Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf fishing spots

The top of Spencer Gulf is warm, shallow and tidal: seagrass flats, long jetties and mangrove creeks from Arno Bay and Cowell up to Port Augusta and back down to Port Pirie and Port Broughton. Whiting, tommies, garfish and blue swimmer crabs are the staples, with big kingfish in the upper gulf. Snapper and squid are closed.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

7 spots here: 6 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

7 spots: Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Arno Bay jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Cowell jetty (Franklin Harbour)	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Franklin Harbor Marine Park
3. Whyalla jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Ocean coast	Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park
4. Point Lowly	Rocks	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park
5. Fitzgerald Bay	Bay	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park
6. Port Augusta (head of the gulf)	Channel	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park
7. Port Pirie (Solomontown jetty)	Jetty	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Arno Bay jetty

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Shortened town jetty used for fishing and walking.
What's good here: In season in October: tommy ruff, southern garfish, King George whiting, Australian salmon and flathead.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in westerlies (offshore); easterlies blow onto it. Faces SE.
Note: Town jetty on the western gulf shore; tommies, gar and whiting on light baits, with salmon and flathead off the beach nearby.
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: -33.91780, 136.57480 · Open in Google Maps (position: Arno Bay Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Cowell jetty (Franklin Harbour)

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Jetty on concrete piles with a timber deck on the Cowell foreshore.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, tommy ruff, southern garfish and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered inside Franklin Harbour; strong south-easterlies chop it up. Faces SE.
Note: Jetty inside the almost-enclosed Franklin Harbour; light baits for whiting, gar and tommies, and crabs in the warmer months.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: Point sits in a habitat protection zone (line fishing allowed); Picnic Creek sanctuary zone (Franklin Harbor Marine Park) about 4.5 km from this point: no fishing inside it Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -33.68819, 136.93554 · Open in Google Maps (position: Franklin Harbour Jetty, Place names (State Gazetteer), South Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Whyalla jetty

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Foreshore jetty (opened 2020) with lighting, shade shelters and a wide end platform.
What's good here: Peak in October: snook. Also in season: tommy ruff, southern garfish, King George whiting, yellowfin whiting and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Rising tide reported best.
Best wind: Mesh sides give some wind shelter; best in westerlies (offshore). Faces ESE.
Note: Purpose-built fishing jetty; tommies, gar and whiting on the rising tide, and crabs off the foreshore at low tide from spring to autumn.
Safety: Jetty decks get slippery when wet.
Zone: Point sits in a general managed use zone (line fishing allowed); Cowleds Landing sanctuary zone (Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park) about 4.9 km from this point: no fishing inside it Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -33.04274, 137.59319 · Open in Google Maps (position: Whyalla Jetty, Place names (State Gazetteer), South Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Point Lowly

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Sealed road from Whyalla; double boat ramp and breakwater.
What's good here: Peak in October: snook. Also in season: King George whiting, Australian salmon, southern garfish and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Shelter can be found on one side or the other of the point in most winds.
Note: Rocky point on the east side of False Bay; whiting and gar off the ledges, salmon in the cooler months and the odd big kingfish. No squid or cuttlefish here.
Safety: Rock ledges are slippery. Strong tidal currents off the point.
Zone: Point sits in a general managed use zone (line fishing allowed); Cuttlefish Coast sanctuary zone (Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park) about 3.5 km from this point: no fishing inside it; All squid, cuttlefish and octopus are banned year-round in the False Bay exclusion zone west of the point Guide only, not for navigation: check cdn.environment.sa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -33.00070, 137.78450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Point Lowly, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Fitzgerald Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Dirt track north of Point Lowly; launch at Point Lowly.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, tommy ruff, Australian salmon and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Early mornings and tide changes are reported best.
Best wind: Shelter behind the points in a blow, or move to Point Lowly.
Note: Seagrass and sand bay north of Point Lowly; wade the flats or drift the weed lines for whiting, tommies and crabs.
Safety: Tide runs out a long way on the flats.
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: -32.93540, 137.77400 · Open in Google Maps (position: Fitzgerald Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Port Augusta (head of the gulf)

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Launch at the West Side ramps; shore access is limited (the Westside jetty was closed in 2019: check its status).
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, yellowtail kingfish, blue swimmer crab, tommy ruff and yellowfin whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered narrow water; strong southerlies run up the gulf.
Note: Narrow head-of-gulf water with big tides; whiting are plentiful from autumn to late spring, and the upper gulf is known for large kingfish.
Safety: Big tides and strong currents in the narrow channel. Mudflats dry out a long way at low tide.
Zone: Point sits in a habitat protection zone (line fishing allowed); Head of the Gulf sanctuary zone (Upper Spencer Gulf 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: -32.50270, 137.76350 · Open in Google Maps (position: Harbor of Port Augusta, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Port Pirie (Solomontown jetty)

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Town riverfront jetty and boardwalk on the Port Pirie River.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Also in season: Australian salmon and yellowfin whiting.
Best tide: Mulloway are linked with full-moon dodge tides.
Best wind: Sheltered river water in most winds.
Note: River and estuary fishing in town: bream and salmon trout off the boardwalk and jetty, yellowfin whiting near the bridge in summer, mulloway at night.
Safety: Heavy-metal contamination: follow SA Health advice on eating fish caught near Port Pirie.
Zone: No marine park sanctuary or restricted access zone within 6 km of this point (DEW zoning layer); Crabs, razorfish and mussels may not be taken in Port Pirie zone 1 (heavy metals) Guide only, not for navigation: check marineparks.sa.gov.au.
Map: -33.18210, 138.02090 · Open in Google Maps (position: Solomontown Jetty, 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 Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf 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, southern garfish, Australian salmon, blue swimmer crab, yellowfin whiting, yellowtail kingfish, flathead, samsonfish, sweep, silver trevally, 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: 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); southern calamari in False Bay cephalopod exclusion zone near Whyalla (permanent, all squid, cuttlefish and octopus) (all year).

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 Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf

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.
No cuttlefish of any kind north of a line from Arno Bay to Wallaroo, and no cephalopods at all in the False Bay exclusion zone near Point Lowly (fines up to $20,000).
Port Pirie: no crabs, razorfish or mussels in zone 1 (heavy metals); razorfish closed in zone 2.
Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park has sanctuary zones around the gulf head, Cuttlefish Coast (near Point Lowly), Cowleds Landing and Port Davis: check the map.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Franklin Harbor Marine Park and Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Whyalla and upper Spencer Gulf

Tides here are large: flats and creeks drain fast and can strand waders and boats.
Summer heat is extreme; carry water and shade.
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

Yorke Peninsula (about 158 km south)
Adelaide metro beaches and jetties (about 206 km south-east)
Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay (about 229 km south-west)
Coffin Bay (about 255 km south-west)

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); whyalla.com (Whyalla jetty, Point Lowly, Fitzgerald Bay, crabbing at low tide); unsealed4x4.com.au (Whyalla jetty design and lighting); samove.raa.com.au (Whyalla and Port Germein jetties (RAA, Jan 2025)); flindersandoutback.com.au (Port Pirie and Port Germein spots, species, tides); portaugusta.sa.gov.au (Port Augusta whiting season and kingfish); portaugusta.sa.gov.au (Westside jetty closed in 2019); cleve.sa.gov.au (Arno Bay jetty and ramp); southaustralia.com (Port Broughton jetty length, crab fleet and ramp); auth-yp.southaustralia.com (Barunga West Council Top of the Yorke fishing guide: Port Broughton jetty species, channels, ramp facilities); cdn.environment.sa.gov.au (Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park zoning map).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.