To view the latest fishing reports across the state, CLICK HERE.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Broome Catches

Picture: The mouths of the local creeks and adjacent coast have been producing catches of trevally.

Boats

A 92cm and an 88cm barramundi were among dozens of smaller fish caught during the recent competitions in the Fitzroy River. According to Steve Chambers, of Tackle World Broome, most of the fish landed during the weekend events were between 45cm and 55cm. Steve’s boat managed a 78cm and a 65cm fish, which were the biggest of the 20 or so barra landed on the craft. Reef fishing enthusiasts have continued to do well on blue lined emperor and saddle tail seaperch in 25m to 35m of water. Spanish mackerel have been responding to bibbed minnows and rigged garfish trolled off Entrance Point and Gantheaume Point.

Shore based

An assortment of lures have been enticing barramundi along the local creek beds. The mouths of the local creeks and adjacent coast have been producing mixed catches of threadfin salmon, bluenose salmon, javelin fish and trevally. Coconut Wells is worth a wander for whiting and bream. Try the rocks at Gantheaume Point during the next set of neaps for bluebone, coral trout and estuary cod.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Bibbed minnows trolled between the 15m and 30m depths have been enticing shark mackerel.

Boats

Billfish enthusiasts are starting encounter bigger numbers of blue marlin out wide following the arrival of warmer waters. Shane Anderson and his father went 3-3-2 on blues and landed a nice striped marlin while aboard Peak Sportfishing Charters last week. Sailfish and small black marlin have also been encountered wide of Tantabiddi with the former of the billfish species also starting to make their way to the upper areas of the gulf in numbers. Bibbed minnows trolled between the 15m and 30m depths have been enticing spanish and shark mackerel. Fair catches of reef fish including red and spangled emperor and rankin cod have been picked up in 40m to 80m of water.

Shore based

Late September and early October are normally associated with shore-based giant trevally near the tip of the cape at spots including Oysters. Big poppers and stick baits worked around the dusk period and into the evening has been an effective method in achieving big GT strikes in these areas in the past. The incoming tide has been good for queenfish and golden trevally at Old Bundegi. The gulf beaches are still fishing well for squid and yellowfin whiting.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Salmon have been scattered along Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Fourteen Mile and Roses.

Boats

Mitchell Johnson caught samson fish to 30kg while jigging near the islands last week. Nannygai have been caught in good numbers in waters south of town while the ground farther west has been producing most of the pink snapper. Squid were so thick in areas inshore last week that fishers were picking the schooling cephalopods up on their sounders. Sand whiting are also around the inshore areas.

Shore based

Good catches of bread and butter species including herring, garfish, snook and small skippy have been regularly caught at the Taylor Street Jetty while the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has King George whiting around 32cm, herring and small black bream. More bream have been picked up in the local lakes on baits and lures. Salmon have been scattered along Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Fourteen Mile and Roses. Skippy and a few tailor have also been mixed in with the salmon in these parts. Mulloway of about 70cm were landed at Fourth Beach and Fourteen Mile last week. Dunns had a few skippy to a solid 3kg, salmon and bull herring. Thomas River seems to the spot to try for gummy sharks at the moment. A few skippy to 2kg and small mulloway have also been picked up at Thomas.

Albany Catches

Picture: The weather has not been great, but for those boats that did get out on the water managed to find queen, pink and red snapper as well as a few samson fish.

Boats

King George whiting enthusiasts have been doing reasonably well on 28cm to 34cm fish through the inshore waters. Sand whiting are also about in good numbers in these parts while squid have been a little hit and miss. Few managed to head offshore, due to the strong winds and big swells, which persisted for most of the week. The odd boat that managed to pick a break in the weather and worked the coral in 60m to 80m found queen, pink and red snapper as well as a few breaksea cod and samson fish. Hapuka were found this past fortnight between the 140m and 180m depths and deeper.

Shore based

The good news for surf fishers is that there are still quite a few salmon around. There have been smaller schools regularly passing through Shelleys. Other spots that were graced by salmon this past week included Cables, Nanarup. Mutton Bird, Lowlands and Bornholm. Cheyne Beach and Bluff Creek have been fishing exceptionally well for bigger skippy and herring. The King and Kalgan rivers were producing black bream right up until the recent period of rain. A few mulloway were also pulled from the Kalgan together with herring and juvenile salmon. According to the bream fanatics, the systems east and west of town have also been providing some nice catches.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Never seen a bonefish? Here’s a healthy shallow water bonefish caught on fly by our fishing report writer Joachim, in a recent trip he took to Christmas Island. With reports of good bonefish catches in Kalbarri this week make sure to head into Kalbarri Sports and Dive and ask Dean, where some the local spots you may encounter these great sport fish.

Boats

Fair catches of dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper have been picked up along the 30m to 40m depths northwest of town together with the odd red emperor. Pinkies and baldies have been responding well to soft plastic and other jigs in less than 10m of water out from the cliffs. Spanish mackerel and tuna have been hard work, however things are expected to improve on the pelagic front as the summer months draw near.

Shore based

A customer of Kalbarri Sports and Dive caught 11 bonefish during a single session at Wagoe last week. Plenty of big mulloway and jumbo tailor have also been coming from the beach, which also produced a huge amberjack and a salmon surprisingly! More mulloway have been coming from Wittecarra Creek, Chinamans and Frustrations. Pink snapper were landed at the southern cliffs last week and there has been the odd fish caught from the beaches north of the river mouth when the swell has been small to moderate. Blue swimmer crabs have returned to lower reaches of the Murchison while the middle and upper parts have been fishing well for black bream to 40cm and small mulloway.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Snapper have been coming from the lumps off Coronation together with baldchin groper and coral trout, as pictured above (Photo courtesy of Geraldton & Districts Offshore Fishing Club).

Boats

A group of customers of Geraldton Sports caught dhufish to 14kg and several pink snapper when they performed an overnighter south of South West Bank last week. More snapper have been coming from the lumps off Coronation together with baldchin groper and coral trout. Kayak fishers have been joining the dinghy and small boat contingent along the weed beds off Point Moore. Fishers in all three different types of crafts have been picking up squid, herring and a few pike.

Shore based

Several pink snapper were landed from the local rock walls during, and just following, the rough weather. Tailor and a few mulloway have been coming from the Flat Rocks to Greenough River mouth stretch, however weed in this area has been making conditions challenging. The odd mulloway to 1.2m and plenty between 50cm and 60cm have been picked up at Sunset Beach and Drummonds Cove together with tailor. Try Coronation and Horrocks for big yellowfin whiting, which ordinarily turn up along this stretch of coast in good numbers during this time of the year.

South West Catches

Picture: There are still squid being caught along the seagrass beds off Quindalup, find out why seagrass is so important to your fishing here (Photo courtesy of Rich Carey_Shutterstock).

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts have been finding dhufish, breaksea cod and pink snapper along the 30m to 40m depths off Cowaramup Bay and Canal Rocks. Schools of samson fish have been found in similar depths while yellowtail kingfish between 6kg and 12kg have been located in packs off the tip of Cape Naturaliste. Pink snapper are worthwhile targeting along the Four Mile and Eight Mile reefs. There are still squid being caught along the seagrass beds off Quindalup.

Shore based

Tailor are a chance early morning and evening at Injidup, Bunker Bay and Castle Rock. Herring and skippy can be found right along both sides of the cape when conditions allow. There were a few pink snapper caught from Monaghan’s Corner and the Busselton Jetty following the rough conditions. The jetties situated within Geographe Bay are producing bread and butter species including squid.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: Shannen caught an impressively sized dhufish off Bouvards on Wednesday. For anyone new to Facebook or you would like daily updates on what is being caught around the state, make sure you follow our partners Perth & WA Fishing Reports (Photo courtesy of Perth & WA Fishing Reports).

Mandurah

Beach anglers fishing the beaches between Tim’s Thicket and Preston have been catching herring and some tailor. There have been reports of a few small mulloway up to 50cm being taken from these beaches. Larger mulloway are yet to turn up regularly, but it is only a matter of time. The Cut is still producing good fishing and the kids have had a ball during the holidays. Herring are still the main catch but bags have also included a few tailor, sand whiting, King George whiting and an occasional big skippy. Locals in the know suggest that you fish the incoming tide for herring, with the tailor being caught at dawn and dusk.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

The southern beaches have been turning on some tailor after dark and early in the morning. One spot that has been fishing well over the week has been Shoalwater Bay where there have been plenty of herring, whiting and skippy for holiday anglers. Tailor anglers have found the beaches around Secret Harbour worth a try, but this is the only spot that seems to be producing these fish regularly in this region.

Picture: Do you fish the Mandurah Artificial Reef? Would you like to? Peel Reef Vision is launching this October! If you would like more information on how you can get involved, click here.

Metro Catches

Picture: Jason Linardos found some nice squid around Perth over the last few days. Diawa Emeraldas nude in “Mango Shrimp” colour has been his most successful jig recently (Photo courtesy of Squid Hunters Western Australia).

Boats

Deepwater enthusiasts working the waters wide of Rottnest Island’s West End have been landing blue eye trevally, bass groper and grey-banded cod in 300m to 400m of water. In closer, good catches of pink snapper continue to be picked up south of Rottnest and near Garden and Carnac islands. The boats working the waters within Cockburn Sound have also been getting among a few snapper, which have been found within a few hundred metres of the coast and rock walls at times. Squid can still be caught along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within the Sound. Plump sand whiting continues to be caught off Cottesloe and City Beach.

Shore based

Pink snapper were caught from the northern and southern rock walls during the past week of stormy conditions. Woodman Point and South Mole seemed to produce the bigger numbers of land-based pinks. North Mole also provided a few snapper as well as the odd mulloway. It is important to note that when the conditions are rougher than usual, North Mole has been closed due to safety concerns. There have also been a few pinks caught from Hillarys and Mindarie marina rock walls. Samson fish have also been turning up at Woodman Point together with a few mulloway. Early mornings and evenings have been good for tailor at Cottesloe Groyne and Floreat Drain. Chopper tailor have been appearing in the lower and middle reaches of the Swan and Canning rivers. Flathead are starting to turn up along the shallows downstream from Point Resolution.

Upgrade Your Life Jacket Before Summer

The team from Marine Safety will be down at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Saturday, Oct 14 to take those old foam jackets off your hands in exchange for a voucher! Every old, bulky jacket you part ways with, you will receive a $15 voucher that you can spend with Recfishwest to purchase your very own slimline, lightweight Crewsaver Jacket.

For more information, click here.

If you already have a voucher and you are unsure how you use it to purchase a jacket, please contact Recfishwest on 9246 3366

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, Stewart King for all things freshwater fishing, Matt Cox for the latest in Kununurra and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Available now on Apple or Android

Kununurra Catches

Picture: Good news for fishers in Kununurra with the Lower Ord fishing well and Lake Kununurra is starting to fire up! (Photo courtesy of Curt Mccartney).

Ord River

Some of the freshwater holes in the Lower Ord have really started to fire over the last couple of weeks. We’re finding lots of fish aggregating on rock bars and around the current lines and back eddies. Classic Barra hard bodies have been the most popular. The Saltwater Crocs are becoming more active as the weather warms up so take caution as usual.

Lake Kununurra

Generally speaking the fishing in Lake Kununurra is on the improve as water temps rise. No massive catches to report this week, however, there are consistent reports of people heading out to their favourite spots and landing 2-3 70+cm barra for the afternoon. Both hard bodies and big paddle tail soft plastics seem to be doing the trick. Bring on the Build Up!!

Broome Catches

Picture: Fishers at James Price Point have been having success with spanish mackerel to 25kg caught on trolled bibbed minnows (Photo courtesy Ash Amozig).

Boats

A customer of Tackle World Broome landed three black marlin and several sailfish on spinning gear on Monday. Other crews who have been working the waters wide of Broome and James Price Point have been picking up spanish mackerel to 25kg on trolled bibbed minnows and rigged garfish. Longtail and mack tuna are starting to show up offshore and better numbers of both species are expected as the wet season progresses.

Shore based

Barramundi catches have improved in the upper Fitzroy River and the local creeks following an increase in water temperatures. An assortment of lures have been used to snare the barra in these waters. Threadfin salmon ranging from 60cm to 95cm have been common in Dampier and Crab Creek as well as through Roebuck Bay. There are still a few tripletail being found near the moorings and other flotsam scattered in the bay. Try Coconut Wells for whiting, queenfish and varieties of trevally.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Brassy trevally have been caught on lure and fly in middle and lower areas of the gulf this past week.

Boats

Big schools of baitfish and clear waters have made for some entertaining sessions within the gulf. Queenfish, brassy trevally and giant herring were among the species to be caught on lure and fly in middle and lower areas of the gulf this past week. Peter Gates, Ross Lawrence and Kevin Durbano caught several rankin cod on a variety of jigs near the islands that are situated within the gulf waters. More rankin have been coming from the 30m to 90m depths off the west coast together with red and spangled emperor. Spanish mackerel continue to be caught on bibbed minnows trolled between the 15m and 30m depths off the west coast reef. Small black marlin and sailfish have been encountered out wide while the latter billfish species are expected to start appearing in the upper areas of the gulf in numbers during the coming weeks.

Shore based

Giant trevally are a chance on big poppers and stick baits at Oysters late afternoon and evening. Smaller varieties of trevally have been turning up in the lower areas of the gulf together with queenfish, yellowfin bream and the odd mangrove jack. Squid are in the gulf and there are a few being caught from the Tantabiddi boat launching facility at times.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Schools of samson fish to 25kg have been found in waters leading up to, and beyond, the islands.

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers encountered snook together with their common catches of whiting and squid. Schools of samson fish to 25kg have been found in waters leading up to, and beyond, the islands. Nannygai to 2kg, breaksea cod and queen snapper were among the reef fish picked up on baits and jigs along the 50m to 80m depths.

Shore based

An assortment of bread and butter species including skippy to half a kilo, herring and squid have been picked up at the Taylor Street Jetty while Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has King George whiting on offer as well as herring and black bream. Salmon and tailor have been providing entertainment at Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach and Fourteen Mile. Skippy and herring have also been caught at the popular surf beaches. Stockyards has been producing equal numbers of mature and juvenile salmon, mulloway, herring and skippy.

Albany Catches

Picture: Yellowtail kingfish were caught in good numbers at Maud Reef and Vancouver Reef last week.

Boats

King George whiting sizes have been smaller recently, but numbers have been better through the inshore waters of Two Peoples Bay, Cosy Corner and Cheynes Beach. Squid catches have been improving and there are loads of sand whiting, herring and skippy near Michaelmas and Breaksea islands, Gull Rock and Frenchmans. Yellowtail kingfish between 5kg and 8kg were caught in good numbers at Maud Reef and Vancouver Reef last week as well as skippy and sambos to 30kg. The coral scattered along the 60m to 90m depths have been fishing reasonably well for pink, red and queen snapper as well as breaksea cod of mixed sizes and dhufish. The bigger boats that managed to head to the edge of the shelf, and beyond, scored grey-banded cod, bass groper and hapuka.

Shore based

Surf fishers have been somewhat surprised by the number of salmon still appearing along the coast. Big schools of salmon have been regularly turning up at Salmon Holes, however, the 3kg to 7kg fish have only momentarily been within casting range. Shelleys has also been producing salmon as well as plenty of mixed size herring. Cables had the odd salmon school appear through the week and there were a few tailor mixed in with the salmon at Nanarup. There have been whispers of recent mulloway catches from the King and Kalgan rivers. Both systems are fishing fairly well for black bream, juvenile salmon and the odd herring.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Coral trout have been responding well to soft plastic and metal jigs along the 10m to 15m depths out from the southern cliffs.

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts have been doing well on dhufish in 20m to 40m of water northwest and southwest of the river mouth. Pink snapper, coral trout and baldchin groper have been responding well to soft plastic and metal jigs along the 10m to 15m depths out from the southern cliffs. Spanish mackerel have been scarce, however bigger numbers of yellowfin and longtail tuna seem to be around.

Shore based

Kalbarri Sports and Dive’s Wayne Dewar landed 10 mulloway between 60cm and 80cm, of which eight were released, near Lucky Bay during one recent evening. During the day, he caught dart, and trevally from the gutter he pulled the mulloway from. More mulloway have been coming Chinamans, Frustrations and Wittecarra Creek. Small numbers of big tailor are evident along the local beaches. Kalbarri Land Based Fishing Tour’s Rob Tang has been putting his clients onto mulloway to 20kg and pink snapper north of the river mouth. Some nice pink snapper have also been landed at the cliffs recently. Plenty of black bream between 28cm and 36cm are being caught in the lower and middle reaches of the Murchison River. Estuary cod are thought to be responsible for several bust offs near the jetties and pens.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Baldies are being found in approximately 35m of water west and southwest of the marina (Photo courtesy of Brody Ogle).

Boats

Swarms of big sweetlip, fish to 50cm, are being found in approximately 35m of water west and southwest of the marina together with pink snapper and baldchin groper. The sweetlip seem to get bigger the farther south and wider the boats have been travelling. Dhufish were also caught this past week, however, there was no single area or depth that produced the catches.

Shore based

A customer of Geraldton Sports has been using 9.5cm Duo Beach Walkers in the pilchard pattern and 30g Twisties to catch big tailor along the western coast of the Abrolhos Island’s Southern Group. He also managed to catch a 6kg coral trout using this same method. Surf fishing has improved with Flat Rocks and Lucys producing tailor between 35cm to 60cm most mornings and evenings as well as mulloway to a metre. The occasional mulloway has been landed at Southgates while choppers have been coming from the harbour rock walls. Big herring, yellowfin whiting between 25cm and 35cm and choppers to 35cm are common at the bay at Drummonds.

South West Catches

Picture: Blue swimmer crabs are starting to be caught in better numbers by the drop netters in the last week.

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts have been picking fair catches of dhufish, breaksea cod and pink snapper in depths starting at 30m off Hamelin Bay, Canal Rocks and wide of Cape Naturaliste. More pink snapper have also been coming from the Four Mile and Eight Mile reef systems together with skippy and the odd samson fish. Squid catches should improve again along the seagrass beds off Quindalup once the water clarity in Geographe Bay increases. Blue swimmer crabs are starting to be caught in better numbers by the drop netters.

Shore based

Early morning lure spinners have been picking up some nice tailor to 60cm and the odd bigger fish at Injidup and Mitchells. Tailor efforts have mostly been concentrated at these two spots, however, it would not be surprising if the northern end of Boranup Beach, the Contos area and Honeycombs are also fishing well for the popular surf species. Herring and skippy have been responding well to burley and a variety of baits along both sides of the cape.

South West Freshwater Catches

Picture: Now is the time to go fish for trout, with reports coming out that several waterways are fishing well.

Fishing the South West waters for trout at the moment can be rewarding as several waterways seem to be fishing well. Harvey, Logue Brook, Drakesbrook and the Collie Gorge are amongst the closest to Perth that are producing good fish.

Further afield the Lefroy and the Warren in and around the Pemberton area have good water levels and are producing some fine perch as well as trout. On these rivers, both the fly fishing and the spinning fraternities are having success with small flies and small bladed spinners respectively. As the weather warms up snakes will become more active, many have already been seen along the waterways so please keep an eye out and enjoy your fishing!

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: The beaches between Tim’s Thicket and Preston have been producing some tailor (Photo courtesy of @jakesfishstagram).

Bream anglers fishing the Murray and Serpentine rivers continue to catch, and often release, good numbers of black bream. Beach anglers fishing the beaches between Tim’s Thicket and Preston have been catching herring and some tailor and there have been reports of a few small mulloway up to 50cm. The bigger fish are yet to turn up regularly, but it is only a matter of time.

The Cut is still producing good fishing. Herring are still the main catch but bags have also included a few tailor, sand whiting, King George whiting and an occasional big skippy. Around the river mouth, you can catch a mixed bag of tarwhine, herring and whiting. Good catches of herring, sand whiting and skippy are being taken from the local jetties.

Metro Catches

Picture: Dhufish have been found in the relatively shallow depths of 30m off Rockingham, Fremantle, Hillarys and Two Rocks (Photo courtesy of Andrew Gilbert).

Boats

Deep dropping fanatics brought up blue eye trevalla and bass groper from depths greater than 300m when the weather allowed them to venture this far out in their equipped crafts. Dhufish have been found in the relatively shallow depths of 30m off Rockingham, Fremantle, Hillarys and Two Rocks. Pink snapper are still being gathered near Garden Island, Rottnest Island and along the western edge of Three Mile Reef with the assistance of burley. Samson fish between 15kg and 30kg have been caught on jigs and baits at The Barges located between 90m and 100m west and west-southwest of Rottnest. Squid catches have decreased along the seagrass meadows off Fremantle and within Cockburn Sound.

Shore based

Early morning lure spinners at Grant Street, Swanbourne and the northern reefs between Mindarie and Yanchep have been picking up some nice tailor to 60cm. Tailor have been coming from similar areas in the evening together with a few herring, tarwhine and the odd mulloway. Chopper tailor are in the lower reaches of the Swan River in numbers. Flathead are starting to appear along the shallower areas located at Chidley Point, Point Walter and Applecross. The deeper parts of the river near The Narrows, Mosman Bay and Blackwall Reach are worth trying for mulloway.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, Stewart King for the latest in freshwater fishing and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Broome Catches

Picture: There are still a few threadfin salmon being caught on a variety of methods within Roebuck Bay. (Photo courtesy of Wade Kelly).

Boats

Sailfish and a few small black marlin continue to be encountered in waters wide of Barred Creek and near The Peanut reef. Spanish mackerel have been found in a range of areas, however tuna have been hard to come by. The local charter boat operators have been putting their clients onto good catches of saddletail seaperch, blue lined emperor and rankin cod in 30m to 40m of water. There are still a few threadfin salmon being caught on a variety of methods within Roebuck Bay.

Shore based

Most of the barramundi that have been picked up in the Fitzroy River and local creeks have been small fish in the 35cm to 45cm range. The odd bigger fish between 70cm and 90cm was picked up in the river as well as Dampier and Crab creeks, which latter spots have also been fishing reasonably well for bluenose and threadfin salmon. Tripletail have been responding to an assortment of flies and hard-bodied lures near the moorings and flotsam located within Roebuck Bay. Try Coconut Wells for threadfin salmon, trevally and whiting.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Trevally are mostly being found at this stage in waters between the far upper parts of the gulf and the Muiron Islands (Photo courtesy of @dan.coughlan).

Boats

Warmer water is starting to push into the lower areas of the gulf and, in doing so, bringing a lot of baitfish into the middle and lower regions. Sailfish are and trevally are mostly being found at this stage in waters between the far upper parts of the gulf and the Muiron Islands. Reef fishing enthusiasts have been doing well on a variety of species including coral trout, rankin cod, goldband snapper and saddletail seaperch. Jimmy Small and Sam Crock caught coral trout, jobfish and a 28kg spanish mackerel during a recent session off the west coast.

Shore based

Giant trevally are occasionally being caught on poppers and stick baits at Oyster Reef in evenings. Old Bundegi is worth a visit during an incoming tide for queenfish, trevally and giant herring. Bluebone and spangled emperor are frequenting the reef areas near the lighthouse. There are still whiting and a few squid being caught along the gulf beaches.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Solid yellowtail kingfish have been located at the edge of the shelf.

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers have been picking up nice bags of sand whiting and squid along the seagrass. Nannygai and breaksea cod were found in fair numbers in 50m to 60m of water. Bigger nannygai and solid yellowtail kingfish were located at the edge of the shelf.

Shore based

Roses has been producing gummy sharks while Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach and Stockyards has salmon turning up most days. The herring caught at Lucky Bay have been quite big recently. There are still a few King George whiting being caught from the sand areas along the foreshore. Squid are being caught at Rossiter Bay in numbers.

Albany Catches

Picture: Mulloway have been a little hard to come by in the King and Kalgan rivers but some fishers are having some luck (Photo courtesy of Scott Coghlan).

Boats

Heavy knife jigs have been working well on hapuka in waters beyond the continental shelf. The hapuka, which are believed to be forming spawning aggregations, have ranged from 10kg to 30kg. One deep-water enthusiast managed to land two hapuka on the same jig during a session in several hundred metres of water last week. The quality reef fish have required some effort to find along the coral between the 50m and 90m contours. Those who put the time in to locate the dhufish, snapper, breaksea and skippy picked up reasonable catches of these common reef species. It has been a similar story for the King George whiting, which are mostly being found in inshore areas by those putting in the time and effort and finding the clearer water. Squid catches have been steady along the seagrass areas while sand whiting are about in good quantities. The boats that worked the waters near Michaelmas and Breaksea islands as well as Gull Rock and Frenchmans picked up some nice size skippy and herring in addition to their King George catches.

Shore based

Smaller schools have been occasionally appearing at Bremer Bay while 3kg to 7kg fish have been caught in their ones and twos at Sand Patch, Cables, Shelleys and Nanarup throughout the week. Black bream fishers have been using a range of methods including baits, soft plastics and hard-bodied lures to catch fish to 40cm in both of the local systems as well as those out east and west. There were herring found in the Kalgan last week. Mulloway have been a little hard to come by.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Fishers have been chasing black bream in the river (Photo courtesy of @massamone)

Boats

Steve Wiseman has been finding schooling tuna among the bait balls offshore. Spanish mackerel catches have slowed somewhat, but there are still a few cobia around. Reef fishing enthusiasts have been picking up dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper along the coral in 30m to 40m northwest of the river mouth. Pinks and baldies have also been snared on soft plastics within a few hundred metres of the southern cliffs.

Shore based

Matt Graeber was fishing approximately 2km up river last week when he hooked onto something considerably larger and faster than the black bream he was catching. Following a 15-minute fight, the fish spooled Matt’s line. Moments later he spotted his line floating on the surface of the water and decided to check if the fish was still connected. The fish was still there and after another 20-minute battle, this time by hand, he landed his catch, which turned out to be an impressive mulloway that pulled the scales down to 13kg. Also in the Murchison, some nice yellowfin whiting are being caught along the sand flats and estuary cod near the pens and jetties. Several pink snapper were caught from the shore at Wittecarra Beach during the past week. Frustrations has been fishing well for tailor and mulloway.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Nicki with a good sized dhuie caught out of Geraldton (Photo courtesy of @nickihuntfishing).

Boats

The crews who ventured to the Abrolhos Islands at the weekend picked up good catches of baldchin groper, pink snapper and coral trout near Southern Group together with a few samson fish and amberjack. The coral patches approximately 8 nautical miles west of town have been producing pink snapper, baldchin and estuary cod. A 13.5kg dhufish caught from an undisclosed area this past week may encourage a few to set out to search for some bigger dhuies.

Shore based

Some nice tailor are starting to turn up along the coast with Tarcoola Beach regularly producing 45cm to 50cm fish together with a few school mackerel. There have been a few tailor caught at the first and second points at Greenough in the mornings. The beaches north of Drummonds have also been producing a few tailor, but perhaps not in the same numbers or regularity as the southern spots. A 1.4m mulloway landed at the Chapman River mouth was among several 10kg to 20kg mulloway caught along the northern and southern beaches and the northern side of the Batavia Marina during the past fortnight. Separation Point is worth a try for yellowfin, sand and school whiting, which are usually present in good numbers during the start of spring.

South West Catches

Picture: Squid Hunters WA member Chuckie Then and his Daughter Megan, had a good day on Busselton Jetty over the weekend. The jetty is starting to produce some nice size squid over the last few weeks (Photo courtesy of Squid Hunters Western Australia).

Boats

Dhufish have been caught in 30m to 50m of water off Cape Naturaliste and in similar depths out from Canal Rocks and wide of Cowaramup Bay. There are still pink snapper being caught by the boats anchoring and burleying at the light reef areas within Geographe Bay. Squid catches are improving along the seagrass beds located between Eagle Bay and Siesta Park.

Shore based

Tailor are being caught some mornings and evenings at Injidup and Mitchells. There are still, what appear to be, resident salmon being caught along the west coast while the salmon recently caught at Geographe Bay beaches have mostly been juveniles. Herring are in pretty good numbers along both sides of the cape and there still seems to be a few skippy being caught from the reef areas.

South West Freshwater Catches

Picture: Fresh water fishing in the South West is now in full swing, why not get out there and go fish for some trout?

Fresh water fishing in the South West is now in full swing with many people catching trout from both the bank and from kayaks. Many success stories have come from people that have fished Harvey Dam, Drakesbrook Weir and Logue Brook Dam. People have reported catching their quota of four fish and releasing plenty more, which is a great sign the fishing is worth your while.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: Some good skippy catches are coming from Five Fathom Bank, Mandurah. Great to see Harry wearing his Crewsaver life jacket! (Photo courtesy of Harry Tropiano).

Mandurah

Anglers fishing the beaches both north and south of Mandurah report catches of tailor along with smaller chopper tailor. People are also taking whiting, tarwhine, and herring. The Dawesville Cut is still producing herring, King George whiting and a few yellowfin whiting. Fishers chasing black bream are finding fish in the lower reaches of the rivers.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy / Warnbro / Rockingham / Safety Bay

The Rockingham Jetty is producing herring and a few chopper tailor. The beaches around Port Kennedy have been producing some good whiting and an occasional tailor of an evening. Point Peron area is fishing well for tailor and there have been whiting coming from the local bays around the sand patches. Palm Beach has been producing some good fishing with a good variety of smaller species being landed. This area is also worth a try for a few squid.

Metro Catches

Picture: Fishers have been catching pinkies to 10kg south of Rottnest Island and wide of Hillarys Marina (Photo courtesy of Ash Amozig ).

Boats

Boat fishers who have been heading out early morning and late in the afternoon into the evening to target pink snapper between Garden Island and Stragglers have being doing reasonably well on fish between 4kg and 8kg. Kayak and small boat fishers have been getting among the snapper within a few hundred metres of rock walls located within Cockburn Sound at times. The local charter operators have been putting their clients onto snapper to 10kg south of Rottnest Island and wide of Hillarys Marina. Some nice dhufish to 18kg have been caught off Rockingham, Mindarie and Lancelin during the past couple of weeks. The lumps off Lancelin have also been producing baldchin groper. Sand whiting are along the sand flats between Fremantle and Rottnest. Squid catches have improved along the seagrass meadows off Fremantle.

Shore based

Woodman Point has been producing pink snapper during mornings and evenings, even when the seas have been calm. Herring have been caught from both spots in good numbers as well as at Palm Beach Jetty, which is also fishing well for squid. More squid have also been coming from North and South Mole as well as Capo d’Orlando Drive. There are some nice tailor being caught at Grant Street, Swanbourne, Floreat Drain and Yanchep. Mulloway have mostly been caught from the beaches south of Singleton. The deeper waters of the Swan River are also worth trying for mulloway during this time of the year.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Kununurra Catches

Picture: First time barramundi fisher, Ella with a very well fed saltwater barramundi caught fishing with Northbound Charters.

Cambridge Gulf

With exceptional tides and glassy conditions there was some fantastic fishing being done in the Cambridge Gulf. Loads of good Fingermark were being caught jigging soft plastics down in around 15m of water and there was some solid barramundi fishing being done in the creeks and rivers that run into the Gulf.

Lake Kununurra

With the lake getting back to a normal flow rate and the water starting to creep up the thermometer the barra have started to bite. The best report in recent weeks was one lucky fisher who jagged 10 fish between 65-87cm in an afternoon session flicking hard bodies. Finding the fish lately hasn’t been an issue but convincing them to bite has been a bit challenging…fingers crossed the tide has turned (so to speak).

Broome Catches

Picture: Some nice catches of bluebone have been picked up within Roebuck Bay (Photo courtesy of Mirek Soucek).

Boats

Billfish enthusiasts have been encountering dozens of sailfish and the odd black marlin in waters wide of Barred Creek and out from James Price Point. Spanish mackerel have also been found in good numbers offshore and have been responding well to trolled bibbed minnows and rigged garfish. Some nice catches of bluebone and chinaman cod have been picked up within Roebuck Bay.

Shore based

Good sessions are starting to be had on barramundi in the upper reaches of the Fitzroy River as well as the local creeks. The barra have not been huge fish – averaging 65cm – but are being caught on a variety of lures as well as baits. Bluenose salmon can be caught along Roebuck Bay together with queenfish, trevally and the odd threadfin salmon. Prawn and worm baits are working well on whiting at Coconut Wells.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Sailfish are starting to appear in bigger numbers offshore so it won’t be long until they turn up in the upper areas of the gulf (Photo courtesy Bluewater Tackle World Exmouth).

Boats

Small black marlin are being encountered in depths starting at 30m off Tantabiddi, wide of Lighthouse Bay and west of the Muiron Islands. Sailfish are also starting to be found in bigger numbers offshore and it should not be long before the majestic sportfish turn up in the upper areas of the gulf in the coming weeks. The 60m to 120m depths are fishing reasonably well for red emperor, rankin cod and spangled emperor.

Shore based

Big poppers and stick baits worked in the evenings at Oysters are enticing strikes from big giant trevally. Queenfish are turning up in numbers during an incoming tide at VLF Bay and Old Bundegi. Some big giant herring have been caught on lure and fly in the lower areas of the gulf including the bay of rest. Try the lighthouse area early morning and evening for spangled emperor and bluebone.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Some nice catches of King George whiting have been coming from Wylie Bay and Bandy Creek (Photo courtesy of Reef Life Survey: Fishes of Australia).

Boats

Lloyd Needham landed an impressive 40kg hapuka and several blue eye trevalla while dropping baits beyond the continental shelf last week. A couple of boats that worked the waters off Cape Le Grande picked up some nice pink snapper, which are also being found in relatively shallow waters in the bay. Nannygai are mostly being found in 50m to 70m of water near the islands. Squid and whiting are the main species being caught by the dinghies and small boats.

Shore based

Salmon continue to be caught along the beaches with Fourth Beach, Salmon Beach, Eleven Mile, Roses and Munglinup among the spots where the 3kg to 7kg fish were caught this past week. Roses also produced a few nice skippy as did the reef at Eleven Mile. Evenings at Fourths have been good for mulloway while Thomas River has gummy sharks and Lucky Bay is fishing well for sand whiting. Storm garfish have been turning up at the Taylor Street Jetty together with herring and squid. Some nice catches of King George whiting have been coming from Wylie Bay and Bandy Creek.

Albany Catches

Picture: A busy day at Shelleys with surf fishers still enjoying some late season fish (Photo courtesy of Tony Tropiano).

Boats

When the boats have managed to head to the coral lumps scattered between the 60m and 90m depths, they have generally done well on queen, red and pink snapper as well as dhufish, skippy, breaksea cod and samson fish. The odd bigger craft that ventured beyond the shelf found bigger red snapper, mixed size hapuka and cod. King George whiting catches have varied through the inshore waters with the clearer areas. Cosy Corner, Two Peoples Bay and the ground near Michaelmas and Breaksea islands were among the areas where the better hauls of Geordies were achieved during the past week. A consistent stream of burley should also bring herring and juvenile salmon around in these parts while squid have required some effort at times.

Shore based

Surf fishers are still enjoying some late season fish at Shelleys, Nanarup, Cheyne Beach and Bluff Creek. Bigger skippy are being plucked from the deeper channels at Bluff and Cheyne while Bornholm and Nanarup had the odd tailor turn up early morning and evening. There is herring right along the coast with some thumpers of more than 30cm mixed in with the common 20cm to 25cm fish. Black bream catches have been improving in the King and Kalgan rivers, which waters have been a little clearer.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Reef fishers have been picking up fair catches of red emperor in 30m to 40m of water northwest of town.

Boats

Reef fishers have been picking up fair catches of red emperor, dhufish, pink snapper and big spangled emperor in 30m to 40m of water northwest of town. More spangles have also been coming from the deeper coral areas south of the river mouth. Spanish mackerel numbers seem to have thinned a little, but yellowfin and longtail tuna are starting to show in better numbers out wide. There are still a few cobia being encountered in random depths and areas.

Shore based

Kalbarri Sports and Dive’s Wayne Dewar caught a rare, but stunning, 63cm bonefish at Wagoe last week. Bonefish catches are uncommon south of Exmouth, however increasing numbers of bones have been picked up in the greater Kalbarri area in recent years. More big tailor have been caught on poppers and stick baits at the river mouth, which is also producing a few mulloway in the evenings. Garfish are a little hit and miss at Red Bluff and Jakes. Black bream are common in the lower and middle reaches of the Murchison River.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: The African Reef area is worth a visit for coral trout (Photo courtesy of Dylan Picken).

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers have been picking up some nice catches of squid along the seagrass beds out from Pages, Explosives and Point Moore. The ground approximately 10 nautical miles west of the marina has been fishing well for pink snapper. More pinks have also been coming from the 15m to 20m depths out from Drummonds Cove and Coronation. The African Reef area is worth a visit for dhufish and coral trout in less than 10m of water along Pensioners Bank.

Shore based

Surf fishers along the Flat Rocks to Greenough River stretch have been catching up to half a dozen tailor to a respectable 70cm a session. Similar size tailor have also been picked up from the northern side of the new marina together with herring, skippy, yellowtail, and squid. There were a couple of good mulloway between 1m and 1.2m caught at Flat Rocks during the past couple of weeks. Pink snapper have occasionally been caught from Coronation Beach.

South West Catches

Picture: The Busselton Jetty is always a good spot to try and catch some squid (Photo courtesy of @jakesfishstagram).

Boats

Squid enthusiasts are starting to find the tasty cephalopods in shallower waters through Geographe Bay. The Four Mile and Eight Mile are still fishing well for pink snapper. Good catches of quality reef fishing, including dhufish, pink snapper, breaksea cod and queen snapper, have been coming from depths leading up to 50m off Cowaramup Bay and Canal Rocks. Small southern bluefin tuna should begin showing off the west coast soon.

Shore based

Tailor have been turning up some mornings and evenings at Honeycombs, Mitchells, Bunker Bay and Elmore Road. A few salmon have also been caught along the west coast beaches while mostly juvenile salmon have been hitting baits and lures in Geographe Bay. Herring are responding to burley at the headlands and bays along both sides of the cape. Scoop netters are doing well on blue swimmer crabs off Quindalup at night.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: Bream fishing has slowed down a little with not a lot of activity in the upper estuary, however downstream it has been a different story with some fish being taken.

Mandurah

Most of the beaches around Mandurah are producing tailor. The beaches at White Hills and Tim’s Thicket to the south are turning on some good tailor and herring fishing. In the lower estuary, reports indicate that the fishing has been reasonable with catches of herring and tarwhine. Anglers fishing the beaches to the north of Mandurah report occasional catches of big tailor along with whiting, and tarwhine. A few mulloway have been taken from the beaches, either side of Mandurah. Bream fishing has slowed down a little with not a lot of activity in the upper estuary. Downstream it has been a different story with some fish being taken.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

Sand whiting and tailor are being taken from Warnbro Beach and Long Point. The Rockingham Jetty is producing herring, robust garfish and a few chopper tailor. Palm Beach is a good spot to try for most species and is also worth a try for squid. Tailor are being taken of an evening from the surf beaches along this section.

Metro Catches

Picture: Check out Brodie’s sambo caught off Hillarys. ‘Was a hell of a fight on the light gear’. Thanks for sharing! (Photo courtesy of @bskibz).

Boats

Pink snapper are responding well to burley between Garden and Carnac islands. Dhufish and samson fish have also been appearing in the burley trails at times. Snapper are also starting to be found in schools in between Garden Island and the mainland. There are plenty of squid still being caught along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within Cockburn Sound. The Barges located between 90m and 110m west and southwest of Rottnest Island are holding plenty of samson fish, a few amberjack and the odd big skippy.

Shore based

Tailor are starting to turn up in better numbers along the metropolitan beaches with some nice catches coming from South Beach, Cottesloe, Swanbourne Drain, Floreat and Trigg during the past week. Herring have been caught in similar areas, however better numbers of the important bread and butter species seem to be in Cockburn Sound. Squid continue to be caught from South Mole and Capo D’Orlando Drive. The deeper waters downstream of The Narrows would be worth trying for mulloway during the next few months.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Broome Catches

Picture: Chinaman seem to be lurking in close at the moment in Roebuck Bay (Photo courtesy of @benlesson21).

Boats

A customer of Broome Tackle Word was targeting spanish mackerel on bibbed minnows in waters west of town last week when his redhead-patterned lure enticed a small black marlin. The small black was brought to the side of the boat before a successful release. More black marlin have been coming from The Peanut Reef area and waters wide of James Price Point. Both areas have also been producing good catches of sailfish, which are ranging from 10kg to 30kg. Cobia have been appearing in a range of depths and areas and there are plenty of spanish mackerel in waters starting about 10 miles out. Bluenose salmon and mulloway are being picked up in reasonable numbers through Roebuck Bay while chinaman seem to be lurking in close at the moment.

Shore based

Barramundi are still hit and miss in the local creeks and the Fitzroy River, but this past week seemed to see a few more barra up and about striking baits as well as lures. Barra catches are expected to increase as the wet season graduates. Some nice bluenose salmon and javelin fish have been coming from Crab Creek. Mud crabs are being picked up in fairly good numbers in Roebuck Bay. Cable Beach has been fishing well for whiting, small trevally and queenfish.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Bottom fishing for ruby snapper has been productive in Exmouth (Photo courtesy of @fishing_oz).

Boats

Billfish are being encountered in good numbers off the west coast in depths starting at 70m while spanish mackerel are being caught along the back of the reef and west of the Muiron Islands. Schools of longtail tuna and a few yellowfin also are also about offshore. Bottom fishing for red emperor, rankin cod and spangled emperor has been good in depths leading up to 80m while waters beyond 120m have been producing a few ruby snapper. Soft plastics, stick baits and, at times, small poppers have accounted for spangled emperor inside the reef line within the national park. Cobia have shown up in the gulf, as they tend to do at this time of year.

Shore based

Bluebone are reportedly being caught in reasonable numbers along the west side. Apparently the bluebone have a particular liking for local king and tiger prawns. Garfish are thick in the gulf while the marina has been fishing well for queenfish, small trevally and yellowfin bream. Squid can be targeted at Learmonth Jetty, the marina and Tantabiddi boat launching facility.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Dinghy fishers who went out from Duke of Orleans Bay caught queen snapper, breaksea cod and squid.(Photo courtesy of Chris Dowling / Flickr. Fishes of Australia).

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers working the waters out from town have mostly been catching sand whiting and small squid in depths leading up to 15m. Dinghy fishers who went out from Duke of Orleans Bay caught queen snapper, breaksea cod and squid. One of the bigger boats that ventured to the shelf, when conditions permitted last week, picked up some big hapuka. Nannygai between 45cm and 50cm, samson fish, queen snapper and breaksea cod have been common near the islands.

Shore based

The Taylor Street Jetty has been fishing well for herring in the late afternoons and evenings, squid have been caught from the structure in quite good numbers. The Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has herring, small King George whiting and the odd black bream on offer. The Bream Lakes are producing black bream to 40cm, however the fish are still a tad finicky. Salmon continue to be caught right along the coast with Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Nine Mile, Fourteen Mile, Roses and Munglinup among the spots to produce the 3kg to 7kg torpedos this past week. Dunns has been producing mulloway and skippy as well as salmon while Alexander Bay had bigger skippy striking at the mulies that were intended for the salmon that were around.

Albany Catches

Picture: Reef fishing enthusiasts who took advantage of the calm conditions that presented and ventured to the 65m to 80m depths did well on samson fish.

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts who took advantage of the calm conditions that presented and ventured to the 65m to 80m depths did well on red, pink and queen snapper as well as breaksea cod, dhufish and samson fish. A couple of boats that made it as far as the shelf, and beyond, managed to deck hapuka and seven banded cod. King George whiting appear to be in reasonable numbers inshore with some boats striking their limits within a matter of minutes and others spending a good half a day to find the 35cm to 45cm fish. Nornalup Inlet has reportedly been starting to produce some nice catches of King George. Late August and early September are not ordinarily associated with good squid fishing inshore, however there still seems to be quite a few about, especially in the clearer areas.

Shore based

Wilsons Inlet opened last week and, while there were a few pink snapper caught. There have been schools regularly turning up at Shelleys and Nanarup with both locations also producing plenty of herring. Bornholm produced a few tailor as well as herring while bigger skippy are worth targeting at Bluff Creek and Cheynes Beach. Baits including river and coral prawns, and following the influx of freshwater, worms have been enticing black bream strikes in the King and Kalgan rivers. Hard-bodied and vibe-style lures are also producing a few bream.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Recfishwest Research Officer James, repping his crewsaver life jacket, make sure you check out wwww.fishandsurvive.com.au to see our full range.

Boats

Evolution Charters has been putting its clients onto plenty of spanish mackerel in waters north and south of the river mouth. Charter and private boats also did well on pink snapper, baldchin groper and dhufish following the recent big seas and swells. Some of the smaller boat and dinghy fishers also scored snapper and baldchin close to the cliffs. There are a few cobia turning up in random areas and it should not be long before yellowfin and longtail tuna schools start showing up in bigger numbers.

Shore based

Mulloway catches have continued at Chinamans and there were a few also landed at Frustrations and Wittecarra Creek during the week. Tailor have been appearing some mornings and evenings at Red Bluff, Wittecarra and Siphons. Poppers and stick baits have been attracting bigger tailor at Chinamans during no set hours. Plenty of small tailor of about 10cm were encountered in big numbers in the upper reaches of the Murchison River past week.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Cobia have been picked up together with the common reef species north of Coronation (Photo courtesy of Anthony Hood of Geraldton & Districts Offshore Fishing Club).

Boats

When the weather has allowed, the reef fishing enthusiasts working the waters near African Reef and South West Bank have been doing reasonably well on dhufish, pink snapper and sweetlip. More of the same species have been coming from the ground heading towards the Abrolhos Islands while cobia have been picked up together with the common reef species north of Coronation. Dinghy fishers have been coming home with fair catches of squid, herring and pike inside the reefs.

Shore based

Surf fishers have been presented with challenging conditions due to the seaweed and swell, however those who have been able to find a clear patch of water have caught a variety of species. Along the Flat Rocks to Greenough River stretch, tailor have been caught some mornings and evenings together with a few mulloway, which have mostly been school-size. The first and second points at Greenough have also had herring and pike. Whiting have been good at Southgates, Separation Point and the beaches north of Drummonds. There is still the odd bigger mulloway being caught behind The Lives and at the Batavia Marina. Both spots are also producing squid, especially after dark.

South West Catches

Picture: There are still a few salmon being caught at spots that include Bunker Bay, Smiths Beach, Mitchells, Eagle Bay (pictured) and Hamelin Bay. (Photo courtesy of Salmon School Tracker 2017).

Boats

Pink snapper continue to be found in good sizes and numbers within Geographe Bay. Some of the pinks caught this past week have been around the 10kg mark. These bigger fish have mostly been caught between the Four Mile and Eight Mile reefs on anchor and with the assistance of a consistent burley trail. Some boats have also been getting among the snapper within a few hundred metres of the coast at times. King George whiting can be found in 5m to 10m off Quindalup and Eagle Bay while the weed beds along there are fishing better for squid since the water has cleared somewhat.

Shore based

There are still a few salmon being caught at spots that include Bunker Bay, Smiths Beach, Mitchells, Eagle Bay and Hamelin Bay. Herring are in excellent numbers along both sides of Cape Naturaliste. Some nice skippy have been plucked from the deep gutters at Boranup and Contos Beach. These deeper sections of coast would also be worth trying for pink snapper, mulloway and jumbo tailor. Squid can be targeted from the jetties and headlands located within Geographe Bay.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: Fishers have been doing well and taking a few taking a few tailor at the ocean end of the Dawesville Cut.

Mandurah

There are herring, garfish, skippy and whiting around on the beaches to the north and south and anglers fishing the beaches at Tim’s Thicket and Preston have been taking some big tailor in the evening. These beaches are also the spots to try for mulloway with one captured this week at White Hills. In the Dawesville Cut, anglers have been taking a few tailor at the ocean end and herring, skippy and whiting along with a few King George whiting near the jetty adjacent to the Jolly Frog. Anglers chasing black bream are finding a few fish in the lower reaches of the rivers. Most success seems to be coming from anglers using lures rather than baits.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

Point Peron is fishing well for tailor. There have been whiting coming from the local bays around the sandy patches. Palm Beach has been producing an odd King George whiting and is a good spot to try for most species and also definitely worth a try for squid. Rockingham Jetty is producing herring, garfish and a few chopper tailor. Kwinana Beach is producing a few herring, garfish and whiting.

Metro Catches

Picture: Squid Hunters Western Australia member Wazza Upton caught a feed of some nice squid just out from the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour.

Boats

Early mornings seem to be the best time to target the 60cm to 90cm pink snapper that are being found within Cockburn Sound. More snapper are coming from the back of Carnac and Garden islands as well as around the Stragglers area. There have been some nice dhufish taken in 40m of water northwest of Rottnest Islands and out from Rockingham. King George and sand whiting are being picked up near Carnac and Stragglers. Amberjack are being pulled from the wrecks off West End while samson fish are mostly being caught in waters leading up to 40m behind Five Fathom Bank and northwest of Rottnest. There are still plenty of squid, and a few cuttlefish, being caught from the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within Cockburn Sound. Both species of cephalopods have also been picked up off Cottesloe and Hillarys Marina.

Shore based

Tailor activity is picking up along the metropolitan beaches with Cottesloe, Swanbourne Drain and Floreat fishing fairly well for 35 to 50cm fish. There were still a few pink snapper caught from the northern and southern rock walls notwithstanding the milder conditions. There have been some big mulloway landed along the metropolitan, and outer metropolitan beaches, however the precise locations of the prized fish were not disclosed. The lower reaches of the Swan River also has tailor and there are flathead starting to turn up at East Fremantle and Point Walter. September traditionally marks the start of the mulloway run through the Swan downstream from the Narrows Bridge. Spots for those eager to land one of these stunning river fish to try include near the Narrows, Claremont Jetty, Mosman Bay Jetty and Bicton Baths.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, Matt Cox for the latest in Kununurra and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Kununurra Catches

Picture: Why not tick barramundi off your bucket list with Northbound Charters? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Head to their website for more details.

Lower Ord River

The fishing in the Lower Ord River has been extremely consistent this year and the last couple of weeks were no exception. Fantastic numbers of fish have been getting caught on hard bodied lures generally flicking around the old tree stumps in the tidal area of the river. 10 fish per day has been a regular occurrence with some solid 80cm+ fish starting to show up.

Shore based

The Gibb River road isn’t in great condition but those who have braved the corrugations have been rewarded with some good fishing from the banks of the Pentecost. Poppers and fizzers have been working great along the drop offs.

Broome Catches

Picture: Most of the sailfish this season have been smaller fish, but some determined fishers have been successful landing some decent sized sails.

Boats

Most of the sailfish encountered since this season’s batch arrived a few months’ ago have been small fish suited for 10kg gear. Broome Tackle World’s Steve Chambers and his two sons managed to tease up and catch one of the bigger sailfish of the season during a recent session. The trio also picked up some solid spanish mackerel, which have also started to be caught more frequently. Reef fishing remains productive through the 20m to 30m depths where catches of blue lined emperor, saddletail seaperch and chinaman cod have been common. The inshore waters of Roebuck Bay are fishing reasonably well for bluenose salmon, mulloway and the occasional threadfin.

Shore based

Barramundi of varying sizes have been caught in the lower and middle reaches of the Fitzroy River as well as a few of the local creeks. Mixes of reef fish including bluebone, coral trout and emperor species have been picked up from at Gantheaume. Trevally, yellowfin bream and whiting are among the species being caught from along Town Beach.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Fishers have been doing well on golden trevally using soft plastics (Photo courtesy of Adam Jolly).

Boats

Big schools of baitfish have arrived in the gulf a month earlier than normal and their presence has already brought about an assortment of predators including sailfish, spanish mackerel, tuna and cobia. Billfish enthusiasts working the waters north of town have been doing well on sailfish, black and blue marlin. Sails and blacks have been encountered in as shallow as 30m of water near the Muiron Islands recently. Brothers Paul and Greg Mather have been doing well on golden trevally using soft plastics.

Shore based

The marina has been offering a range of species including yellowfin bream, small giant trevally, queenfish, estuary cod and squid. Lightly weighed squid baits have been working well on spangled emperor and bluebone near the lighthouse. Oysters is worth a try late afternoon and evening for big giant herring. There are some nice mud crabs being caught in the lower areas of the gulf.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Samson fish and other species have been common near the islands and beyond (Photo courtesy of @pjfishingwa).

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers continue to do well on whiting and squid in close. Catches of nannygai, breaksea cod, queen snapper and samson fish have been common near the islands and beyond. Schools of southern bluefin tuna should start to pass through local waters in the coming weeks.

Shore based

Mostly small herring, a few garfish and squid have been coming from the Taylor Street Jetty. Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has been producing a few King George whiting but many have been undersize. The black bream in the Bream Lakes have been fussy and finicky, but there were a few fish to 40cm caught recently. Salmon are scattered right along the coast with Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Nine Mile, Fourteen Mile, Dunns, Alexander Bay and Duke of Orleans Bay among the spots to produce 3kg to 7kg salmon this past week. Gummy sharks, small mulloway, skippy and herring were also picked up at Alexander Bay.

Albany Catches

Picture: Fishing from the beach in Albany can be very rewarding, with fishers catching salmon, herring and other species this week. Remember to keep the sand between your toes and stay off the rocks.

Boats

The better catches of King George seem to be coming from waters near Gull Rock, Michaelmas and Breaksea islands, Goode Beach, and Limestones. Squid are about and are being picked up in better numbers in the cleaner waters. Most of the rivers are fishing fairly well for black bream for those using baits. Hard-bodied lures have struggled to entice strikes, however there are a few soft plastics and even vibe-style lures that are getting good results.

Shore based

Surf fishers have continued to catch fair numbers of salmon along the local beaches as well as the coastal stretches east and west of town. The beach at Salmon Holes and Shelleys were among the better performing spots for salmon this past week. Herring have been plentiful right along the coast with the more remote spots producing better catches of bigger fish. King George whiting and good size skippy have been coming from the beaches east of town. Tarwhine remain in excellent numbers near Denmark. Wilsons Inlet has been producing a few pink snapper and expect the nearby rock platforms to produce a few pinks shortly after the sandbar opens.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Check out this gold-spot trevally caught by Rob on Murchison Fishing Charters (Photo courtesy of Lauire Malton).

Boats

When the boats have been able to head out, the crews have been finding areas north and south of the river mouth where spanish mackerel are about in healthy numbers. Mack and yellowfin tuna schools have been scarce, but expect both species to start showing in better numbers as the remaining weeks of winter pass. Soft plastic and metal jigs worked near the cliffs have been producing mixed catches of pink snapper, baldchin groper and coral trout.

Shore based

Several big mulloway were caught from Chinamans while smaller fish were regularly landed at the jetty. Tailor have been appearing some mornings and evenings at Red Bluff, Wittecarra and Siphons. Jakes would be worth trying for storm garfish and herring during the calm mornings following the recent spell of rough weather.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Dave Barrett & Mily Barrow had a good little night time hunt for squid using the YAMASHITA EGI OH Q Live Aussie Limited! Orange Zebra (Photo courtesy of Squid Hunters Western Australia).

Boats

Dhufish and pink snapper have been coming from the African Reef and South West Bank areas whereas it has mostly been snapper and baldchin groper being caught from the lumps off Horrocks and Coronation. The western edge of Pensioners Bank would be worth trolling along for spanish mackerel and tuna following reports of mackerel and tuna being caught off Wagoe and Kalbarri during recent weeks. Cobia of various sizes have been turning up in a range of depths and areas.

Shore based

An estimated 20kg spanish mackerel was caught from the rock wall in front of the Sail Inn early last week. Small mulloway of less than 30cm being caught along the coast is an encouraging size for future local populations. Tailor are generally around in pretty good numbers in August each year, however, the recent conditions have not allowed many to compare this season to previous years. August and September are also the two months of the year when yellowfin, sand and school whiting are along the beaches in their biggest numbers. Skippy to 35cm and yellowtail scads have been picked up at the Batavia and Dongara marinas.

South West Catches

Picture: When the weather has allowed, a couple of boats snuck around the corner of Cape Naturaliste and found schools of yellowtail kingfish of varying sizes. (Photo courtesy of Michael Parker).

Boats

The crews who visited the Four Mile and Eight Mile reefs when the weather allowed caught pink snapper and skippy. A couple of boats that snuck around the corner of Cape Naturaliste found schools of samson fish and yellowtail kingfish of varying sizes. Squid catches are improving in Geographe Bay with numbers of the popular cephalopod expected to be at their peak during next month or so.

Shore based

There were a few pink snapper caught from shore even though the weather was a lot milder this past week. Spots, where the snapper were picked up, included Busselton Jetty, Monaghan’s Corner and Rocky Point. Juvenile salmon, most of which are undersize, are about Geographe Bay in numbers. Herring are also around, but it has been hard to get past the small salmon in some areas. The rocky headlands and the local jetties would be worth trying for squid during the calm mornings and evenings that are forecast for the next three days or so. The deep gutters formed along the west coast beaches would be worth soaking whole fish baits for mulloway, pink snapper and jumbo tailor.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: The Dawesville Cut and the estuary are a great spot to troll for herring.

Mandurah

Anglers fishing the beaches both north and south of Mandurah report occasional catches of big tailor along with plenty of choppers. The beaches to the north were producing gummy sharks earlier in the week. They are also producing plenty of whiting, tarwhine and herring. Nobody has told the salmon that they are supposed to have moved back east as winter is now over, so there are still a few of them around, particularly along the southern beaches and smaller specimens have been reported in the Dawesville Cut. The Cut is still producing plenty of herring, King George whiting and a few whiting.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

Safety Bay Yacht Club and Rockingham Beach Jetty have been producing herring and squid. There are a few herring along most of the beaches, but not in any great number. Squid are still being caught from the jetties as well as offshore. Palm Beach Jetty is producing a few herring and skippy and there are a lot of squid also in the area. Anglers braving the cold evenings and mornings have been catching a few mulloway from these structures.

Metro Catches

Picture: You won’t hear too many complaints when you’re catching fish like this before sunrise! (Photo courtesy of @fishingperth).

Boats

The boats that have been anchoring and burleying near Garden and Carnac islands as well as along the back of Three Mile Reef have been doing quite well on pink snapper. Dinghy and kayak fishers have also been getting among quite a few snapper close to the rock groynes within Cockburn Sound. Samson fish ranging from 10kg to 25kg have been found in relatively shallow waters off Fremantle, Hillarys and Mindarie. Dhufish are also being picked up in some shallow water at times. Squid are still in good numbers along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and out from Hillarys. The sand holes between Fremantle and Rottnest Island are worth trying for plump winter sand whiting.

Shore based

There were still a few pink snapper caught from the southern and northern rock walls notwithstanding the calmer conditions. Mulloway have also been caught from these areas as well as along the beaches north of Pipidinny. Herring are in good numbers right along the coast and there are some bigger skippy starting to show up at spots including Trigg Point, Grant Street Reef and South Mole. Surf fishers have been achieving their bag limits of tailor to 55cm at times along the metropolitan beaches. Unfortunately the precise location of where the better catches of tailor have been coming from was not disclosed, however, South Beach Groyne, Swanbourne Drain, Floreat Beach and Two Rocks are proven tailor spots.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Broome Catches

Picture: If you can find some clean bluewater offshore in Broome you can put yourself in with a shot with great eating pelagics like this cobia caught by Julia.

Boats

A 28kg Spanish mackerel was among plenty of smaller mackerel caught on trolled bibbed minnows and rigged garfish during the past week. Most of the mackerel have been caught in waters approximately 10 to 15 miles out. Sailfish and small black marlin continue to be caught off Barred Creek and out from James Price Point during the spring tides – a period not commonly associated with good billfish encounters. Expect even better catches of both billfish species during the next run of neaps. Reef fishing enthusiasts have been picking up fair catches of blue lined emperor, coral trout, cobia and saddletail seaperch within Roebuck Bay and wider.

Shore based

Big schools of baitfish within Roebuck Bay an at the mouths of the local creeks are attracting an assortment of predators including bluenose salmon, threadfin salmon, mulloway, queenfish and trevally. Barramundi between 55cm and 65cm and the odd fish to a metre have been caught in the upper reaches of the Fitzroy River. Mostly small barra have been coming from Roebuck Bay and Dampier Creek. There are still plenty of yellowfin whiting being caught along Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Fishers have been using squid to catch coral trout in 70m to 110m of water (Photo courtesy of Dylan Picken).

Boats

Daniel Charsley achieved a billfish grand slam comprising a blue marlin, a black marlin and a sailfish in the one day. Sisters Tara and Rowena Golding landed their first ever black marlin recently. Jake Fitz caught several pink snapper to 57cm on stick baits near the Muiron Islands. Jaimie Campbell and a few mates used squid to catch red emperor, saddletail seaperch, goldband jobfish and coral trout in 70m to 110m of water.

Shore based

Plenty of squid continue to be caught from Learmonth Jetty and the marina. There are loads of whiting along the gulf beaches. Spangled emperor and bluebone are occasionally being caught from the coast near the lighthouse. Try Old Bundegi during the low tide change for queenfish, trevally and giant herring.

Esperance Catches

Picture: An amazing photo of mature King George, not often do you get the opportunity to capture a shot like this!

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers have been doing well on King George whiting, sand whiting, flathead and squid within a few hundred metres of the coast. When the bigger boats have managed to head to the islands, and beyond, fair catches of nannygai to 2.5kg, breaksea cod, samson fish and queen snapper have been achieved.

Shore based

Garfish have been caught in bigger numbers at the Taylor Street Jetty, which is also fishing reasonably well for small herring and skippy. Pilch, or yellow-eyed mullet, have started to be caught at the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour together with undersize pink snapper, herring and black bream. Salmon have been caught at Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Roses, Fourteen Mile and Munglinup. The lagoon at Ten Mile Beach has been producing lots of flathead as well as salmon. Eleven Mile Beach has also been fishing well for salmon as well skippy to a kilo. Small mulloway, skippy and salmon were among the species caught at Dunns.

Albany Catches

Picture: The rivers that are yet to open to the ocean are very tannin coloured, but still fishing reasonably well for black bream on baits and brightly coloured soft plastics.(Photo courtesy of @fisho_brad).

Boats

The King George Sound and both harbours are rather discoloured following the recent rain and consequently the King George whiting require some searching in these waters. Squid catches have been better in the cleaner waters off Goode Beach and near Gull Rock. Very few made it out to the coral this past week, however expect the usual mix of reef fish including red, pink and queen snapper and breaksea cod to be fair numbers. The rivers that are yet to open to the ocean are very tannin coloured, but still fishing reasonably well for black bream on baits and brightly coloured soft plastics. Mulloway have been very quiet for the past three or four weeks.

Shore based

Opportunities to wet a line were limited for shore-based and offshore fishers due to the big swells and strong winds. A few intrepid fishers who set out to search for salmon following reports of 4kg to 6kg fish turning up along the coast in numbers managed to find schools of fish. Spots where the salmon were found this past week included Little Beach, Goode Beach, Frenchmans, Shelleys and Cosy Corner. Bigger schools have been regularly appearing along Bremer Bay while Bluff Creek and Cheynes Beach have also had some decent size schools at times. One fisher who visited the somewhat protected reef and rock areas near Denmark could not believe the number of tarwhine around. Some Denmark locals have labelled the abundance of tarwhine around the local beaches as the silver plague.

Fishers & Farmers to Work on Enhancing Fish & Marron Habitat in Albany

On the 26th of August, recreational fishers will be encouraged to take part in a planting day on the King River, Albany. The event will be the last component of the current Fish Friendly Farms project in Albany, and will involve planting native vegetation along the river banks on two private properties.

If you would like to be involved, or for more information, click here.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Baldy on the Halco Tackle Madeye 8″ Flick Stick in the irresistible pearl colour! (Photo courtesy of Curtis Waterman).

Boats

Before the rough weather set in there were Spanish mackerel being caught on trolled bibbed minnows. It may take some time for the water clarity to improve before similar numbers of mackerel are seen off the coast again. Reef fishing has generally been pretty good following the blows with lots of pink snapper, baldchin groper and the odd coral trout being caught from the 10m to 15m depths out from the cliffs and the same species as well as red emperor and dhufish coming from the ground between the 30m and 40m contour northwest of the river mouth.

Shore based

Big swells limited the amount of fishing performed along the beaches, however there were a few tailor caught at Red Bluff, Wittecarra and Chinamans. Storm garfish have reappeared at Jakes Bay and Red Bluff following the rough weather. There have been a few school-size and bigger mulloway coming from Oyster Reef and Frustrations. The beaches north of Frustrations would also be worth a try for mulloway and pink snapper. Pink snapper and baldchin groper have been picked up from the coastal gorges. Kalbarri Sports and Dive’s Wayne Dewar has been doing well on black bream to 35cm on bait in the upper reaches of the Murchison River. The lower reaches of the system are starting to produce more yellowfin whiting.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Is there a better sound in the world than a screaming reel after a mackie chases down your lure?

Boats

Pink snapper mostly between 5kg and 7kg have been caught in fair numbers along the lumps 15 miles to 20 miles out north and south of the marina. Baldchin groper and sweetlip were also caught among the snapper, however dhufish have been difficult to find. The odd spaniard has been turning up for those trolling lures out around the Abrolhos. The seagrass beds inside the inshore reefs are still producing good squid catches for the dinghies and small boats.

Shore based

Good numbers of whiting have been caught from the sand areas between the seaweed piles at Southgates and Separation Point as well as behind The Lives. A few school-size mulloway have been landed at West Bank, however the weed there has been bad. During the rough weather, pink snapper between 3kg and 4kg have been caught from the rock walls of the harbour. There were also tailor to 75cm caught together with the snapper. Squid have been caught under the lights of the Batavia Marina in the evenings. Tailor are generally about in fair numbers during this time of the season, however fishers may need to wait for conditions to settle before targeting the popular surf species.

South West Catches

Picture: There are still a few skippy, tarwhine and tailor being caught at Bunker Bay when conditions have been suitable.

Boats

The west coast has been off limits for several days due to the huge seas and swells. The winds have also been whipping up some big seas in Geographe Bay for most part of the last week. Pink snapper have been caught in fair numbers near the Four Mile and Eight Mile. Once again, the anchor and burley method has proved to be very effective in bringing the 4kg to 9kg snapper to the boat. Squid fishing is generally good from mid August to early October and expect there to be plenty of action along the seagrass beds off Quindalup once the water clarity improves.

Shore based

Pink snapper have continued to be caught from Monaghan’s Corner, Busselton Jetty and a couple of other undisclosed shore-based Geographe Bay spots during the recent stormy weather. Squid are starting to be caught in bigger numbers from the jetties and rocky headlands located within Geographe Bay. Herring remain in excellent numbers and there are still a few skippy, tarwhine and tailor being caught at Bunker Bay and Castle Rock when conditions have been suitable.

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: The estuary has been producing skippy and an occasional small samson fish (Photo courtesy of Tony Tropiano).

Mandurah

It’s been mainly just herring and whiting in the Dawesville Cut along with a few tailor earlier in the week. Many of the herring have been quite large with several fish up around the 30 cm mark. Also included in the catches have been skippy and King George whiting. Tailor have been turning up at dawn and dusk at either end of the channel. Almost all of the beaches around Mandurah have been producing fish. Most of the fish have been the smaller varieties such as herring, whiting and pilch. Anglers at White Hills through to Tim’s Thicket report good tailor early morning and late afternoon with fish up to just over the kilo mark not uncommon. The estuary has been producing skippy and an occasional small samson fish. Crabs are spasmodic and are widely scattered in the estuary. The beaches to the north have started to turn it on with tailor and whiting being caught at places like Madora Bay, Silver Sands and San Remo.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

Warnbro Sound has been producing some good catches with some very big sand whiting, skippy, tarwhine and some good snapper. There are still plenty of squid being taken in and around Warnbro Sound. Point Peron has been producing tarwhine, herring and some nice sized tailor. Snapper are being taken around Carnac Island. Most spots around Rockingham are producing the usual run of herring, pilch, whiting and skippy.

Metro Catches

Picture: There are still sambos around the metro area. If you can manage to get out on the water in between the showers and storms, you may find some in the sun out near Rottnest.(Photo courtesy of Alanna Hubbard).

Boats

Kayak and boat fishers who hugged the rock walls within Cockburn Sound did well on pink snapper. Very few managed to head out beyond the protected waters due to the rough conditions, which persisted for most part of the week. Once the water clarity improves, expect there to still be plenty of squid along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within Cockburn and Warnbro Sound.

Shore based

Pink snapper continued to be caught from the northern and southern rock walls during this past week of big seas and swells. Several snapper ranging from 55cm to 80cm were caught from Hillarys and Mindarie Marina rock walls. Several salmon and the odd jumbo tailor were also caught at both spots. Other spots where snapper were caught included Woodman Point and Coogee Marina. There are still a few salmon turning up at the Kwinana beaches while the deep gutters formed at Golden Bay and San Remo, following the recent storms, would be worth trying for mulloway.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, Matt Cox for the latest in Kununurra, Stewart King for Freshwater fishing and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Picture: Brian Norton with his yellowfin tuna caught recently off Murian Islands, thanks for sharing!!

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Kununurra Catches

Picture: Matt Cox taking a quick break from writing our fishing report and catching barra! Make your next fishing adventure up in Kununurra one to remember, call Northbound Charters today!

Lower Ord

The Lower Ord River has fished exceptionally well over the past two weeks with hauls of up to 20 barramundi being caught in single day sessions. Last weeks neap tides really cleaned the water clarity up in the river, which has been fantastic for lure fishing. The majority of fish have been caught on deep diving lures in all shapes and colours with the most common fish size being in the 65-75cm range.

Shore based

Buttons Crossing on the Lower Ord River has been the best spot for land based fisherman with great river access and fantastic fishing in the rapids. Best results have come from fishing the back eddies and white wash with soft plastics with a slow twitch and retrieve.

Broome Catches

Picture: If you love fishing and you are a woman, then why not join Broome Girls Gone Fishing on Facebook?! They are a passionate group of ladies that love their fishing and you can be apart of it! (Photo courtesy of Broome Girls Gone Fishing).

Boats

Billfish enthusiasts have continued to encounter very good numbers of sailfish and small black marlin wide of Barred Creek, near The Peanut and out from James Price Point. Spanish mackerel are up and about and responding well to trolled rigged garfish and bibbed minnows, however mack and longtail tuna schools appeared less frequently. Kym Courtney landed a 1.5m spanish mackerel from his kayak out from Gantheaume Point last Thursday. Some nice catches of threadfin salmon and mulloway have been coming from within Roebuck Bay. Reef fishing enthusiasts have been picking up quite a few chinaman cod and bluebone.

Shore based

Tackle World Broome’s Bryce Marinas has been finding barramundi in the freshwater areas of the Fitzroy River. More barra have been coming from the local creeks together with bluenose and the odd threadfin salmon. Rock fishers have been catching bluebone from Gantheaume Point during the neap tide periods. Yellowfin whiting can be found along Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: This is a great example of the ground estuary cod love to live in, look for caves and big ledges on your sounder (Photo courtesy of Ash Amozig).

Boats

Junior fishers Jorja and Tahlia Mossman got among some nice gold band jobfish, rankin cod, saddletail seaperch and gold spotted trevally during a session off Peak Island on Sunday. The Mossmans also trolled whole baits and lures for spanish mackerel off Peak Island and inadvertently hooked a marlin, which managed to throw the hooks. Similarly, Charlie and Harvey Mitchell were towing a bibless minnow for mackerel off Tantabiddi when a marlin was momentarily hooked. The Mitchells caught dolphin fish and tuna that day. Big schools of mulies and yellowtail scads in the gulf have been attracting an assortment of predators including cobia, mackerel and tuna.

Shore based

Baits and soft plastics worked along the reef and sand areas near the lighthouse are producing a few spangled emperor and bluebone. Queenfish to a metre, small giant trevally and giant herring have been turning up at Bundegi and Old Bundegi, especially during an incoming tide. Bigger giant trevally are worthwhile targeting at Oysters. The gulf beaches are loaded with whiting while squid have been caught at the marina and Learmonth Jetty an hour either side of high tide.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Queen snapper have been picked up in areas about 10 to 15 miles out from Esperance (Photo courtesy of @pjfishingwa).

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers have picked up squid in 2m to 4m of water at times. Plenty of sand whiting and herring have also been coming from the inshore parts. Out wider, nannygai to 2kg, queen snapper, breaksea cod and samson fish have been picked up in areas about 10 to 15 miles out.

Shore based

Mixed catches of bread and butter species including herring, garfish, skippy, King George whiting and squid can be caught from the Taylor Street Jetty. The Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has herring and black bream on offer. Salmon have consistently been caught at Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Alexander, Roses, the reef at Nine Mile and Dunns. Stockyards is worth a visit with herring, juvenile salmon, plenty of flathead and skippy on offer.

Albany Catches

Picture: “Another cracking land based harlequin! Been getting into quite a few of these guys lately! My Crewsaver PFD keeping me safe as always!” – Thanks for sharing Brody! (Photo courtesy of Brody Ogle).

Boats

King George have been picked up through the inshore waters of Oyster Harbour, which surprisingly still had clear water earlier this week. The bigger boats that managed to head offshore scored a few red, queen and pink snapper as well as breaksea cod and skippy. Expect samson fish and yellowtail kingfish to start showing up closer to shore during the ensuing weeks. The King and Kalgan, and most of the neighbouring rivers, are fishing well for black bream mostly ranging from 25cm to 35cm. King George whiting were caught at the mouth of the Bremer late last week and there were also a few picked up at Wilson Inlet. Torbay, which reopened recently, was teeming with juvenile salmon and herring.

Shore based

Surf fishers have continued to catch bag limits of salmon at times from selected beaches along the local and somewhat remote areas of coast. Spots where the 3kg to 7kg salmon were caught on bait and lure this past week included Cables, Mutton Bird Beach, Shelleys and Lowlands. Four-wheel drive enthusiasts are being urged to check the beaches for very soft sand and washouts before entering following the recent period of big swells and seas. Bornholm has been producing tailor some mornings and evenings while the gutters at Cheyne Beach and Bluff Creek are holding some big skippy. Frenchmans Bay and the rocks at Middleton Beach have been providing some nice King George whiting catches every now and then.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Spanish mackerel are still being caught north and south of the river mouth (Photo courtesy of Andre Oppløsninger).

Boats

The local charter boats have been putting their clients onto plenty of spangled emperor to a solid 6kg as well as other reef species including pink snapper, baldchin groper, coral trout and dhufish. Spanish mackerel are still being caught on rigged fish baits and bibbed minnows north and south of the river mouth. Schools of cobia have been encountered in a range of depths and areas.

Shore based

When conditions have allowed rock fishers to head to their favourite platform, the stone fishing enthusiasts have been picking up pink snapper, baldchin groper and jumbo tailor. More tailor have been coming from Wittecarra and Red Bluff early morning and evening while Chinamans has been producing tailor during all hours of the day. Oyster Creek and Frustrations have been better for tailor in the morning with the latter spot and the beaches north of there providing mulloway when the swell has been down. Yellowfin whiting have returned to the lower reaches of the Murchison together with black bream, which seem to have made their way downstream following the recent rain. The middle and upper reaches are fishing better for mulloway.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Reef fishing enthusiasts who have been anchoring and burelying along the South West Bank and the lumps off Coronation have been doing reasonably well on coral trout. (Photo courtesy of @lannz04).

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts who have been anchoring and burelying along the South West Bank and the lumps off Coronation have been doing reasonably well on pink snapper to 8kg, baldchin groper to 3kg and coral trout. Plenty of sweetlip are also being caught at South West Bank. Dhufish have been hard work but there have been some 70cm to 80cm fish caught near the Abrolhos Islands. The seagrass beds off Pages and Greys Bay are producing good catches of squid.

Shore based

Tailor are starting to show up in better numbers as the popular surf fish tend to do each August. Tailor between 40cm and 50cm have been coming from the Flat Rocks to Greenough River mouth stretch this past week together with the odd mulloway to 80cm. Sand whiting and herring are the main species being caught from behind The Lives and the marina. Squid have been picked up at the marina at night.

South West Catches

Picture: Recfishwest Habitat Officer, Michael ‘Tropi’ Tropiano with his pinky. Make sure you tune into ABC 720 radio on Saturday mornings to hear some of Tropi’s fishing tips.

Boats

One of the best pink snapper seasons seen in Geographe Bay in several years is still occurring, however the weather has not allowed the boats to head out to target the 4kg to 12kg fish. There was a small break in the rough conditions on Saturday and those who ventured to the Four Mile and Eight Mile were rewarded with a few snapper. Anchoring and burleying has again proven to be the most effective method when targeting the pinks. Squid are still about the seagrass meadows off Quindalup and should actively strike at jigs again once the water clarity improves.

Shore based

There were a few pink snapper caught from the Busselton Jetty and Monaghan’s Corner during the week of rough conditions. The west coast beaches were off limits due to the seas and swell. A few who targeted bread and butter species in the bay picked up herring, skippy, tarwhine and flathead.

South West Freshwater

Picture: Do you love trout? Make sure you join us on September 2nd at Drakesbrook Weir and help us release thousands of trout back into WA waters.

With the weather being so wet and windy not many people have been tempted to wet a line. The good news is that water levels have risen in both rivers and dams. This is promising for the start of the new season, September 1. Your best bet for a fish close to Perth is still Logue Brook Dam, where a few fishers have had success recently with a couple of nice trout caught near the dam wall as well as just up from the boat ramp.

Families Wanted for Freshwater Fishing Fun!

WATFAA, as the main trout and freshwater fishing club in the Perth and South West region, is teaming up with Recfishwest to run Perth’s biggest family freshwater event.

The day will include:

• Trout Stocking

• Freshwater Fishing Clinic

• Fly Casting

• Freshwater Tackle & Rigging Information.

We feel this is a great idea and can only help promote freshwater fishing in the South West. The club has put together a team that is full of enthusiasm, excited to share their skills and will try and answer any fishing questions put to them.

Event details:

Saturday 2nd of September 2017
Starts at 10.00 am to 1.30 pm
Drakesbrook Weir, Waroona.

View the event flyer, here.

If you would like any further information, please email recfish@recfishwest.org.au

So why not head down and be a part of something special? Hope to see you there!

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: King George can be found in The Cut with a number of other bread and butter species (Photo courtesy of Jacko Jackson).

Mandurah

There are still quite a few tailor being taken from the White Hills and Tim’s Thicket section of beach. Some of these tailor quite a good size with many reported over a kilo in weight. The Dawesville Cut is still producing plenty of good fishing, including herring, robust garfish, King George whiting and skippy. There are also reports of tailor being caught earlier in the week. If you’re after a feed of crabs there are still a few in the deeper water in the river and another spot worth trying is in the canals.

There are reports of a few tailor, herring and sand whiting coming in from the northern beaches and there are still a few black bream around and it is suggested that anglers looking for them try the lower reaches of the river at the moment, as they appear to have moved down towards the bridges.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

Safety Bay Yacht Club and Rockingham Beach Jetty have been producing herring and squid. There are a few herring along most of the beaches. Squid are still being caught from the jetties as well as off-shore. Palm Beach Jetty is producing a few herring and skippy and there are a lot of squid also in the area. Fishing at night seems to be working well for anglers chasing mulloway. Anglers fishing from Kwinana Beach have found whiting, pilch and herring. The beaches around Secret Harbour have been producing good sand whiting.

Metro Catches

Picture: Adrian Donald with his land based pinky caught at North Mole (Photo courtesy of Perth & WA Fishing Reports).

Boats

There were limited opportunities for boat fishers to head offshore, but those who took advantage of the brief window of fairer conditions at the weekend achieved mixed results. The big swells prevented the boats from working the relatively shallow waters between Garden Island and Stragglers, which have been producing some nice pink snapper recently. Even parts of Five Fathom Bank were off limits because it was feathering. The 20m to 30m depths south of Rottnest Island produced mixed catches of snapper, breaksea cod and dhufish. Similar species were picked up in similar depths out from the northern marinas including Hillarys, Mindarie and Two Rocks. The ground in 50m to 60m of water off Rockingham seems to be producing bigger dhufish more consistently. Squid are still about the seagrass beds off Fremantle, but it may take for water clarity to improve before the tasty cephalopods to become active again. Arrow squid were recently caught off Garden Island. Sand whiting are mostly being caught in bigger numbers and sizes in the deeper sand holes in say 25m to 30m.

Shore based

Big numbers of pink snapper were picked up along the metropolitan rock walls during the recent storm periods. Apparently more than three dozen snapper were landed at South Mole one evening last week. Nearby North Mole has also been producing land-based pinks. Woodman Point also provided snapper catches as did Coogee Marina rock wall and the rocks at Hillarys Marina. Herring have been caught in good numbers from the rock walls, however robust garfish catches have slowed. There were a few more tailor caught at Swanbourne Drain, Floreat Groyne and Trigg Point when the conditions were suitable at the weekend. Expect gummy sharks to start turning up along the metropolitan beaches in numbers as the toothless creatures tend to do at this time of the year. A 30kg samson fish was landed near the Fremantle Traffic Bridge recently.

Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, Stewart King for the latest in freshwater fishing and thanks to John Curtis for his Mandurah & Surrounds report.

Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!

Picture: Shout out to Luke Kain who caught this beautiful squid in Coral Bay a week after losing his beloved drone to the depths of the ocean (Photo courtesy of Squid Hunters Western Australia).

Your Fishing Photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au

Broome Catches

Picture: If you’re fishing for blue lined emperor, try using some fresh squid, rock crabs or prawns as bait and use a simple running sinker to circle hook, it should do the trick.

Boats

The 218 sailfish and 36 black marlin that were caught and released during the recent Billfish Classic has been encouraging crews to target both varieties of billfish. Areas where sails and marlin were encountered this past week included waters wide of Barred Creek, near The Peanut and out from James Price Point. Reef fishing has been productive with plenty of big blue lined emperor and some nice coral trout and estuary cod being caught in depths ranging from 15m to 30m. Spanish mackerel have been responding well to rigged garfish and bibbed minnows 10 to 15 nautical miles offshore. Schools of longtail and mack tuna have been turning up near the shoals of baitfish. Tripletail are being caught near the moorings located in Roebuck bay.

Shore based

Small barramundi are being caught in big numbers in Dampier Creek and the lower reaches of the Fitzroy River. Bluenose and a few threadfin salmon have also been coming from the local creeks and their adjacent shorelines. Quandong and Menari have been fishing well for a variety of species including whiting, bream, queenfish, blue lined emperor and trevally. Willie Creek and Crab Creek are providing some nice mud crabs.

Exmouth Catches

Picture: Town Beach and various patches between the Marina and Learmonth have been fishing extremely well for yellowfin whiting.

Boats

Reef fishing enthusiasts have been finding red emperor, rankin cod and coral trout in shallower waters, which is quite common during this time of the year when the water temperatures are cooler in closer. The cooler water temperatures seem to have turned the spanish mackerel on behind the west coast reef and in the upper areas of the gulf following reports of good mackerel catches on trolled bibbed minnows and suspended whole baits. Cobia are worth targeting on poppers and stick baits near the Muiron Islands.

Shore based

Town Beach and various patches of coast between the marina and Learmonth have been fishing exceptionally well for yellowfin whiting, especially during the hour or so leading up to high tide. Old Bundegi is being frequented by queenfish, giant herring and small giant trevally while bigger GTs are a chance at Oysters late afternoon and evening. Try the accesses near the lighthouse for spangled emperor and bluebone.

Esperance Catches

Picture: Esperance beaches are fantastic for land based fishing. Fishers are able to target species such as salmon, herring, skippy and mulloway.

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers continue to do extremely well on whiting and squid through the inshore areas and less than 100m from the coast at times. Nannygai to half a kilo have been common in 70m of water. Some boats also managed pink snapper, breaksea cod, queen snapper and samson fish.

Shore based

Mixed catches of King George whiting, herring, squid and garfish can be caught at the Taylor Street Jetty while the Bandy Creek structure has herring, black bream and juvenile salmon. Salmon continue to be caught at Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Nine Mile and Fourteen Mile. Stockyards also has salmon as well as herring, skippy to half a kilo and flathead. Gummy sharks and small mulloway are on offer at Alexander Bay, which also produced skippy to 2kg for one lucky group last week.

Albany Catches

Picture: The King and Kalgan rivers are once again producing good numbers of black bream with Brock Keymer sending in this ripper of a photo (fish caught in the Kalgan).

Boats

Squid have been picked up in reasonable numbers through the inshore areas, which are also producing mixed catches of King George and sand whiting, skippy, herring and flathead. There were seldom reports of boats heading out beyond the protected inshore waters, but expect the usual mix of reef fish including queen, red and pink snapper, breaksea cod and skippy. Black bream enthusiasts have been catching fish between 28cm and 34cm as well as the very odd fish of more than 40cm in the King and Kalgan rivers. Soft plastics have been working well on the bigger fish.

Shore based

It has been a challenging week for shore-based and boat fishers alike due to the terrible conditions, however, some encouraging news has come from the local beaches which have seen an increase in the number of salmon. Surf fishers who picked up a break in the weather and soaked mulies or spun lures at Sand Patch, Shelleys, Bornholm and Cheyne Beach caught up to half a dozen salmon a session. Bigger salmon schools have also been turning up along the Bremer Bay stretch. Plenty of herring have also been coming from the beaches along with some nice skippy, the odd tarwhine and a few flathead. Perhaps one of the more interesting recent catches was that of several arrow squid caught from one of the local jetties and at Goode Beach.

Kalbarri Catches

Picture: Fishers in Kalbarri have been getting good catches of pinkies, coral trout and baldchin groper (Photo courtesy of Kalbarri Offshore & Angling Club’s, Sue Malton).

Boats

Spanish mackerel have turned up offshore in numbers that are not usually experienced at this time of the year. Boat fishers have been trolling a variety of diving lures north and south of the river mouth to catch the 10kg to 20kg mackerel as well as other pelagics including yellowfin and longtail tuna. Soft plastic and metal jigs worked near the cliffs have been producing catches of coral trout, pink snapper and baldchin groper.

Shore based

Storm garfish are expected to appear at Red Bluff and Jakes Bay in numbers as the bigger of the garfish varieties tend to do following a period of rough conditions. Herring are plentiful at both locations and there have been a few tailor caught up and down the coast when the swell has allowed surf fishers to get a line out. Some nice mulloway were caught at Wagoe last week and there are rumours of big fish caught north of the river mouth. A 70cm estuary cod was caught at Bird Rock last week and there are black bream in the middle and lower reaches of the Murchison being picked up.

Geraldton Catches

Picture: Peter from Geraldton & Districts Offshore Fishing club with an impressive dhuie.

Boats

The African Reef area has been producing mixed catches of dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper. More snapper have been coming from the edge of the shipping channel as well as along the lumps approximately 12 nautical miles west northwest of the marina. The waters north of Coronation may be worth trying for spanish mackerel and other pelagics considering the recent catches of both species near Kalbarri. Dinghy and small boat fishers have continued to do well on squid, herring and pike along the seagrass meadows.

Shore based

Tailor and some mulloway have been caught along the Flat Rocks to Greenough River stretch, however, the weed that has built up following the recent rough conditions has made surf fishing along there challenging. Some nice whiting have been caught at Separation Point, Pages and Drummonds Cove. The back of The Lives is producing mixed catches of whiting, skippy, chopper tailor and the odd bigger mulloway.

South West Catches

Picture: When the weather allows it, try your luck at the Busselton Jetty for some pink snapper (Photo courtesy of amandabhslater).

Boats

There were few opportunities to head offshore during the past week, however, those who jumped on the chance when the calmer conditions presented and headed to the Four Mile Reef and Eight Mile Reef did well on pink snapper in the 5kg to 10kg range. Anchoring and burleying has once again proved to be among the effective methods in attracting the snapper. Some nice King George whiting were picked up in waters leading up to 15m within Geographe Bay. Squid catches should improve once the water clarity increases.

Shore based

Several pink snapper in the 7kg to 9kg range were caught at Monaghan’s Corner and the Busselton Jetty during, and just following, the recent period of rough weather. There are still some nice skippy coming from the headlands extending along the west coast and Geographe Bay beaches. Tailor are turning up at spots including Mitchells and Elmore Road some mornings and evenings. Try the deep gutters formed along Hamelin Bay and Boranup Beach as a result of the recent blow for mulloway, jumbo tailor and pink snapper.

South West Freshwater

Picture: Don’t miss out on Perth’s biggest family freshwater event. The day includes trout stocking and a fishing clinic – a whole lot of fun for all ages!

Families Wanted for Freshwater Fishing Fun!

WATFAA, as the main trout and freshwater fishing club in the Perth and South West region, is teaming up with Recfishwest to run Perth’s biggest family freshwater event.

The day will include:

• Trout Stocking

• Freshwater Fishing Clinic

• Fly Casting

• Freshwater Tackle & Rigging Information.

We feel this is a great idea and can only help promote freshwater fishing in the South West. The club has put together a team that is full of enthusiasm, excited to share their skills and will try and answer any fishing questions put to them.

Event details:

Saturday 2nd of September 2017
Starts at 10.00 am to 1.30 pm
Drakesbrook Weir, Waroona.

View the event flyer, here.

If you would like any further information, please email recfish@recfishwest.org.au

So why not head down and be a part of something special? Hope to see you there!

Mandurah & Surrounds

Picture: The Cut is offering up some good opportunities for fishers to catch tailor and tarwhine (Photo courtesy of Dylan Picken).

Mandurah

Herring, skippy. and sand whiting have formed the bulk of the catch for fishers in this area. Tailor have been turning up at dawn and dusk in The Cut. Good sized King George whiting have been caught as well, generally around the jetty near the Jolly Frog. Other fishers report that after dark, tarwhine have come on the bite at the inner end of The Cut, along with herring and skippy.

Almost all of the beaches around Mandurah have been producing fish. Most of the fish have been the smaller varieties such as herring, whiting and pilch. Weed has choked some areas along the beaches in the area however several fishers have reported big tailor being caught from the beaches between The Cut and White Hills. Anglers fishing the Traffic Bridges report catching herring, tarwhine and sand whiting. There are still a few smaller tailor along the northern beaches along with tarwhine, whiting and herring.

Secret Harbour/ Port Kennedy/ Warnbro/ Rockingham/ Safety Bay

When the weather has allowed fishers to get out they have found mixed bags. Weed has piled up on some beaches and has meant that some spots have been difficult to fish. Point Peron has been producing tarwhine, herring and some nice sized tailor on occasions. Most spots around Rockingham are producing the usual run of herring, pilch, whiting and skippy. Herring are being taken from all of the beaches in the area as well as some good sand whiting around Becher Point. Anglers fishing from the Palm Beach Jetty report good catches of herring and skippy and squid. After dark the area is producing some mulloway.

Metro Catches

Picture: It is the exciting time of the year where people are chasing that shore based pinky. The good news is they are around! Check out Woodman Point, Cottesloe Groyne (pictured) and Hillarys Marina (Photo courtesy of Al Garcia and Perth & WA Fishing Reports).

Boats

Crews who have been working the Five Fathom Bank and Garden Island to Stragglers area have continued to find big numbers of solid skippy. Pink snapper and small dhufish have also been caught in these waters together with the odd samson fish ranging from 5kg rats to 30kg brutes. The boats anchoring and burleying near Three Mile Reef off Hillarys have also picked up some nice catches of snapper. The squid being caught along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within Cockburn Sound are a lot bigger.

Shore based

Alex Carter landed half a dozen pink snapper from South Mole during the past fortnight and there have been many others who managed to pick up a snapper, or two, from the moles during this recent week of rough weather. Other places where pink snapper were caught this past week included Woodman Point, Cottesloe Groyne and Hillarys Marina rock wall. The deep gutters formed at Swanbourne Drain and along the Floreat to Trigg Point stretch sometimes produce snapper and mulloway after a strong blow. Herring are still relatively easy to catch from the jetties and rock walls, especially when burley is used. It may be worth waiting for the water clarity to improve before targeting squid from the Fremantle rock walls. Mark Allenby has been doing well on black bream between 30cm and 35cm near Shelley Bridge.