Recfishwest's State-Wide Fishing Report 20 June 2025 🎣

As part of the State Budget, the Government has committed $3 million to improve marron habitats in three key South West dams – Harvey, Logue Brook and Wellington. These improvements will support marron breeding and enhance the fishing experience for the thousands of fishers who take part in the short, but special January marron season. 

This is a welcome announcement – and one we’ve been proud to advocate for on your behalf. 

Click here for more info!

Sailfish have been in excellent numbers a couple of kilometres off Coconut Wells and Willie Creek. Spanish mackerel in a range of sizes have been prolific from Gantheaume Point to the north, although sharks have been a challenge at times. Bottom fishing has been good out wide in 40m, with coral trout, red emperor and Rankin cod the main catches. Closer in, bluebone and blue-lined emperor have been in good numbers off Entrance and Gantheaume points. Dinghy fishers off Quandong have been getting lots of queenfish. In Roebuck Bay, tripletail catches have been good around the moorings when the wind has been down and a few threadfin salmon have also been about. At night, northern mulloway and fingermark perch have been caught at The Deeps. A few threadfin salmon have been taken at the Fingers and Crab Creek, while all the local creeks have been producing mud crabs. The conditions look favourable for the boats this weekend before some windy weather arrives early next week.

Crews have sighted good numbers of black marlin and raised them in twos and threes, but not a lot have been landed. Good numbers of dolphinfish around a metre have been among the bycatch. Goldband snapper catches have been consistent in 80-100m, while the 40-70m depths have offered Rankin cod and a few coral trout. Spanish mackerel have been hard to find, but spangled emperor have been caught in the lagoon at Tantabiddi. Charter boats have been finding fish up at the Muirons, but smaller boats have been restricted because of the conditions. Spanish mackerel, golden trevally, Rankin cod, coral trout, spangled emperor and the odd red emperor have been the main catches there. In the Exmouth Gulf, crews using burley have landed a few coral trout and blue-lined emperor as well as school mackerel on the Shoals, but fishing has been generally quiet. Squid fishing has been decent on the weed banks in close. With the big swell on the forecast, it looks like most boats will be kept on the trailers this weekend. Wednesday onwards should see better conditions return. 

A delicious dinner sorted for @salty_rena! 

A few bluebone have been mixed in with spangled emperor around Mildura Wreck. Spangled emperor were in decent numbers from VLF Bay headed north, with a few also being caught at Tantabiddi. The town marina has held mainly bream and small trevally, but nice queenfish and golden trevally have been caught from the ocean rock wall. Squid have also been active from the rocks at the light industrial area. Garfish have been caught near the industrial area, through to Learmonth. Learmonth Jetty has also produced small queenfish, bream and the odd whiting, along with good catches of squid. Bundegi offered its usual topwater action with decent golden trevally and queenfish being caught there.

This mulloway topped off an awesome camping trip on our picturesque South Coast for @tahj_hotker and his partner. 

Big skippy and lots of gummy sharks have been the main fare at Thomas River, while mulloway have been plentiful at Poison Creek. Alexander Bay has yielded salmon and skippy, while big flathead and sand whiting have been caught at Stockyards. Salmon have been plentiful at 14-Mile and Fourth Beaches, while Roses Beach has held mulloway and salmon as well. Good numbers of King George whiting have been taken from the town foreshore, while Town Jetty and Taylor Street Jetty have offered big squid with hoods to 40cm (potential winners of Chase the Kraken there). King George whiting and big herring have been on the chew in Bandy Creek Boat Harbour, while Woody Lake has yielded bream to 40cm.



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. 

There’s been no sign of salmon, apart from a cameo up at Walpole early last week. Most fishers have been targeting herring and skippy which have been in good numbers at Ledge Point and Gull Rock. Squid fishing has been good at Frenchman Bay where herring have been plentiful and small King George whiting were always a chance. Squid have been in good numbers at the town marina, which has also held bream, herring and skippy. The dirty water at Emu Point has cleared and along with squid, lots of small herring and the odd flathead have been caught. Samsonfish were also lurking in the channel. Bream have fired again in the King and Kalgan rivers with good fish being taken on hard-bodied lures and soft plastics and these spots are the safer option given the coast is going to be ravaged by massive swells and wind for the next five days or so. 

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, 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. 

Pink snapper chasers were disappointed with the closure of North Mole from Monday to Thursday this week. However, a few good fish were taken there last weekend and throughout the week from the rocks at Coogee, Hillarys, Mindarie and Two Rocks along with the northern beaches. If you are going to chase snapper of the stones this weekend, we advise to wear a life jacket given the swell looks pretty gnarly. Check out our safe fishing page for more tips. Big mulloway have been turning up as well with a fine midweek fish taken from South Mole. Before the blow, the beaches were holding herring and the odd skippy, with a few good winter tailor turning up in reefy areas such as Cottesloe. Anglers fishing the sheltered marinas and rock walls around South Fremantle have been picking up herring, garfish, yellowtail, slimy mackerel, tarwhine, and a few bream. Good skippy were caught at North Mole last weekend and at South Mole before the cold front hit. It’s been very quiet in the Swan River given the recent rains. Bream have been very reluctant to take lures, although a few have been caught on fresh bait. Areas from Bayswater downriver have produced a few, with some of more consistent locations including Canning Bridge and the Causeway. Jetties in the lower reaches have thrown up the odd just-legal sized chopper tailor. The wind and rain will not provide land-based fishers with many opportunities to go out this weekend but a pinkie is a chance off the rock walls if you're brave enough to face the conditions and don't mind getting wet. Make sure you put your safety first if attempting this. 

A big thanks to Compleat Angler Nedlands for their great 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!