Fish List - Perth Fishing Lovers

Explore the Fish of Perth

Explore the variety of fish you can catch around Perth and learn more about the fishing methods used by both beginners and experienced anglers.
Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned fisherman, let’s learn fishing together.

Inshore - Perfect for beginners.
Offshore – For those ready for a challenge.
Estuary – Ideal for peaceful fishing.

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Fish Table
Fish Name	Areas to be Caught	Season	Time in a Day	Bait	Lure
Pink Snapper	Various locations, including inshore reefs, rocky outcrops and ledges, beaches and groins, and offshore reefs.	Primarily caught in winter, though there are restricted seasons depending on the region.	The best times are around sunset and sunrise. They're most active in low-light conditions and after storms.	A wide variety of baits can be used. Effective options include pilchard, herring, mullet, squid, and octopus, among others.	If using lures, soft plastics works well for Inshore fishing, while offshore fishing is best with jigs and plastics near the bottom.
Tailor	Beaches, Estuary Mouths, Inshore Reefs	All year round, best in late summer/autumn	Dawn and dusk, Active during low light	Pilchards, Whitebait, Mulies	Surface Poppers, Metal Spoons, Soft Plastics
Mulloway	Estuaries, River Mouths, Surf Beaches	Spring and summer	Best caught at night	Live Baits: Mullet, Herring, Whiting	Large Soft Plastics, Hard-bodied Lures, Vibration Baits
Flathead	Sandy Bays, Estuaries, River Flats	Summer to autumn	Daytime, best at low tide	Prawns, Small Fish Fillets	Soft Plastics, Hard-bodied Lures, Vibration Lures

Inshore Fish

Flathead (Platycephalus spp.)

Japanese Name: コチ・マゴチ
Minimum Size to Keep: 30cm
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity in the warmer months (October to April).
Fishing Methods:
- Soft Plastics
- Hard Body Lures
  - Minnow-style lures
  - Blade-style lures
- Live Bait
- Dead Bait
- Trolling
- Fly Fishing
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Inshore Areas:
  - Swan River (near the sandbanks and drop-offs)
  - Canning River
  - Perth Beaches (such as Cottesloe Beach)
  - Cockburn Sound
- Estuaries and Bays:
  - Peel Inlet
  - Mandurah Estuary
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Light to medium spin rod, around 6-7 feet.
  - Reel: Spinning reel in the 2500-3000 size range.
  - Line: 6-12 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader of 10-20 lb.
  - Hooks: Size 2 to 1/0 hooks for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Flathead are often found lying in wait on sandy or muddy bottoms, near seagrass beds, sandbanks, and estuary mouths.
- Behaviour:
  - Flathead are ambush predators, often burying themselves in the sand with only their eyes visible, waiting for prey to pass by.

Whiting (Sillago spp.)

Japanese Name: キス・シロギス
Minimum Size to Keep: There is no minimum size limit for this group, but there is a size limit of 28 cm for King George Whiting (Sillaginodes punctata).
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity in the warmer months (October to April).
Fishing Methods:
- Light Tackle Fishing:
  - Use light rods and reels with a sensitive tip to detect bites.
- Bait Fishing:
  - Use natural baits such as worms, prawns, squid, or small pieces of fish.
- Lure Fishing:
  - Small soft plastics, metal lures, or small hard body lures can be effective.
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Inshore Areas:
  - Swan River
  - Canning River
  - Perth Beaches (such as Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough Beach)
  - Cockburn Sound
- Estuaries and Bays:
  - Peel Inlet
  - Mandurah Estuary
  - Geographe Bay (Busselton, Dunsborough)
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Light spin rod, around 6-7 feet.
  - Reel: Spinning reel in the 1000-2500 size range.
  - Line: 4-6 lb monofilament or braid with a fluorocarbon leader of 6-10 lb.
  - Hooks: Small hooks, size 6 to 10, preferably long-shank hooks for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Whiting are often found over sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and shallow sand flats.
- Behaviour:
  - Whiting feed on small invertebrates and crustaceans in the sand, making them responsive to both bait and small lures.
- Tips:
  - Whiting have a soft bite, so it’s important to keep the tackle light to detect bites. A gentle lift of the rod is often all that’s needed to set the hook.

Offshore Fish

Western Australian Dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum)

Japanese Name: アオバダイ科
Minimum Size to Keep: There is no minimum size limit for this group.
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity from late spring to early autumn (November to March).
Fishing Methods:
- Bottom Fishing:
  - Use heavy tackle to fish near reefs, ledges, and drop-offs.
- Live Bait:
  - Use live bait such as small fish (e.g., mullet, herring), squid, or octopus.
- Dead Bait:
  - Use dead bait such as squid, octopus, or fillets of fish on a bottom rig.
- Jigging:
  - Use metal jigs or soft plastic jigs bounced along the bottom.
- Drift Fishing:
  - Drift over deep reefs or rocky areas with bait or jigs.
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Offshore Areas:
  - Rottnest Island
  - Three Mile Reef
  - Five Fathom Bank
  - Lancelin (north of Perth)
  - Mandurah (south of Perth)
  - Jurien Bay (further north)
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Heavy spin or overhead rod, around 6-7 feet.
  - Reel: Heavy-duty spinning or overhead reel.
  - Line: 30-50 lb braid with a strong fluorocarbon leader of 50-80 lb.
  - Hooks: Large, strong hooks, size 5/0 to 8/0 for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Dhufish are typically found near deep reefs, rocky outcrops, and ledges in offshore waters.
- Behaviour:
  - Dhufish are territorial and often found in small groups. They are aggressive predators, feeding on smaller fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
- Regulations:
  - In addition to the size limit, be aware of bag limits and seasonal closures to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
- Tips:
  - Use a sounder to locate reef structures and fish-holding areas. Be patient and persistent, as dhufish can be challenging to catch but are highly prized for their size and taste.

Pink Snapper (Pagrus auratus)

Japanese Name: 豪州真鯛（ごうしゅうまだい）
Minimum Size to Keep:
- 50cm: south of 31° S latitude (just north of Lancelin) and inner gulfs of Shark Bay
- 41cm: north of 31° S latitude and the South, Gascoyne and North coast bioregions
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity during the spawning season from October to January.
Fishing Methods:
- Bottom Fishing:
  - Use medium to heavy tackle to fish near reefs, wrecks, and other underwater structures.
- Live Bait:
  - Use live bait such as small fish (e.g., mullet, herring), squid, or octopus.
- Dead Bait:
  - Use dead bait such as squid, octopus, or fillets of fish on a bottom rig.
- Jigging:
  - Use metal jigs or soft plastic jigs bounced along the bottom.
- Drift Fishing
  - Drift over reefs or rocky areas with bait or jigs.
- Trolling:
  - Use lures or baited rigs trolled behind a moving boat along reef edges and drop-offs.
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Offshore Areas:
  - Rottnest Island
  - Three Mile Reef
  - Five Fathom Bank
  - Cockburn Sound
  - Garden Island
  - Jurien Bay (further north)
  - Geographe Bay (south)
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Medium to heavy spin or overhead rod, around 6-7 feet.
  - Reel: Medium to heavy-duty spinning or overhead reel.
  - Line: 20-40 lb braid with a strong fluorocarbon leader of 40-60 lb.
  - Hooks: Strong hooks, size 4/0 to 7/0 for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Pink Snapper are typically found near reefs, wrecks, and rocky outcrops in both inshore and offshore waters.
- Behaviour:
  - Pink Snapper are known for their strong fighting ability. They feed on a variety of prey, including smaller fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
- Regulations:
  - Be aware of bag limits and seasonal closures to ensure sustainable fishing practices. In some areas, there may be specific restrictions during the spawning season.
- Tips:
  - Use a fish finder to locate structures and schools of fish. Be patient and prepared for a strong fight when targeting Pink Snapper.

Estuary Fish

Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Japanese Name: クロダイ属（クロダイはチヌとも呼ばれる）
Minimum Size to Keep: 25cm
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity in the warmer months (September to April).
Fishing Methods:
- Bait Fishing:
  - Use natural baits such as prawns, worms, mussels, or small pieces of fish.
- Lure Fishing:
  - Small soft plastics, hard body lures, and metal blades can be effective.
- Fly Fishing:
  - Use small flies that mimic insects or small crustaceans.
- Light Tackle Fishing:
  - Use light rods and reels with a sensitive tip to detect bites.
- Drift Fishing:
  - Drift along riverbanks or estuary edges using bait or lures.
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Estuaries and Rivers:
  - Swan River
  - Canning River
  - Peel Inlet
  - Mandurah Estuary
  - Blackwood River (further south)
  - Leschenault Estuary
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Light spin rod, around 6-7 feet.
  - Reel: Spinning reel in the 1000-2500 size range.
  - Line: 4-6 lb monofilament or braid with a fluorocarbon leader of 6-10 lb.
  - Hooks: Small hooks, size 4 to 8, preferably long-shank hooks for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Black Bream are typically found in estuaries, rivers, and coastal lakes, often around structures like rocks, fallen trees, and piers.
- Behaviour:
  - Black Bream are opportunistic feeders, often scavenging on a variety of small organisms. They can be wary, so a stealthy approach is beneficial.
- Tips:
  - Fish during early morning or late afternoon for the best results. Pay attention to tidal movements, as bream often feed more actively on a rising tide.

Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus)

Japanese Name: オオニベ
Minimum Size to Keep: 50cm
Fishing Season: All year round, with peak activity in late spring to early autumn (October to March), especially around the full moon.
Fishing Methods:
- Live Bait:
  - Use live baits such as mullet, whiting, or herring.
- Dead Bait:
  - Use dead baits such as squid, octopus, or fish fillets.
- Lure Fishing:
  - Large soft plastics, hard body lures, or metal vibes can be effective.
- Night Fishing:
  - Mulloway are more active at night, making nighttime fishing productive.
Area of Frequent Catch:
- Estuaries and Rivers:
  - Swan River
  - Canning River
  - Peel Inlet
  - Mandurah Estuary
- Beaches:
  - Perth Beaches (such as Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough Beach)
  - North Mole and South Mole (Fremantle)
- Offshore Areas:
  - Nearshore reefs and wrecks
Other information:
- Tackle Recommendations:
  - Rod: Medium to heavy spin or surf rod, around 10-12 feet for beach fishing, 6-8 feet for estuary and river fishing.
  - Reel: Medium to heavy-duty spinning or overhead reel.
  - Line: 20-50 lb braid with a strong fluorocarbon leader of 40-60 lb.
  - Hooks: Large, strong hooks, size 5/0 to 8/0 for bait fishing.
- Habitat:
  - Mulloway are found in estuaries, river mouths, surf zones, and nearshore reefs. They prefer deeper waters during the day and move into shallower areas at night to feed.
- Behaviour:
  - Mulloway are known for their powerful runs and strong fights. They are often solitary or found in small groups and are most active during low light conditions or at night.
- Regulations:
  - Be aware of bag limits and seasonal closures to ensure sustainable fishing practices. Specific regulations may apply to certain areas.
- Tips:
  - Use a fish finder to locate deep holes, channels, and structures where Mulloway are likely to be found. Night fishing with fresh bait increases the chances of a successful catch.