Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay fishing spots

Port Lincoln sits on Boston Bay, one of the biggest sheltered harbours in Australia, with four town jetties, rocky points and easy boat access to whiting grounds, crab flats and the islands. Further out are bluefin tuna and kingfish in summer, while the Southern Ocean beaches south of town are known for salmon from May to October.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here: 7 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat or kayak. Seasons follow our Gulfs, Fleurieu & KI 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

8 spots: Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Tumby Bay jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park
2. North Shields jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Brennan Jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Kirton Point jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Port Lincoln Town Jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
6. Billy Lights Point	Rocks	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Proper Bay	Bay	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Fishery Bay	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Thorny Passage Marine Park

1. Tumby Bay jetty

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Town-centre jetty with a fish-cleaning station at its base.
What's good here: In season in October: tommy ruff and King George whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in westerlies (offshore); easterlies blow onto it. Faces E.
Note: Town jetty facing the open gulf; tommies on light gear and whiting on cockles, which locals rate as the best bait here.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: Point sits in a habitat protection zone (line fishing allowed); Salt Creek sanctuary zone (Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park) about 4.6 km from this point: no fishing inside it Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -34.37770, 136.10636 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tumby Bay Jetty, Place names (State Gazetteer), South Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. North Shields jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Small jetty at North Shields, just north of Port Lincoln.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, tommy ruff, silver trevally and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in westerlies (offshore); easterlies blow onto it. Faces SE.
Note: One of four jetties around Port Lincoln open to anglers; small kingfish cruise past around sunrise in the warmer months.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.62869, 135.86687 · Open in Google Maps (position: North Shields Jetty, Place names (State Gazetteer), South Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Brennan Jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Working port jetty in town; fish only the areas open to the public.
What's good here: Peak in October: snook. Also in season: King George whiting, tommy ruff, yellowtail kingfish and silver trevally.
Best tide: Twilight and full-moon nights are reported best for whiting.
Best wind: Sheltered from westerlies; strong easterlies chop it up.
Note: Port jetty with fishing-boat berths; whiting from around its base, rat kingfish at dawn on live baits or white plastics.
Safety: Commercial vessels berth here: keep clear of working areas.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.71650, 135.86970 · Open in Google Maps (position: Brennan Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Kirton Point jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Jetty by the tourist park at Kirton Point, east of the town centre.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, tommy ruff, silver trevally and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies to westerlies; northerlies blow onto it. Faces NNE.
Note: Popular jetty with campers; mixed bag of whiting, tommies and trevally, and the odd small kingfish at first light.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.72020, 135.87460 · Open in Google Maps (position: Kirton Point Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Port Lincoln Town Jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Foreshore jetty in the town centre with parking nearby.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, tommy ruff, yellowtail kingfish, silver trevally and Australian salmon.
Best tide: Twilight and full-moon nights are reported best for whiting.
Best wind: Sheltered from westerlies; easterlies blow onto it. Faces NE.
Note: Busy town jetty; whiting on cockles, prawns or squid strip at dusk, with trevally, tommies and salmon as by-catch and small kingfish at dawn.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.71910, 135.85850 · Open in Google Maps (position: Town Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Billy Lights Point

Type: Rocks · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Rocky point beside the Billy Lights Point ramp, south of town.
What's good here: Peak in October: snook. Also in season: silver trevally, Australian salmon and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from westerlies; easterlies make it rough.
Note: Rocky edge and a troll spot; snook under lights at night, trevally and salmon on small minnows, and the odd small kingfish.
Safety: Rocks are slippery and uneven; avoid them in rough weather.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.74470, 135.89220 · Open in Google Maps (position: Billy Lights Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Proper Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Launch from Port Lincoln (Proper Bay) or Billy Lights Point.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, blue swimmer crab and silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in westerlies; strong southerlies make it choppy.
Note: Shallow bay south of town: whiting in sand holes beside light weed, and blue swimmer crabs in hoop nets from about January to April.
Safety: Shallow banks: watch the tide.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -34.78920, 135.87040 · Open in Google Maps (position: Proper Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Fishery Bay

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Sealed road from Port Lincoln (about 30 km); car park, boardwalk and toilets; 4WD only onto the sand.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon and tommy ruff.
Best tide: Salmon reported on the building tide.
Best wind: Best in light winds or northerlies (offshore) with a small swell. Faces S.
Note: South-coast surf beach near Sleaford Bay; salmon all year, best from May to October, on metal lures or bait in the gutters, with tommies as by-catch.
Safety: Surf beach, not patrolled: rips and big swell. Rock ledges take freak waves.
Zone: Point sits in a habitat protection zone (line fishing allowed); Sleaford Bay sanctuary zone (Thorny Passage Marine Park) about 4.1 km from this point: no fishing inside it; Shore fishing is also allowed on some Sleaford Bay beaches inside the sanctuary zone (special purpose area): check the map first Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -34.91420, 135.68610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Fishery Bay, 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 Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay in October: snook, mulloway and black bream. Of the 22 species our Gulfs, Fleurieu & KI list has for this part of the coast, 3 peak in October 2026 and 16 more are in season.

Peak in October: snook, mulloway and black bream.

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

In closed season now (no take): snapper (until 30 June 2027); southern calamari (since 1 May 2026, until further notice).

Closed now in part of the area: southern calamari in False Bay cephalopod exclusion zone near Whyalla (permanent, all squid, cuttlefish and octopus) (all year); black bream in Lakes and Coorong waters (spawning closure: no take or possession of black bream) (1 August to 31 January); black bream in Onkaparinga River upstream of the Main South Road bridge, Noarlunga (no fishing for bream) (1 September to 30 November).

Out of season in October: southern bluefin tuna (best Mar–May).

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 Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay

Spencer Gulf fishing zone: southern calamari closed (since 1 May 2026, until further notice) and snapper closed until 30 Jun 2027, including catch and release.
Western blue groper may not be taken in the gulfs.
Sir Joseph Banks Group and Thorny Passage marine parks have sanctuary zones near Tumby Bay (Salt Creek, Second Creek), Dangerous Reef and Sleaford Bay: check the maps.
Lincoln National Park and Whalers Way need entry permits.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park and Thorny Passage Marine Park. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay

South-coast surf beaches and rock ledges take big swell with little warning.
Boston Bay and Thorny Passage can turn rough quickly on strong tides and wind.
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

Coffin Bay (about 44 km west)
Yorke Peninsula (about 148 km east)
Kangaroo Island (about 201 km south-east)
Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf (about 229 km north-east)

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

Sources and checked dates

Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Place names (State Gazetteer), South Australia (Government of South Australia), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
Research sources: lsa4.geohub.sa.gov.au (DEW State Marine Park Network Zoning layer (Location SA): every spot point-checked against sanctuary and restricted access zones on 9 Oct 2026); marineparks.sa.gov.au (Official marine park zoning maps with coordinates (per park PDFs used as zone.url)); pir.sa.gov.au (Which fishing zone (West Coast, Spencer Gulf, GSV/KI, South East) the area falls in); pir.sa.gov.au (Closures, aquatic reserves, gear restrictions and rock lobster sanctuaries); data.sa.gov.au (SA State Gazetteer jetty points (CC BY 4.0)); lsa4.geohub.sa.gov.au (Location SA Jetties layer: jetty lines (landward end used as the coordinate; seaward bearing used for faces)); lsa4.geohub.sa.gov.au (Location SA Boat Ramps layer (DIT boating facilities): ramp coordinates and record ids); hookedupmagazine.com.au (Port Lincoln jetties, rocky points, whiting tips, Proper Bay crabs, Sleaford Bay salmon season); tradeaboat.com.au (Popular Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay jetties); unsealed4x4.com.au (Tumby Bay jetty species and fish-cleaning station); southaustralia.com (Fishery Bay access, facilities and no lifesavers); cdn.environment.sa.gov.au (Sleaford Bay sanctuary zone and shore-fishing special purpose area).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.