Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 22 March 2024 🎣

Tuna have been around but they have proved difficult to land, with only a few specimens to show for the many that were hooked. There was some reports of various mackerel species but very few were around. Thankfully there is some promising signs for the coming days that should see some increased pelagic action. Larger swell conditions have made it difficult for fishers but those using deeper diving lures have accounted for the most pelagic captures. While it doesn't look too bad on the water this weekend, those stronger easterlies and higher swell might make it better for a land-based session. Tuesday morning could hold the best boating weather. 

Esperance Jetty has been amongst the best spots for squid and herring this past week, with any time after dark producing the best numbers. For beach fishers, big flathead have been caught at Fourth Beach as well as skippy at Blue Haven. Big schools of salmon have been spotted at Roses Beach, with metal slices or mullies working nicely. For bigger salmon however, Warrenup has been productive for bigger specimens of both salmon and gummy sharks. Thomas River has been a hot spot for mulloway in the 7-10kg range as well as the odd gummy too. Bandy Creek Harbour was good for King George whiting and black bream, but those chasing bigger bream have headed to Wheatfield Lake using shallow diving hardbodies where the sizes tended to be 40cm+.
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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. 

Large salmon schools have been spotted moving along the coast, with schools frequenting Bremer Bay and Salmon Holes. The salmon have not been fussy and have been crunching the usual suspects of Halco Twisties, metal slugs and generally whatever else you land in front of them. If they are being fiddly to entice to a strike (which does happen on occasions), try mixing it up with different lures or baits until something breaks the ice. A live bait will also get them quite excited. Squid, herring and skippy have been consistent off the groynes and throwing out a squid head worked wonders for Toby McInnes close to town this week, with this ripper of a pinkie being landed in the image above. 

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. 

There were plenty of good chopper tailor landed off North Mole and numerous other rock groynes between Cottesloe and Freo this week, with bread and butter species like whiting and herring also in good numbers. In the Swan, mulloway from bigger models down to soapies have been caught mainly on live mullet and bony herring as far up stream as Guildford. Bream have been a staple throughout the river, which were caught in respectable numbers. Beaches north of Fremantle have fished well for tailor, whiting, herring and tarwhine using fresh baits and small micro jigs, but the wind has largely prevented beach fishing throughout the week. The Swan River was a great spot to fish for tailor this week given the stronger afternoon sea breeze. Throwing stickbaits or metals out as far as possible over the drop offs saw plenty of 45cm+ models landed all over the place. It's looking decent for land-based fishing conditions too with an easterly wind in your back over the coming mornings.