Dampier is a small coastal town 20mins drive from the mining town of Karratha. Famous for the Dampier Archipelago, a series of 42 islands scattered in fairly shallow waters. For most residents a boat is essential, as there are endless opportunities for exploring and fishing. Find the best Dampier fishing spots and what to catch below.

For the traveling angler with a small boat or even land based, there are plenty of fishing spots in Dampier and Karratha. The best Dampier fishing spots require a four wheel drive, such as the Burup Peninsula. Fishing along the peninsula anglers can expect Trevally, Queenfish, Cod, Emperor, Bream and Giant Herring. The only other land based fishing spot worth mentioning is the Nickol River, which can be accessed by four wheel drive. Here anglers can expect Threadfin Salmon, Bream, Mangrove Jack and the odd Barramundi.

Fishing at Dampier is best explored by boat, the small boat around 3.7m+ is enough to access to truly great fishing. Most travelers visit Dampier in Winter when the winds and weather is favorable for fishing. Small boats can venture out as far as West Intercourse Island, West Lewis Island and up into the shallow creeks and bays.

Around the islands is good fishing for Trevally, Queenfish, Cod and Emperor. The outgoing tide coming out of the rocks is particularly good for Emperor. Maitland sound is also only a short distance from Witnell Bay boatramp, here anglers can bottom bounce for Coral Trout, Tuskfish, Emperor, Trevally and Queenfish. Tuna and Mackerel will also come into the shallow waters around the island, so watch for birds.

In the shallow creeks and along Nickol Bay, good sized Threadfin Salmon feed in the shallows on an incoming tide. They will often fall victim lightly weight prawn lures, cast and floated down in front of their nose. Up the creeks, anglers can target Mangrove Jacks, Flathead and the odd Barramundi.

Further offshore is best left for the bigger boats, out around Rosemary Island and Bare Rock is famous for Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna and Mackerel. The bottom fishing out here is top notch, and patience anglers can easily sound around for some good fish. Coral Trout, Emperor, Chinaman Fish, Tuskfish and huge Trevally are all regular catches.

Land Based Fishing Dampier

The best land based fishing spots in Dampier are along the western side of the Burup Peninsula. Most cars can get as far as Witnell Bay and Hearsons Cove. Further north a four wheel drive is required, there are some great rocky headlands to fish for Emperor, Cod, Queenfish and Trevally.

King Bay

Well worth exploring for Trevally, Queenfish, Bream and Cod. A four wheel drive is required.

Witnell Bay

Accessed for most vehicles however be careful of the large rocks on the track in. Along the rocks anglers can expect Trevally, Queenfish, Flathead, Bream, Cod and the odd Emperor.

Barup Peninsula

Four wheel drive required, along the peninsula are lots of little beaches and rocky headlands. Anglers can expect Trevally, Queenfish, Bream, Emperor and Mangrove Jack in the boat passage to the furthest north.

Conzinc Bay

Conzinc bay has nice clear water which is great for sight casting to fish like Trevally and Queenfish. Anglers can also expect Cod, Bream and the odd Emperor. There are also some blue bastard fish that live in and around these clear water bays.

Boat Passage

The boat passage has some good mangrove forest and deeper holes which hold Mangrove Jack. Try casting shallow diving lures and slow sinking soft plastics over the flats on an incoming tide. The Mangrove Jack often come out to forage in the shallow waters. The flats are also home to Bream, Flathead and Trevally.

Hearsons Cove

All vehicle access, Hearsons Cove is a beautiful beach, however doesn’t hold too many fish. Try flicking the shallow mangrove flats on an incoming tide for Whiting.

Watering Hole

The Watering Hole is a proposed no fishing zone. It is generally dirty water that has few Whiting, Bream, Flathead and small Trevally.

Nickol River

Accessed via four wheel drive only, take caution navigating the salt flats as they can be boggy. The River mouth has Threadfin Salmon, Bream, Trevally, Queenfish and the odd Barramundi.

Miaree Pool

If heading into Karratha from the south, stop at Maitland / Miaree Pool to flick some lures. The freshwater pools hold Mangrove Jack, Tarpon and the odd Barramundi.

Small Boat Fishing Dampier

West Intercourse Island

Around the small creeks work the mangroves with hard body lures for Mangrove Jacks. Threadfin Salmon are also caught around the murky waters. To the west the rocky points have Cod, Emperor and Trevally.

West Lewis Island

The western side of the island some good rock and reef fishing. There are big Mangrove Jacks hiding deep in the rock holes, they can be tempted with soft plastics but they are hard to pull out of their holes.

East Lewis Island

If it is a calm day its best venturing out further to West Lewis Island. East Lewis has Emperor around the rocks on a run out tide but you need to work a long section of with soft plastic plastics to find some. Trevally, Queenfish and Cod will all be a by catch.

Mermaid Sound

The sound can be accessed from the Witnell Bay boat ramp. Mermaid sound has deeper waters and reef which is good for bottom bashing Coral Trout, Emperor, Tuskfish, Trevally and Queenfish. There is a submerged pipeline running down into Witnell Bay, fish hold on the pipeline, use a sound to find it and drop down some soft plastics.

AirPort Creek

Accessed from Hearsons Cove beach launch, Airport Creek has Threadfin Salmon and Mangrove Jacks.

Nickol River

Accessed from the Karratha Boat Ramp, Nickol River is shallow and holds Mangrove Jack, Bream, Flathead, Threadfin Salmon and small pelagics. Try working and deep holes with soft plastics for Threadfin Salmon on neap tides. On the sping tides work the small feeder creeks with shallow diving lures on both the outgoing and incoming tides for Threadies and Barramundi. Work the mangroves further upstream with hard body lures for Mangrove Jacks.

Nickol Bay

The small river mouths and feeder creeks are all worth a cast on the outgoing tide for Threadfin Salmon, Barramundi and Flathead.

Offshore Dampier

Further offshore there is fantastic bottom fishing as well as trolling for Sailfish and Marlin. Bare Rock is famous for big Trevally, Cobia, Tuna and Sailfish. There is also plenty of Mackerel around Rosemary Island.