See what's biting across WA in Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 17 December 2021 🎣

If you're chasing a barramundi, look no further than Dampier Creek — the fishing has been great there this past week, writes Broome fisher Jade Relph. Late last week, Wade Clark scored a 70cm barra and a 93cm barra while wetting a line in Dampier Creek. It was followed by Gino Chambers also landing a nice specimen from Dampier Creek last weekend, pictured above, in addition to multiple reports from local anglers catching similar size barra. Parts of the Fitzroy River are also producing good quality barramundi, with fishers putting in the long hours rewarding with memorable catches. 

Earlier this month, I wrote about the schools of decent queenfish patrolling areas relatively close to shore. These schools were found near big shoals of bait fish, with most of the fish caught the same size as the one Nathan Southern is holding in the picture below. While the queenie fishing action hasn't been as extreme as that hot bite experienced a fortnight or so ago, there's still reports of decent fish being found. White soft plastics and metal slices mimicking the bait fish are the most likely lures to tempt the queenfish. However, when they're biting they're not really too fussy... it's just about finding the fish when they're feeding!

Roebuck Bay is continuing to fish very well for tripletail, however, reports regarding threadfin salmon have been quiet this week. Rankin cod and coral trout have been caught in 40m and beyond. Red emperor have also been found in about 40m, with reports of the sought-after species taking jigs and baits. Cobia have also been found around similar depths, while schools of mack tuna have been spotted by skippers travelling off shore.


Jade Relph scored this tripletail from Roebuck Bay last Saturday morning.

Plenty of land-based fishers have been putting in long hours casting lures and soaking baits along stretches of the Fitzroy River this week. Despite the hard-work and persistence, there haven't been too many reports of barramundi caught. However, one fishers has been doing particularly well... Ryan Duke! Ryan has landed four barra, ranging from 80cm to the magic 1m, from the banks of the Fitzroy recently. Bluenose salmon are still being caught on metal slices near Cable Beach and Town Beach, while Entrance Point has queenfish and small trevally on offer.

Twenty-six boats compete in the opening day of the Exmouth Game Fishing Club's Heavy Tackle Tournament last Friday, with 72 billfish raised, 42 hooked and just 14 making it to the tag pole. Of the 14 fish tagged, there were 10 black marlin, three blue marlin and one striped marlin. Four yellowfin tuna and nine wahoo were also weighed in. Gamefishers enjoyed plenty of billfish action again this week, with big blue marlin and black marlin caught out wide in the 200kg to 300kg weight range. Big yellowfin tuna, between 50kg and 60kg, have also been caught near the FAD currently deployed off Exmouth. More Spanish mackerel have been caught this week, with the bulk of the catches behind the back of the reef on the west-side. Spearfishers have been targeting bluebone with success this week.

Land-based fishers wetting a line for yellowfin whiting in the Gulf have had great results this past week, with regular catches. Towards the bottom of the Gulf, there's also been a lot of mud crab catches, too. Those spinning for GTs near Oysters have hooked into a few big models this week, however, they've proved difficult to land!


Exmouth Tackle and Camping owner Steve Riley caught a few 'tings along Gulf's coast this week.

Reports of Spanish mackerel have remained quiet this week, with fishers still eagerly anticipating the pelagic species' arrival in full. A few smaller model yellowfin tuna have been caught, with boat fishers still reporting plenty of bait balls near the cliffs. Schools of mack tuna have been found near these schools of bait fish. The Murchison River still has great catches of both blue swimmer crabs and mud crabs on offer, while small boat fishers have been achieving tailor to 60cm and the occasional mulloway.

More mulloway have come from Wagoe Beach this past week, including reports of a fish to 20kg. Poppers and metal slices have remained the lures of choice for tailor fishers at Wittecarra and Red Bluff this week. The evenings have been the best time to target tailor at these two locations, with good catches of fish measuring more than 50cm. Yellowfin whiting have been regularly caught throughout the Murchison by land-based anglers.

The persistent southerly throughout the week has proved to be a nuisance to land-based fishers at Geraldton's beaches this week. The best time to fish off the beaches is during the morning when the wind is at its calmest. Tarcoola to just south of Drummond's Cove has been great for tailor with a variety of sizes being caught, with Campbell Surtees' catch pictured above definitely the most notable land-based catch this week. Fishing for whiting has been relatively quiet due to the strong winds, however, if you do manage to find some clear patches, it is definitely worth a shot. The mulloway fishing has been great lately, with multiple fish caught between 60cm to 1m near Tarcoola, the north side of Greenough River and north of Drummond's. 

Beaches to the east of Esperance are continuing to fish well for mulloway, with fishers putting in long hours in the evening rewarded with fish exceeding 10kg. Roses, Poison Creek and Salmon Beach are among the top performing salmon locations. If you're based in town, consider fishing the Esperance Jetty in the evening. Squid catches have been terrific from 4pm onwards each day this week.

Consistent easterlies have prevented most boats from getting out wide this week, but crews which managed to venture off shore found nannygai. Also, fishers soaking baits along the reefy grounds closer to shore have come across queen snapper. Most boat fishers have spent time fishing for King George whiting and squid within the bays' sheltered waters. Crabbing has been slow for drop netters recently, compared to previous years, but this is expected to pick up as the weather warms. Princess Royal Harbour is fishing well for King George whiting, silver bream and flathead, Callum Dowell told the Recfishwest team. "If you're fishing in the harbour this weekend, keep your baits along weed lines where there are patches of sand for the best results," he said.


Dan Perella caught this silver bream while testing the Mussel Vibe in Princess Royal Harbour.

Mulloway have spawned out and are scattered throughout the Oyster Harbour system. To target the mulloway from the shore, look for narrower sections of the rivers to cover your bases as they are on the move. Black bream have been quiet as they are in a transition phase out of the rivers and into their harbour summer time haunts. Fishers who have put in the time safely fishing from the rock ledges have hooked and landed several yellowtail kingfish this week. Small schools of salmon are providing beach fishers a bit of fun along the coast to the east and west of Albany — they're likely to be resident fish. Herring, whiting and flathead have been a mainstay at beaches across the Great Southern.

Potters and divers are continuing to catch good numbers of crayfish across the South West. If you're getting a feed of crays for Christmas, tag #recfishwest in your fishing photos on social media! Samson fish are continuing to be caught at the Bunbury artificial reef and Dunsborough artificial reef, however, most are in the 5kg to 8kg range. King George whiting and skippy have also been caught at the two structures, while more King George whiting have coming in the 30m depths off Dunsborough. Squid, many boasting hoods greater than 30cm, have been prevalent off Busselton with boat fishers achieving great results.

Yellowfin whiting catches are increasing along the flats within the Leschenault Estuary, with surface poppers tempting fish to 30cm. Farther south, the Quindalup flats are also producing good yellowfin whiting results in addition to the occasional bluespotted flathead to about 35cm. Tailor catches along beaches to the north of Bunbury — namely Buffalo and Belvedere — are improving, while there have also been good reports at Back Beach and farther south towards Stratham. The Busselton Jetty has been sensational for squid this week, particularly at dusk, with white jigs working best. Injidup, Smiths Beach and Bunker Bay are fishing well for bread-and-butter species, including herring.

The Dawesville Cut is fishing well with tailor, herring, skippy and whiting being caught. There are also a few blue swimmer crabs around, with drop netters and scoopers are doing reasonably well. Beaches to the south of Mandurah are producing tailor and mulloway, including the occasional 'silver ghost' to about 12kg. Fish in the 5kg to 6kg class are the norm, with most catches taking place in the morning around sunrise and well after dark. In the Murray and Serpentine rivers, the bream activity has slowed with anglers fishing the deeper holes finding a few fish. Anglers wading the sand flats in the Peel-Harvey Estuary in the early morning are finding plenty of action with yellowfin whiting and herring taking surface lures. Along the beaches between Silver Sands and Golden Bay, beach fishers are reporting good tailor and a few mulloway. The better spots are the northern end of this strip, with Golden Bay being the pick. Small boat anglers fishing just outside of the estuary are achieving similar catches in addition to the occasional King George whiting. Near the James Service Reef, boat fishers are still finding Samson fish and some skippy, alongside bluespotted flathead. Father offshore, there are plenty of King George whiting and skippy at the Five Fathom Bank.

Anglers fishing the region's jetties are reporting catches of herring and the occasional tailor. The odd King George whiting and plenty of yellowfin whiting have been caught at Shoalwater Bay this week, with tarwhine and skippy also landed during the mornings. Anglers fishing the drop-off along the sandbar to Penguin Island are catching bluespotted flathead and the occasional flounder. Long Point, Kwinana and Warnbro beaches are still producing good tailor early in the morning, while yellowfin whiting and herring are also being caught until the seabreeze makes fishing and casting lighter tackle a bit of a hassle. 

Western rock lobster seem to be getting picked up in bigger numbers compared to recent weeks, with potters reporting strong catches off Hillarys, Mindarie and Two Rocks. South of the CBD, Garden Island has been one of the better performing crayfish locations. There's been good reports of Samson fish, some exceeding 20kg, at the Perth Fish Towers this week, while the occasional yellowtail kingfish have been found at reefy areas featuring white wash off the northern suburbs. Cockburn Sound, a safe and accessible fishing location on the city's doorstep, has been fishing very well for squid and bread-and-butter species including herring and squid.


Robbie Riches, of Perth Fishing Safaris, is among those making the most of this summer's whites run!

Yesterday, 16 December, officially marked the re-opening of demersal scalefish fishery in the West Coast Bioregion. With DPIRD releasing the latest west coast demersal scalefish stock assessment last month, it's important to think about the future of these important species. The stock assessment found the decline of demersal fish stocks in the West Coast Bioregion has been halted with stocks showing some signs of recovery, but not recovering quick enough to meet the 2030 recovery timeframe. In line with the harvest strategy for these species, management of the fishery will now be reviewed, but Recfishwest has been assured no changes will be considered without community consultation taking place next year. So you can enjoy catching a dhufish or a pink snapper for the festive season this summer, but it’s important we continue to do our bit to help the recovery. This means varying the species you fish for to include species such as pelagics species, squid and tailor, handling all fish especially demersals carefully, not practising catch and release fishing for demersals and using a release weight to release undersize dhuies and pinkies. Find more information here.

Young gun Hudson, 6, took the Fishin' Wishin' crew out on the boat last weekend to catch a few blue swimmer crabs on the Swan River. Find out more about how to crab in the Swan here.

Giant herring madness has enchanted many land-based metro fishers this week, following a recent flurry of photos from the Swan River posted on social media. While the anglers posting the photos are not revealing if the catches were recent or from last month, or even last year, it hasn't stopped many fishers heading to known giant herring spots in a bid to achieve the lucrative metro catch. Fishing for bartail flathead throughout the Swan has remained productive this week, with catches ranging between 35cm and 50cm. Hardbody lures and soft plastics retrieved slowly over flats featuring string weed is likely to tempt the flathead. Blue swimmer crabs are being caught in good numbers by scoop and drop netting in both rivers. The summer metro run of tailor along the coast is producing its best catches near Floreat Drain and Yanchep Lagoon.