their tips! Make sure you pay them a visit for the best gear and advice for your next fishing trip.
It’s been awesome to see some thumping coral trout turning up this week around Exmouth, with @onstrikecharters producing the goods for many lucky clients.
Little has changed since last week with dirty water and the lack of launching facilities in Exmouth Gulf limiting activity there. Within the Gulf there was just a few coral trout, mangrove jack and blue-line emperor to be found. On the west side it’s been better with Spanish mackerel in good numbers at the back of the reef. Boats that have been getting out wide have found billfishing sporadic with just the odd black marlin and sailfish landed. The lagoons at Tantabiddi and further south have produced spangled emperor, the odd mangrove jack and squid on the weed. Regular westside staples such as Rankin cod, red emperor and goldband snapper have been hard to find for bottom fishers. Thankfully the weather will be great for fishing from Saturday right through into later next week, so hopefully the fishing improves along with the water clarity.
Since the cyclone shore fishing has been very good from Lighthouse Bay around to VLF Bay, with sizeable spangled emperor and bluebone taking prawn baits. Repair work at the town marina has limited access to most of the facility, but fishable areas have yielded the usual bream, trevally, queenfish, cod and mangrove jack. The lagoons at Tantabiddi and in the national park have been worth a crack for spangled emperor.
These great tips were courtesy of the friendly team at Exmouth Tackle & Camping. Swing by their store for advice and gear ahead of your next trip!
The pelagic fishing both north and south of town has been great over the past few weeks, with tuna and Spanish mackerel in better numbers. Leigh and @nickihuntfishing have made the most of it.
Spanish mackerel to 20kg have been caught north and south of town in good numbers and lots of yellowfin tuna have been about as well, as have wahoo, also around the 20kg mark. Trolling deeper diving lures such as a Halco Laser Pro has worked best, especially at 5-6 knots, while trolling ganged garfish baits at 4-5 knots has worked better for the mackies. Before trolling baits, make sure your garfish isn’t spinning like a bullet through the water by pulling them alongside the boat first for a check. Spinning will most likely deter hookups and giving the spine of the fish a gentle squeeze before rigging them up can help the bait swim more naturally. The mornings are looking best over the coming week when the calmer easterly winds are expected.
Preparations are well under way for the Kalbarri Classic on the weekend of May 1-3 and this year the Kalbarri Offshore and Angling Club has introduced a beach fishing category to complement the river and offshore sections. Great prizes from leading tackle manufacturers are up for grabs. This week saw tailor become a little quieter at Wittecarra, but most beaches south of town have offered dart, herring and whiting. The cliffs have fished well for baldchin groper and pink snapper and a decent Spanish mackerel was landed from the stones this week. The odd mulloway has been caught down at Lucky Bay, but weed has been a problem there and at Wagoe. A few nice tailor and cod have been caught at the mouth of the Murchison River, while the river itself is flowing strongly and has produced nice bream around the boat pens. Despite the dirty water, whiting have been active along the foreshore and at the Sand Spit. Ballooning could be a chance out of town on Saturday morning. Shout out to Kalbarri Sports and Dive for their tips! Feel free to venture into the store and ask for advice if you're wetting a line around Kalbarri.
A lovely shark mackie for @salty.ben.patrick in the Abrolhos Islands this week during a nice weather window.
Spanish mackerel have been a tease this week, although most crews that targeted them have come back with at least one. Sizes have generally been good, up to 20kg. Inshore the water has been murky and lots of floating weed has been about, but it’s been better out towards Mid Reef. Crews not prepared to travel that far have picked up mackies from north of the channel in Geraldton up to the lumps off Coronation Beach. Trolled Reaper rigs and bibbed hard-bodied lures have worked best. There could be a window opening up for the boaties between Sunday arvo and Monday morning.
Weed has been terrible for shore fishers, but those heading north of the Chapman River have picked up the odd solid mulloway, a few tailor, whiting and herring. The Chapman River to Jacksons Hole stretch has been fishing well. Up at Oakajee tailor to 55cm were landed by anglers standing on the reef, while just north of that smaller tailor were caught. An angler casting from the reef was delighted to pick up a 3.5kg baldchin groper. North of Coronation Beach there have been school mulloway but not much else. Small squid and bigger models with 40cm hoods have been caught from north of the Batavia Coast Marina. Behind the Lives, mainly at the western end, whiting and herring have been caught in the late afternoons but tailor have been hit or miss.
Thanks to the team at Geraldton Sports Centre for their tips! They will happily provide you with great gear and solid advice for your next fishing trip.
This snap needs to go straight to the pool room! The McNeill family wrapped up the school holidays with a few enjoyable days fishing around Lancelin, making the most of the great conditions on offer to land this solid tailor on Peter Fullarton’s Tailored Treks.
Boats
Squid have been well worth targeting along the inshore weed banks, with some excellent catches reported. Activity has been best around sunrise and sunset. The Bay continues to be a fantastic spot for light tackle enthusiasts, with some hard fighting skippy taking both trolled and cast lures. These have been mixed in with snook and herring, providing consistent action. For those preferring bait, catches of King George whiting have been more reliable, and there are now some solid sand whiting showing up in the Bay as well. It will be choppy this long weekend offshore but there might be a chance to launch on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Chopper tailor have slowed this week, while eagle rays have become more active in the shallows. Although numbers are down, the quality of tailor has been excellent, with fish over 60cm still being caught. The standout news this week has been a succession of large mulloway captures, coinciding with the new moon. Some fish have pushed close to almost as big as they can get at around the 1.5m mark, with those putting in the time and effort being rewarded with trophy catches. Tarwhine, skippy and herring are also making their presence known along the beaches, adding to the variety for shore-based fishers.
Big thanks to Peter Fullarton for his tips on what's biting around Lancelin each week! If you want Peter to put you on to the fish directly, make sure you check out his Tailored Treks Tours page. Peter knows the best spots around Lancelin like the back of his hand.
Giant Rocks has fished well for nannygai, while 3kg-plus breaksea cod have been landed at Water Witch. Queen snapper and blue groper have been thick at Observatory Island and pink snapper have been active at Boxer Island. Tuna have been plentiful at Cull Island and squid have been prolific in 12m inside of Cook Rocks. Esperance Bay has fished well for herring, snook and squid, while big sand whiting have been caught off West Beach. Thankfully the weather is lining up nicely for the boaties this long weekend.
Gummy sharks and salmon have been plentiful at Tagon Beach and Dunns Beach has held salmon and big skippy. Stockyards has yielded tarwhine, sand whiting and mulloway. Salmon have been abundant at 11-Mile and 14-Mile beaches. Mulloway and big gummy sharks have been caught at Munglinup. Chapman Point has fished well for bull herring. Big sand whiting have been caught at Blue Haven and sizeable King George whiting have been taken at the port viewing area. Skippy have been plentiful at Taylor Street Jetty and the Town Jetty has held herring, garfish and squid at night. Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has produced King George whiting and skippy. Woody Lake has fished best for bream.
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.
It’s been another productive week for bullish tailor along the South Coast, with @_paulhart_ setting a new PB with this beauty of a fish.
Good weather last weekend had plenty of crews heading out from Cheynes, Two Peoples Bay and Parrys Beach, where bommies on the 30-40m marks yielded dhufish, breaksea cod and pink snapper. On the coral ground nannygai were in good numbers along with pink and queen snapper, while on the edge of shelf hapuka were landed off Cheynes. In King George Sound decent KG’s were on the chew, but the crews that did best were those who stayed on the move. Big squid were also landed, but overall numbers weren’t great. Two Peoples Bay has held a few big squid and good numbers of sand whiting, which have been thick at Cape Riche. Tuna, yellowtail kingfish and salmon have been hitting trolled lures off Bald Head, at Vancouver Island and Eclipse Island. Plenty of blue swimmer crabs have been pulled up by drop netters in Princess Royal and Oyster harbours. It’s looking quite nice on the forecast for boaties this long weekend, with Sunday morning currently looking best.
Salmon were hard to get a handle on. The more consistent catches have come from Back Beach at Cheynes, which again held better numbers than the main beach, and at Bluff Creek where quite a few sharks were present. Cable Beach has fished well for salmon too and also held Samsonfish. Nanarup has been productive, and also offered small bronze whalers. Salmon Holes has been reliable when fishing off the beach and Denmark’s Ocean Beach has also produced on some days. Herring have been running hot or cold at most beaches, while yellowtail kingfish, tuna and a few salmon have also been caught at West Cape Howe and Dunksy Beach. Cooler weather hasn’t affected blue swimmer crab numbers for scoop netters in Princess Royal and Oyster harbours, while the King, Kalgan and Denmark rivers have held good numbers of bream. The town marina has produced cuttlefish, squid, herring, small skippy and plenty of leatherjackets, while Emu Point has offered squid and a few whiting.
Cheers to the Trailblazers Albany crew for their fishing tips this week! Swing by their store if you're after some top gear and advice ahead of your next fishing trip. Remember, Trailblazers Albany have loan lifejackets available if you wish to fish off the rocks, but keeping the sand between your toes is always a safer option.
How’s this salmon ball of love from skilled photographer @mat.kleczkowski.photography in our South-West this week! This ball was moving faster than Mat could run, but he managed to keep up for 1km up the beach before it disappeared around a headland. Amazing snap.
Salmon chasers around Bunbury have picked up fish behind the reefs at Belvedere and Buffalo beaches, while further south Bunker Bay and Eagle Bay have continued to produce good numbers. Plenty of herring and skippy have been inshore, while decent King George whiting have been landed off Myalup. Kayakers have found a few squid in Geographe Bay, which has also held smallish King George whiting. A few small tuna and the odd yellowtail kingfish have been taken out from Koombana Bay, while tuna to 15kg have been caught on locally made Current Lines skirts out from the Capes. Blue swimmer crab numbers have been steady in the Leschenault Estuary, while the Blackwood River has also produced a few. Thankfully the weather is looking schmicko this long weekend for the boaties.
Good catches of pink snapper were reported after the storms earlier in the week with Back Beach, Preston, Myalup, the Bunbury Cut, Busselton Jetty, Dunsborough and Hamelin Bay all producing good fish for casters and drone fishers. A few salmon have been in the mix at Hungry Hollow, Mindalong Beach, Preston, Belvedere and Buffalo beaches, and a school was seen busting up at Abbey Beach this week. Sizeable mulloway have been landed at Busselton Jetty and in Geographe Bay. Tailor have been quiet at Bunbury beaches, but herring have been thick, with garfish swimming with them at Dalyellup and the Hutts, which also produced pink snapper for drone fishers. Busselton Jetty has fished steadily for squid as well as larger species. Bream fishing has improved in the Collie River. Along the Capes, Hamelin Bay, Castle Rock, Eagle Bay, Injidup and Point Picquet have been the most consistent for salmon as have Smiths Beach and Yallingup, where good tailor have also been landed. Torpedo Rock, Bunker Bay and Dunsborough haven’t been as consistent, but on the right day catches have been good. Beaches either side of Augusta have produced pink snapper and mulloway for drone fishers and casters, along with salmon, herring and sizeable tailor, while the Blackwood River has held bream and herring and whiting at the ocean end. Salmon catches have improved greatly at Yeagerup and Malimup, with very big tailor also turning up here.
Big cheers to Whitey's Tackle & Camping for their top fishing tips as always! If you're in Australind or Bunbury and are keen to wet a line throughout our South-West make sure you ask their very friendly team who love their fishing for advice and stock up on gear at their store. If you're in Busselton, the 2 Oceans Tackle team are also incredibly helpful.
Redfin perch have been hitting soft plastics all around the deeper pockets of the Pemberton region with gusto. Harvey and Wellington dams have also been fishing well for redfin, where they have also been holding deep around structure. Small rainbow trout have been in the Collie River around Honeymoon Pool, while rainbow trout and the odd brown trout have been hitting poppers worked across the entrances to deeper pools in Harvey and Waroona dams and Drakesbrook Weir.
Tuna action has picked up offshore and shark mackerel have turned up as well towards the Bouvards. One angler fishing 1km out from Halls Head picked up a decent Spaniard. Mid-morning sessions on the Five-Fathom Bank have also been productive with small yellowtail kingfish joining decent-sized skippy in the burley trails. Recent pleasant conditions have also drawn out whiting and squid chasers with KGs off Dawesville. Sand whiting were at James Service Reef and inside the Five, while squid were off Falcon, Melros and into the Peel-Harvey Estuary. Drop netters have been doing well for this deep into April with most getting a feed of blue swimmer crabs. Herring, skippy, yellowfin whiting and tailor have been active along the estuary drop-offs. Pot droppers have been getting crayfish in 8-15m and divers have been picking them up a tad deeper. Saturday arvo and all of Sunday are expected to be very flat out on the water.
Beaches both sides of town have been fishing well for tailor, herring. Mulloway either side of a metre were landed, with drone fishers picking up the odd pink snapper around White Hills, which has also yielded the odd salmon. Small schools have been active at the ocean end of the Dawesville Cut first thing in the morning. Further along the Cut holidaymakers have enjoyed good fishing for herring, tailor, skippy and squid. Nice mixed bags have also come from the Peel-Harvey Estuary’s canals and marinas, including some decent skippy, while soapy mulloway and a few bream have been in the Murray and Serpentine rivers. Scoop netters have found blue swimmer crabs scarce with the better catches coming after dark. A few yellowfin whiting have been caught on the estuary flats and tailor and herring have been active along the drop-offs.
Thinking of wetting a line around Mandurah? These great tips were courtesy of the super friendly and helpful team at Tackle World Miami so make sure you swing by their store for the best tips and gear before your next fishing trip!
Things have started to get interesting with tailor to 65cm being taken on stickbaits from reefy ground behind Garden and Penguin islands and there have been whispers of salmon schools. Shark mackerel and the odd Spanish have been reported in Cockburn Sound, plus a few Spaniards have been picked up out wide behind Garden Island. King George and sand whiting numbers have improved in Mangles Bay, behind Penguin Island, inside of Garden Island and on Parmelia Bank, while squid have been going well. Good-sized skippy and herring have been picked up by those burleying up close in and the strong run of blue swimmer crabs has continued in Cockburn Sound. Sunday is looking like a glorious day out on the water.
Tailor and mulloway have continued to fish well at Long Point, Port Kennedy, Warnbro, Secret Harbour and Golden Bay, which has been a hotspot for metre-plus mulloway in recent weeks. Southern beaches have yielded pink snapper for drone fishers, while herring have been plentiful at most beaches. Whispers of salmon have come from Woodman Point, while the Ammo Jetty and Palm Beach and Rockingham jetties have offered herring, chopper tailor and the odd squid. Rockingham and Palm Beach jetties have also thrown up pink snapper to 60cm. Divers have still been getting blue swimmer crabs, so dropping nets off the local jetties could yield some as well. Squid fishing has improved at Point Peron and at the Penguin Island spit jetty.
These great fishing tips were provided by the friendly team at Compleat Angler & Camping World in Rockingham, so make sure you chat to their experienced crew in store and stock up before heading out!
King George whiting have been in great numbers around Rottnest, with a lot of divers reporting seeing 50-60cm beasts in good numbers in the island’s bays. The Flash Worm Whiting Jig from @snapbait_aus works nicely as it stirs up the sand to help attract this delicious species.
Spanish and shark mackerel were reported south of Rottnest and off the northern suburbs late last week, but their numbers have dropped off over the past few days. Yellowtail kingfish and Samsonfish have been caught out from the northern suburbs and also at the artificial reefs. Squid have been fishing well out from Fremantle, Swanbourne, Ocean Reef, Hillarys, in the bays at Rottnest Island and near Carnac Island. Sizes have been good with many having 35-40cm hoods. Sand whiting have been plentiful out from Windmills with herring and small flathead mixed in. Only a few salmon have been caught around the metro and most catches were near Mewstones. Hot weather last week lured a few big Swan River blue swimmer crabs into shallower water where they were caught in 3-4m around Crawley, while trolling for chopper tailor in the river’s middle reaches has been good fun at times. There is a window on Saturday arvo opening up but Sunday is looking like the best day out on the water. Wednesday is also looking the goods.
Tailor up to 73cm have been taken on lures from the northern beaches where mulloway around the 80cm mark have been in reasonable numbers as well. North and south metro beaches have held good numbers of herring. 35-45cm tailor have been picked up on overcast mornings at Floreat, Swanbourne and Cottesloe, with CID Shiversticks a go-to lure for these choppers. There’s been little action at the Fremantle Moles apart from herring and the odd small tailor, while at the E-Shed many mulloway chasers have caught little else but rays. The odd flathead is still turning up between Maylands and East Fremantle, while a few chopper tailor have been caught from the drop-offs at Claremont, Point Resolution, Chidley Point, Point Walter and Applecross. A few squid have entered the lower Swan. Bream fishing in the system has been quiet, but the odd mulloway is still being caught, mostly up river from the Narrows.
A big thanks to Compleat Angler Nedlands for their great metro tips! These guys are all avid fishers, know the best spots for every particular species and have provided great support to Recfishwest and metro fishers for many years. Make sure you ask their super friendly team for advice at their store just off Stirling Highway and stock up before wetting a line off the land or boat!
Our Fishing Report is compiled by West Australian writer and keen angler William Bennett, who contacts tackle stores directly around WA - love your work William!
Recfishwest’s fishing report contributors: Jarrad Lawford (editor), Sam Bock, Sedin Hasanovic, Sam Russell, Levi De Boni and Mason McHutchison.
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This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/17/2026 11:49:00 PM by Seamus and last updated on 4/24/2026 11:08:32 PM.
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