Perth
Perth is well known for its superb weather, beautiful beaches and the mighty Swan River that dominates the city. Perth fishing spots vary greatly, and are very seasonal based on the Leeuwin current and rainfall. The Leeuwin current is a warm ocean current that travels down the west coast of Australia, bringing warm water and tropical fish. Perth fishing spots change again when the warm current cool downs, then Australia Salmon move into Swan River and Perth Beaches. There is no doubt Perth is heavily fished, which makes it important for anglers to target the great fish at the right time of year.
A Detailed guide to Perth Fishing Spots
Summer
Fishing around Perth in summer, schools of smaller Tailor move along the beaches, Black Bream move upstream in the Swan River and Spanish Mackerel around the reefs. Small mulloway in the rivers and upstream, often a by catch for anglers targeting bream.
Autumn
Australian Salmon move north along the west coast and enter the Swan River, along Perth beaches and around the numerous groynes. The Black Bream are still upstream before the winter rains come.
Winter
Winter moves the Black Bream down stream as they search for more salinity in the waters. Its now a good time to fish the Perth yacht clubs, jetty’s and flats around Fremantle for bream. Big tailor are around the Perth reefs in winter. Pink Snapper seek shelter near break walls and in marinas after storms and rough seas.
Year round angles can fish around Perth for Whiting, Flathead, Skippy, Mulloway, Herring and Tailor. Tailor and herring are best targeted at dawn and dusk. Mulloway at the groynes, beach gutters and jetty’s at night. Other species can be found all day long.
Swan River
The mighty Swan River dominates the Perth landscape and makes up the bulk of the fishing spots in Perth. There are numerous land based fishing spots in the Swan River, which allow angles access to Black Bream, Whiting, Flathead, Tailor, Herring and the odd Mulloway. There is an entire section on the website dedicated to Swan River fishing spots, click the link to read more.
Perth Beach Fishing Spots
The Perth beaches from Yanchep to Rockingham produce some good catches of Tailor, Whiting, Mulloway and Australian Salmon in Autumn.
Two Rocks
Two rocks have several good beach and reef fishing spots where anglers can target Tailor and Mulloway. To the north of Two Rocks are some 4wd tracks which allow anglers to drive along the beach to find reef and gutters to fish.
The Two Rocks marina fishes well for Skippy, Herring and Tailor. South of Two Rocks is a long stretch of beach with many reefy patches, which are great places to target Tailor on metal slugs, poppers and shallow diving minnow lures. Dawn and dusk on an incoming tide are the best times to target the Tailor.
Yanchep
The lagoon protected by an outer reef fishes well for Tailor and whiting. Cast metal slugs and poppers over the reefy patches for Tailor. Small poppers and minnows for whiting.
Pipidinny
Pipidinny is a surf beach fishing spot north of Perth, Tailor is the main catch in the deeper gutters. Mulloway are also a possibility, particularly at night.
Mindarie Keys Marina
Mindarie marina provides a good platform for anglers to fish around the rocks for Tailor and Herring. First light produces the best catches.
Burns Beach
A large reef extends out from burns beach with deep holes, it is a prime location to target Tailor on poppers, sinking stick baits and fast retrieved metal slugs.
Pinnaroo Point
Good access to deeper water where anglers can target tailor, herring and Mulloway at night.
Hillarys Marina
Heavily fished by bait anglers, Hillary’s marina produces Skippy, Herring, Bream, Tailor and whiting.
Sorrento Beach to Trigg point
The stretch of beach from Sorrento Beach to Trigg point fishes well for whiting, Tarwhine, tailor and herring. Towards Trig Point at Watermans Beach lay numerous rocky reefs which produce herring and tailor, target them on metal slugs and poppers over the reef. Australian Salmon can also hold around the gutters in Autumn.
Trigg Beach
The sand patches between the reef make Trigg beach an ideal place to target whiting year round. Autumn also can produce Australia Salmon, which shelter in the in the reef holes and gutters.
Scarborough Beach
Tailor on metal slugs, poppers and sinking sticks baits during summer.
Swanbourne Beach Drain
At the south of Swanboune Beach is a drain that lets out storm water into the ocean, fishing can be good here for Tailor and Herring. Australian Salmon are a possibility in Autumn.
Cottesloe Rock Groyne
The most popular beach in Perth, the Cottesloe rock groyne gets heavily fished, but year round there is a good chance of a tailor, best fished early mornings and late afternoons when there is a light sea breeze.
North Mole & South Mole Fishing
One of the most popular Perth fishing spots, the North Mole rock walls protect the Swan River mouth from natural and human erosion. Both the North and South mole offer a huge range of species throughout the year.
During the day the North Mole and South Mole at Swan River fish well for Bonito and Salmon around and after Easter. All year round Whiting, Flathead, Bream, Herring and Blue Mackerel. North Mole also offers the odd Spanish Mackerel.
During the night bait soakers target Mulloway, Snapper and Sharks. Snapper tend to come in close during and after very rough seas.
Around easter the North Mole can fish well for Australia Salmon, light tackle anglers can cast heavy slugs a long distance for a chance at the salmon.
Offshore Perth Fishing
Boat based anglers have access to some very good Perth fishing spots. Over the past few years the offshore fishing around Perth has improved despite heavy recreational fishing. This is mostly thanks to management of recreational fishing sustainability work of RecFishWest.
Offshore fishing spots in Perth offer anglers a wide range of species including Dhufish, Pink Snapper, Baldchin Groper, King George Whiting, Silver Trevally and Samson Fish. During summer, Spanish mackerel and Tuna also turn up.
It isn’t necessary to travel far offshore from Perth to get good fish, the reefs off from Two Rocks, Ocean Reef Marina and at Cockburn sound all produce quality fish. These reefs all produce Herring and the sand patches offer Whiting. Cockburn sound is the best spot to target Pink Snapper around June and July before the spawning closure starts. Further offshore, the fishing spots only get better, the FADs west of Rottnest Island even hold Dolphin Fish at times.
Two Rocks
Numerous reefs not far offshore produce Dhufish, Pink Snapper and Samson. Bottom jigging is the best tactic, micro jigs have become a increasingly popular method. Soft plastics also work well.
Ocean Reef
The inshore reefs produce herring, Tailor, Skippy and Whiting. Further out, the reefs fish well for Dhufish, Pink Snapper and Samson Fish. Sound around to find rubble grounds and isolated pinnacles, the drift over these spots with soft plastics just above the bottom.
Hillarys
Offshore from Hillarys has some great reef areas. The fishing here produces Pink Snapper, Samson Fish and Dhufish. Sound around the deeper holes with broken ground, then drift a soft plastic over them. Dawn and dusk are the best times to target Pink Snapper in the shallower waters.
Cockburn Sound to Rockingham
From Fremantle to Garden Island up to Straggler Rocks, is prime fishing territory. Fantastic fishing spots await anglers throughout Cockburn Sound. A breeding ground for Pink Snapper, throughout the year many fish are caught all around the Rockingham area despite the heavy fishing pressure. Read the dedicated page to Rockingham and Cockburn Sound Fishing Spots.
Where to go fishing near Perth?
- Hillarys Offshore Great reef areas producing Pink Snapper, Samson Fish and Dhufish. Sound around the deeper holes with broken ground, then drift a soft plastic over them. Dawn and dusk are the best times to target Pink Snapper in the shallower waters.
- Ocean Reef Offshore The inshore reefs produce herring, Tailor, Skippy and Whiting. Further out, the reefs fish well for Dhufish, Pink Snapper and Samson Fish. Sound around to find rubble grounds and isolated pinnacles, the drift over these spots with soft plastics just above the bottom.
- Two Rocks offshore Numerous reefs not far offshore produce Dhufish, Pink Snapper and Samson. Bottom jigging is the best tactic, micro jigs have become a increasingly popular method. Soft plastics also work well.
- North Mole & South Mole Popular fishing spots and offer a huge range of species. Daytime fishes well for Bonito and Salmon around and after Easter, target them on metal slugs. All year round Whiting, Flathead, Bream, Herring and Blue Mackerel. North Mole also offers the odd Spanish Mackerel in summer. Nighttime bait soakers target Mulloway, Snapper and Sharks. Snapper tend to come in close during and after very rough seas.
- Cottesloe rock groyne The most popular beach in Perth, the Cottesloe rock groin gets heavily fished, but year round there is a good chance of a tailor, best fished early mornings and late afternoons when there is a light sea breeze.
- Swanboune Beach Drain At the south of Swanboune Beach is a drain that lets out storm water into the ocean, fishing can be good here for Tailor and Herring. Australian Salmon are a possibility in Autumn.
- Scarborough Beach Tailor on metal slugs, poppers and sinking sticks baits during summer. Find the gutters and fish them at dawn and dusk.
- Trigg Beach The sand patches between the reef make Trigg beach an ideal place to target whiting year round. Autumn also can produce Australia Salmon, which shelter in the in the reef holes and gutters.
- Sorrento Beach to Trigg point The stretch of beach from Sorrento Beach to Trigg point fishes well for whiting, Tarwhine, Tailor and Herring. Towards Trig Point at Watermans Beach lay numerous rocky reefs which produce herring and tailor, target them on metal slugs and poppers over the reef. Australian Salmon can also hold around the gutters in Autumn.
- Hillary’s marina Heavily fished by bait anglers, Hillary’s marina produces Skippy, Herring, Bream, Tailor and whiting.
- Pinnaroo Point Good access to deeper water where anglers can target tailor, herring and Mulloway at night.
- Burns Beach A large reef extends out from burns beach with deep holes, it is a prime location to target Tailor on poppers, sinking stick baits and fast retrieved metal slugs.
- Mindarie Keys Marina Mindarie marina provides a good platform for anglers to fish around the rocks for Tailor and Herring. First light produces the best catches. Metal slugs, poppers and shallow diving minnows work best.
- Pipidinny Pipidinny is a surf beach fishing spot north of Perth, Tailor is the main catch in the deeper gutters. Mulloway are also a possibility, particularly at night.
- Yanchep The lagoon protected by an outer reef fishes well for Tailor and whiting. Cast metal slugs and poppers over the reefy patches for Tailor. Small poppers and minnows for whiting.
- Two Rocks Several good beach and reef fishing spots, anglers can target Tailor and Mulloway. To the north of Two Rocks via 4wd tracks are the better spots for reef and beach gutters. Two Rocks marina fishes well for Skippy, Herring and Tailor. South Two Rocks is a long stretch of beach, reefy patches, great for Tailor on metal slugs, poppers and shallow diving minnow lures. Dawn and dusk.
- Historic Wreck South Five Fathom Pink Snapper, Samson Fish and King George Whiting around the reef and Historic Wreck.
- Reef The reef here is around 8 meters deep, surrounded by 20 meter deep water, can hold snapper, Samson fish, herring and Tailor. Work along the drop off with soft plastics for Snapper, Trevally and Samson Fish.
- Horseshoe Reef Horseshoe Reef produces good fishing for Pink Snapper, Trevally King George Whiting, Salmon in Autumn and Tailor are best in Summer. Soft plastics work well for Pink Snapper.
- ASI Groyne and Boat Ramp Groyne Great place to target Pink snapper during a NW wind is the outside groyne, during rough seas the snapper can be on the inside in sheltered waters also. Fish along the entire groyne, best times are at dawn and dusk.
- Swan River Whiting Flathead and Whiting in the shallows along Point Roe. Small soft plastics lures, top water poppers and minnows work well for whiting during the summer. Flathead will take just about an lure.
- Fremantle Bridge Mulloway The tides rips through the Fremantle bridge, at night it is a good place to Target Mulloway on heavy weight soft plastics.
- Canning Bridge Fishing The Canning Bridge fishes well for Black Bream, Mulloway, Tailor, Tarwhine and Flathead in the according seasons. Casting heavier weighted soft plastics into the deep hole against the current is the best bet. Black Bream around the Canning Bridge pylons.
- Swan River Flathead Flats The Flats fish well during Summer for Flathead and Flounder. Anglers can walk out a fairly long way, casting red soft plastics or hard body minnows lures between the weeds.
- Swan River Causeway A fishing spot of choice for many bream anglers all year round. The Black Bream are best targeted around the bridge pylons and along the banks of Herrison Island. Flathead and tailor are also caught here.
- Belmont Race Course Big Black Bream hang out behind the Belmont Race Course. Warmer months fish best.
- Maylands Black Bream Black Bream in Summer. Fish the snags early morning or late afternoon. A few Mulloway also taken in Maylands during summer.
- Ron Courtney Island Black Bream Black Bream and Flathead - fishes best in Summer.
- Fish Market Reserve Black Bream The Fish Market Reserve area holds good Black Bream particularly in Summer. The Bream hold in the deeper water during the cooler months, in the warmer months fish close bank and cast tight into the snags.
- East Fremantle Whiting Yellow Fin Whiting around East Fremantle on an outgoing tide in the evening from June to September.
Plus, where, when and how to fish every spot!
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Perth Fishing Report March 14, 2017
Spanish mackerel continue to be caught on trolled bibbed minnows and rigged garfish off the metropolitan coast. Areas where mackerel were caught this past week, included Coventry Reef, Cockburn Sound, Five Fathom... Read more
Fish currently being caught in the Perth region March, 2017
Black Bream Dhufish Giant Herring Jewfish / Mulloway Pink Snapper Southern Bluefin Tuna Spanish Mackerel TailorRecommended Lures for Perth
Click here to find the best lures for fishing Perth. 5 stars mean this lure has been hand picked for Perth.
andy karakurt
says:Hi. i normally go fishing at night time in perth cause the blowies seem to disappear. as soon as it’s day time they are everywhere. can suggest any spots that are blowie free during the day land base?.
Thanks for your time
max lindley
says:if u going for bream use whole mussels as the blowies cant get through the shell or even just use lures
Heather Henderson
says:Off farmer freeway by the new optus stadium
Felipe Sokolovsky
says:I’m new here in Australia. And I like to fish with live bait… my question is if it is allowed to use small whitings for bait? Is there any environmental problem with that?
Luke Van Lathum
says:Only if you get caught. Nah, whiting is okay as long as they are legal size. Otherwise use diver whiting at any size.
Rex Humes
says:Hey guys just wanted to know where are some fishing spots around Perth to take my boy during holidays. ..
Tony Ghiselli
says:Where’s the best kayak fishing spots in the Perth region, and what soft plastics are good to use?
John
says:Guys, coming over from eastern states next week Any tips for St Perth & Como land based fishing John
Colin
says:Just had an epic fish caught 7 massive whiting they were all longer than my shoe . And I’m a size 11 Never have I caught whiting so fat and long Stocked
tony ghiselli
says:hey just here again, wandering where the best spots are for salmon during the season.
Luke Van Lathum
says:Hey mate, some great spots down south at Margaret River if you’re keen to travel.
Tony Ghiselli
says:I was driving my dads boat on the wknd and i crased it into elixabeth key when i was fishnin
Timothy
says:Is there a 2022 2023 update for this
Shaun
says:Hi, I’m new to the group and fishing.
Could you please tell me about any good spots between Sorrento and Trigg for sand whiting please.
Cheers Shaun