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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
3 July, 2026
Finally got the mack knack. There’s Spanish macks and then there’s metro Spanish macks, which are an entirely more elusive quarry than their northern mates. Persistence finally paid off for Scotty @Saltfix fishing, who finally boated this beauty recently after many hours of trolling and two dropped fish this summer. Good on ya, Scotty – well deserved – a top fish for a top bloke!
Tag #recfishwest in your posts or send them via DM to our Instagram @recfishwest—don’t forget to include where and how you caught it!
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!
Albany High School’s Grady with a cracking Great Southern bream caught as part of the school’s ripper fishing program
Albany’s school of fishing rocks! Albany High School has its very own fishing program as part of its curriculum, complete with a dedicated fishing club room featuring secure rod and tackle storage, upgraded safety equipment and educational resources. Supported by a Recfishwest safe fishing grant, the school's marine program uses fishing to teach practical skills including boating safety, fisheries management, conservation, navigation and marine science, while fostering confidence, resilience and a lifelong appreciation of the marine environment.
Check out the new fishing classroom in action on Albany Senior High School’s Instagram page
Marine teacher Cale Ritchie said the upgraded facility had become a thriving hub where students develop practical skills, collect scientific data and build lasting friendships through fishing. This year, almost 150 students will celebrate the program's 10th anniversary by competing in the Kalgan Classic black bream fishing competition.
Recfishwest Senior Operations Officer Sam Russell said the program demonstrated how fishing could help shape young people beyond simply catching fish. "We're proud to support initiatives like this that help young people get outdoors, build confidence, develop safe fishing and boating habits, and foster a lifelong connection with fishing and the marine environment," Sam said.
Find out more about Albany's own school of fishing here
Choona on the chew – Broome Fishing Club’s Finley caught this nice longtail recently during one of the club’s popular Tuna Challenge runs.
Boats that went out wide found red emperor and Rankin cod in good numbers this week, while the inshore lumps offered plenty of bluebone. Spanish mackerel and sailfish have been active off Barred and Willie creeks with trolled skirts working well on both species. Threadfin salmon have been going well at Crab Creek, with one measuring 98cm picked up on a yellow and pink Nomad vibe early in the week. Trolled hard bodies have also worked well. Blue-nosed salmon have been about and mud crabs have been plentiful but Dampier Creek and the Fingers have been much quieter than Crab Creek. There have been whispers of mulloway on the ledges in Roebuck Bay, while out from Barn Hill tinnie fishers found a few bluebone and Spanish flag. At Gnylmarung, squid have been caught.
Shore-Based
Town Beach Jetty has offered bream, trevally and queenfish, while Flat Rock in Willie Creek has produced lots of queenfish. Whiting chasers have found their quarry at Cable Beach and the Entrance Point boat ramp, while those wading out to the reef at Entrance Point and throwing Vexed Buckabou jigs and Halco Twistys have picked up golden trevally and mangrove jack. Threadfin catches have been steady at 80-Mile Beach, while most of the barramundi activity in the Fitzroy River has been at the Derby end of the system. 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.
salty_rena got into a good run of mackies at a new spot and was able to boat this solid specimen before the weather turned. Her neighbour had requested a slab of Spaniard before they went out – and Rena duly delivered! Lucky neighbour.
Spanish mackerel have been running hot at the back of the reef, between Helby Bank and Tantabiddi, and down at Osprey Bay deep in the national park. A 1.5m mack was picked up at Helby by a tinnie fisher this week and many crews have also landed wahoo and dolphinfish. Trolled garfish baits have worked best. Also out west bottom bashers have picked up red emperor, goldband snapper, saddletail snapper and Robinson sea bream. Close in, squid have been caught at Tantabiddi, along with spangled emperor. Spanish mackerel have been plentiful out at the Muirons, along with golden trevally and giant trevally, while bottom bashers there have picked up Rankin cod and coral trout. In Exmouth Gulf squid catches have improved close to shore, while King Reef has offered a variety of species, especially spangled emperor and various types of trevally. Fly-fishers deep in the Gulf have been burleying up over the drop-offs to bring Spanish mackerel and giant trevally onto the flats.
Quite a few giant trevally around the metre mark have been hooked but only a few landed by anglers throwing poppers at the Mildura Wreck, which has also offered a few spangled emperor for those using bait or soft plastics. The town marina has been bursting with baitfish where schoolkids have been having fun targeting small trevally and queenfish on surface lures at first and last light. Over at Tantabiddi squid and mangrove jack have been landed from the boat ramp and the odd spangled emperor has been caught in the lagoon.
These great tips were courtesy of the friendly team at Tackle World Exmouth. Swing by their store for advice and gear ahead of your next trip!
Taking it on the chin. How’s this for a bull of a baldie taken by Brodie on a neap_tackle Chubee jigin Shark Bay? Lovely chublee!
Big swells ruled out all boating activity this week, with even crayfishers unable to get out to the reef line to drop or pull pots. Taking boats across the Murchison River has also not been possible to target tailor or mulloway.Thankfully, the swell should ease for some brief respite over the weekend for those looking to retrieve pots of have a crack at some macks.
At the start of Blow Holes, fishers did well on pink snapper, while Wittecarra Creek has thrown up a few pinks along with schools of mulloway and even a couple of small golden trevally. The river mouth has been going OK for tailor. In the Murchison River, mulloway and bream have become active after the rain, while mangrove jack have fired back up around the boat pens. Mud crab catches have improved throughout the system.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.
There was little activity this week but improved conditions on the weekend could have dinghy fishers targeting squid and skippy at Pages Beach and Point Moore. The inshore reef systems should also still be holding tailor, if the shore-based fishing of late is anything to go by. The swell is forecast to pick back up on Monday onwards, but thankfully the wind should stay relatively calm and offshore for most of the week
There have been good bursts of 25-35cm skippy at the rock walls along the Esplanade, as well as the odd big one nudging 50cm, while just on sunset the odd big tailor in the 50-60cm range has been landed. A few tailor this size have also been taken behind the Lives. Skippy anglers have also been surprised by Samson fish around the metre mark at the Esplanade and even bigger ones that couldn’t be stopped at the Batavia Coast Marina. An intrepid tailor angler that wades out on to the reefs past Drummond Cove to throw stickbaits and poppers has been getting tailor up to 70cm but only in ones and twos. The Greenough River has water flowing in and out, with talk of modestly sized bream beneath the surface. Access from the Geraldton side to first and second points is no longer possible, but the north side of the river has thrown up a few schools of mulloway and chopper tailor. Big schools of fish have been sighted at the north side of the Batavia Coast Marina platform, but it is likely they are mullet. However, tailor and pike were among the schools of baitfish being rounded up by dolphins close to town this week.
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.
Our Lancelin correspondent, Peter Fullarton, recently enjoyed what he described as one of the craziest tailor sessions he’s experienced in years– and coming from Peter that’s saying something! A ripper greenback for a ripper fishing guide. Check out all the action on Peter’s Fishing is My Passion YouTube channel here
Boats
It was largely a write-off for boaties this week, with persistent swell and strong winds keeping most people off the water. The forecast looks far more promising this weekend, with both the swell and wind expected to ease, opening up a decent window for those keen to get offshore.
The jetty has continued to produce some good squid along with quality sand whiting. Evening sessions have been a little quieter than usual, with the jetty lights still out following the recent storms, reducing the attraction for baitfish and predators after dark. Sand whiting have been in excellent size along the bays’ beach, with the afternoon low tide proving to be the standout time to fish when the reduced surge allows for much better conditions. There haven't been too many anglers tackling the open beaches this week due to the heavy surf. With the swell expected to ease over the weekend, conditions should improve considerably, seeing some quality pink snapper move within casting range of the sand for those willing to put in the time.
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.
Towards Davey Island, nannygai up to 60cm have been caught along with breaksea cod to 3kg on the 50m marks. Meanwhile, skippy to 5kg and yellowtail kingfish have been active at Giants Rocks. Lion Island has held harlequin fish and queen snapper, while tuna have been kicking about at Sunk Rocks and Cull Island. Big squid have been active at Cook Rocks and in Esperance Bay, while 8-10m depths off West Beach have held lots of big sand whiting. Good weather late last week allowed crews to get out to the shelf, where they found hapuka in good numbers.
Mulloway and gummy sharks have been caught at Dunn Rocks, while plenty of salmon schools have been passing through Rossiter Beach. Monster skippy and good mulloway have been biting at Stockyards Beach, while gummy sharks and salmon have been active at Rose and 14-Mile beaches. There has been a hot early-morning salmon bite at Fourth Beach, while in the afternoons Town and Taylor Street jetties have held plenty of squid, herring and skippy. King George whiting have been in good numbers along town’s foreshore and in Bandy Creek Boat Harbour.
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.
Kings of the south – tad_bit_of_fishin have been smashing it recently and last weekend saw the crew get amongst a school of biiiiig kingies – with this 1.4m specimen the crowning glory of the day’s kings. Sensational fishin, fellas!
It’s a bleak outlook for boaties over the next week, with unpredictable conditions likely to rule out pretty much everywhere, including King George Sound. One option could be Denmark’s Wilson Inlet where pink snapper should be moving down towards the mouth.
Salmon Holes fished quite well for salmon this week, especially in the late afternoons. Nanarup, Bluff Creek, and Cheynes could also be worth a crack, but care is needed, as many sections of the beaches have washed out. The water is still clear at Emu Point which is worth a crack for squid, whiting and herring, while the King and Kalgan rivers are murky, cold and fast-flowing but still producing bream for those using prawn baits and soft plastics. The town marina is likely to be popular with holidaymakers over the next week, producing leatherjacket, yellowtail, herring, small skippy, squid and, at night, cuttlefish. Another accessible spot worth a shot is Gull Rock, which is usually consistent for herring, skippy, and tarwhine. Clear water at Frenchman Bay and Whalers Cove will encourage squid fishers. In Denmark, those fishing the shore near the mouth of Wilson Inlet could encounter pink snapper, which, having spent long periods deep in the inlet, are not the best-tasting, so taking a quick picture and releasing them is recommended.
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.
When conditions improve, expect the Geographe Bay staples of squid and King George whiting to be about, while the inshore waters of Bunbury should offer herring and skippy. Tuna or small yellowtail kingfish could be a chance if crews can get out a bit wider.
Pink snapper continue to reward droners and casters braving the wintry conditions. Binningup has been a good spot for those north of town, but at Preston and Myalup beach, limited access has made things tricky. Pinks have been thick at locations close to Bunbury with Buffalo, Belvidere, Back Beach and Dalyellup going well. Dunsborough, the Busselton Jetty and Busselton beaches have delivered on them as well. Down Dunsborough and Margaret River way droners have picked up the odd dhufish. Busselton Jetty has been producing squid when conditions have been calmer, while Back Beach, Dalyellup and the Bunbury Cut have thrown up good numbers of herring.
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.
Late last week rainbow trout became active in Harvey Dam with some good-sized ones being landed, mostly by yakkers and boaties trolling small hard-bodies. Harvey Dam, Wellington Dam, Drakesbrook Weir and the Collie River have produced good numbers of redfin in a range of sizes which have shown a liking for soft plastics.
Most boats stuck to the Peel-Harvey Estuary this week where herring were plentiful and chopper tailor were in reasonable numbers along with a few skippy. On the incoming tides in the mornings, schools of Samson fish have been harassing mullet schools, while at the estuary end of the Dawesville Cut, King George whiting have been holed up.
Pink snapper played the game this week with quite a few landed from beaches south of Mandurah, the ocean end of the Dawesville Cut and the Mandurah rock walls. Many of the beaches have been weeded out, making pink snapper more of a drone fishing proposition, but when clear patches can be found and burley used, plenty of herring have shown up. At Avalon Beach this week, an angler throwing poppers found some clear patches of ground near the reef and was rewarded with a couple of 50cm-plus tailor. The Dawesville Cut has held herring and skippy, while in the Peel-Harvey Estuary skippy, herring and bream have been active in the marinas and canals. The outgoing tides in the evenings have rewarded dab netters targeting prawns from the rock walls and jetties in Mandurah and at the Dawesville Cut.
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!
Most boats stayed on trailers this week because of the regular storm fronts but when things clear up expect to find squid in the clearer patches of Cockburn Sound, perhaps holding more than usual, and skippy and herring active in burley trails.
Pink snapper continue to run well along the local beaches for both casters and drone fishers, with those soaking half a herring doing well everywhere from Kwinana down to Golden Bay. The odd school mulloway and big winter tailor have been caught as well. Pink snapper have also been landed from Rockingham Jetty and Woodman Point. Catching bread-and-butter species has been a challenge in the windy conditions, but a few have been burleyed up at Rockingham and Palm Beach jetties. Late last week, before the blow, anglers wading in Shoalwater Bay and Safety Bay were picking up very late-season yellowfin whiting and the odd flathead.
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!
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Bock lobster! Recfishwest’s Sam Bock scored this biiiiig red on a dive off Hillary’s recently - hints were made by his colleagues, but little clues were given as to where this cracker of a cray was plucked by the Bock star and who can blame him.
It’s been too wild to head out this week, but before the blow, the waters off Hillarys and Mindarie held yellowfin tuna, while yellowtail kingfish and Samson fish had been active at the Fish Towers and at Rottnest Island’s West End. Skippy, tailor and herring had been in good numbers at Mewstones and Stragglers, while squid had been about off South Fremantle. The northern suburbs had offered King George whiting and skippy.
Pink snapper were in good numbers from the northern rock walls, including Two Rocks, Hillarys, Ocean Reef, and Mindarie, during the storm fronts. On the days in between, they were picked up along the northern beaches, where some big tailor was landed around Quinns and Two Rocks. The Sandtrax to Cottesloe stretch also yielded pink snapper, while South Mole and the South Fremantle rock walls threw up herring, tarwhine and skippy. When not weeded out, the metro beaches also produced herring. Bream have been the main species targeted in the Swan River system this week, particularly as tailor, flathead and mulloway catches have waned. Bream chasers have had to do a fair bit of exploring to find out where the fish have been aggregating but East Perth, Windan Bridge, Burswood, the Causeway and the Shelley section of the Canning River have produced fish. The lower reaches of the Swan River have also thrown up the odd Samson fish.
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: Ben Carlish, Sam Bock, Sam Russell, Sedin Hasanovic, Levi De Boni, Mason McHutchison and Logan Hellmrich.
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This Fishing Report was submitted on 7/3/2026 5:59:50 AM by Seamus and last updated on 7/7/2026 7:49:14 PM.
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