Catch Signal

Robe and the Limestone Coast fishing spots

The Limestone Coast runs from Kingston SE past Robe, Beachport and Southend to Port MacDonnell: cray-fishing towns with long jetties in sheltered bays, wild surf beaches for salmon and mulloway, and deep water offshore. This is the South East zone, where snapper (with a catch report), squid and garfish are open.

Updated

4 spots here, all fished from land. Seasons follow our Limestone Coast species list for South Australia. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

4 spots: Robe and the Limestone Coast
SpotTypeFished fromWaterMarine park
1. Robe harbour & jettyChannelLand-based and boatBay, estuary or riverUpper South East Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
2. Long Beach (Robe)BeachLand-basedOcean coastUpper South East Marine Park
3. Canunda BeachBeachLand-basedOcean coastLower South East Marine Park
4. Port MacDonnell breakwater & jettyBreakwallLand-based and boatBay, estuary or river–

1. Robe harbour & jetty

Type
Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based and boat. Lake Butler marina channel and the town jetty below the breakwater (Karatta Road).
What's good here
Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: King George whiting, Australian salmon, southern garfish and flathead.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Sheltered inside Guichen Bay from southerly swell.
Note
Robe's jetty, breakwater and marina entrance on Guichen Bay; whiting, salmon, gar, flathead and mulloway are all taken. Cray pots dot the bay Oct-May.
Safety
Working boats in the channel. Breakwater rocks are slippery.
Zone
No-take zone nearby. Point sits in a general managed use zone (line fishing allowed); Cape Dombey sanctuary zone (Upper South East Marine Park) about 550 m from this point: no fishing inside it Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-37.16120, 139.75110 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

2. Long Beach (Robe)

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based. Long sandy beach north of Robe; vehicle access at set points.
What's good here
In season in October: Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet and flathead.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Best in easterlies (offshore) with a small swell. Faces WNW.
Note
Long sweep of beach on Guichen Bay; work the gutters for salmon, with mullet and flathead in the calmer corners.
Safety
Surf with rips. Vehicles on the beach.
Zone
Point is on the shore, outside the zoning polygons; Cape Dombey sanctuary zone (Upper South East Marine Park) about 5.6 km from this point: no fishing inside it Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-37.12440, 139.79560 · Open in Google Maps (position: Long Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

3. Canunda Beach

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based. Canunda National Park; 4WD tracks over high dunes.
What's good here
Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: Australian salmon and gummy shark.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Best in light north-easterlies (offshore) with a small swell. Faces SW.
Note
Remote surf coast in Canunda National Park with regular salmon, plus gummy sharks and small mulloway.
Safety
Remote 4WD country: travel with another vehicle. Heavy surf and rips.
Zone
Point sits in a general managed use zone (line fishing allowed); No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-37.78160, 140.31250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Canunda Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

4. Port MacDonnell breakwater & jetty

Type
Breakwall · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based and boat. Harbour, jetty and breakwater in the township; ramp at Port MacDonnell West.
What's good here
In season in October: King George whiting, southern garfish, tommy ruff and Australian salmon.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Sheltered from westerlies inside the breakwater; south-easterlies bring swell in.
Note
Rock lobster port: whiting inside the breakwater (some to about 40 cm), gar on and off, and tommies and salmon trout from the jetties.
Safety
Breakwater rocks are slippery and take swell. Working cray boats in the harbour.
Zone
No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer); Line fishing only around the Port MacDonnell breakwater (rock lobster restrictions) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map
-38.05760, 140.70330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Harbor of Port MacDonnell, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

South Australia's boat ramp layer isn't published under an open licence we could confirm, so we don't list its ramps yet.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Robe and the Limestone Coast in October: mulloway and southern calamari. Of the 20 species our Limestone Coast list has for this part of the coast, 2 peak in October 2026 and 13 more are in season.

Peak in October: mulloway and southern calamari.

Also in season: Australian salmon, King George whiting, southern garfish, flathead, tommy ruff, gummy shark, yelloweye mullet, snapper, sweep, silver trevally, bronze whaler, blue morwong and bight redfish and nannygai.

Closed now in part of the area: black bream in Lakes and Coorong waters (spawning closure: no take or possession of black bream) (1 August to 31 January).

Out of season in October: black bream (best Feb–May); southern bluefin tuna (best Apr–Jul).

Seen now and then, so not rated: snook, yellowtail kingfish and samsonfish.

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: South Australia's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

No recreational fishing licence or fee in SA (checked 9 Oct 2026). Rock lobster pots must be registered: $94 for 1 pot or $261 for 2 (2026-27, expires 31 May). Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: South Australia's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Robe and the Limestone Coast

  • South East zone: snapper open with a 38 cm minimum, bag 5, boat 15 and a mandatory catch report.
  • No abalone from the Murray Mouth to the Victorian border (abalone virus closure); gear that touched the sea floor east of 139 deg E in under 30 m must be fully decontaminated before use elsewhere.
  • Rock lobster sanctuaries at Cape Jaffa, Margaret Brock Reef and Rivoli Bay; line fishing only at the Port MacDonnell breakwater.
  • Upper and Lower South East marine parks have sanctuary zones at Lacepede Bay, Cape Dombey (Robe), Canunda and Piccaninnie Ponds.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Upper South East Marine Park and Lower South East Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Robe harbour & jetty: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Robe and the Limestone Coast

  • Southern Ocean swell hits this coast hard; beaches have strong rips and rock platforms take freak waves.
  • Remote 4WD tracks in Canunda and the Coorong need recovery gear and company.
  • White sharks are present in SA waters.

South Australia: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: SA coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: South Australia boating safety and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Motor boats <=4.8m: all wear, underway or at anchor. 4.8-12m: kids 12 and under in open areas; all at heightened risk (alone, night, bar, warnings). From 1 Oct 2026: L100+ when handling cray pots.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Volunteer Marine Rescue coastal radio network (SA SES and VMR associations, e.g. Sea Rescue Adelaide, Coast Guard Ardrossan, VMR Tumby Bay, Whyalla Sea Rescue). Contact the relevant Coast Station soon after launching: call sign, departure point, destination, people on board, ETA. Log off when back. Stations' channels and hours vary.

Marine parks and closed areas: SA marine parks - maps and coordinates, PIRSA fishing zones and closures and Australian Marine Parks (South-west network, e.g. Great Australian Bight).

  • Non-life-threatening marine rescue: SA Police 131 444 for a volunteer marine rescue response. More.
  • Crayfishing lifejacket rule: From 1 Oct 2026 everyone aboard a recreational vessel in coastal waters must wear Level 100+ when handling, hauling or carrying rock lobster pots. More.

South Australia's official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in South Australia · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates