Bunbury fishing spots

Bunbury wraps around Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Estuary, so in one day you can crab and bream-fish the estuary, cast the harbour breakwall for tailor and mulloway, and walk the surf beaches north and south for herring, whiting and autumn salmon. Summer is peak for crabs and estuary whiting; mulloway are best after dark.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here, all fished from land, plus 6 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Perth and South West species list for Western 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: Bunbury
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Binningup Beach	Beach	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
2. Buffalo Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
3. Leschenault Estuary (Pelican Point)	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. The Cut (Leschenault entrance)	Channel	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
5. Collie River (lower reaches)	River	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
6. Koombana Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Bunbury harbour breakwall (Point Casuarina)	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
8. Bunbury Back Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–

1. Binningup Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Town beach car parks; over-beach launching; bait at the general store.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin whiting, school whiting, Australian herring and tarwhine.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly mornings; reef parallel to the shore takes some swell. Faces W.
Note: Reef runs parallel to the shore: tailor, sand and yellowfin whiting, herring and silver bream, with the odd mulloway. Locals favour the beach past the rocks about 1.5 km north of the ramp.
Safety: Reef and surf: watch the sets. Over-beach launching needs calm water.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.14880, 115.68510 · Open in Google Maps (position: Binningup Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Buffalo Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach driving access on the Leschenault Peninsula (4WD).
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor and Australian herring.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly or calm evenings. Faces W.
Note: Peninsula beach north of Bunbury for mulloway, with tailor in the late afternoon. Belvidere just south adds whiting, herring and skippy in summer.
Safety: 4WD beach: soft sand. Surf and rips.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.20130, 115.68290 · Open in Google Maps (position: Buffalo Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Leschenault Estuary (Pelican Point)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore reserves at Australind, Eaton and Pelican Point; several ramps.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream. Also in season: yellowfin whiting, Australian herring and tailor. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm days; the shallows chop up in wind.
Note: Blue swimmers are abundant in summer (scoop or drop net), yellowfin whiting around the floodgates, and bream, herring and tailor through the system. Coordinate is the gazetted Pelican Point.
Safety: Wear shoes when wading. Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov.
Zone: No marine park. Commercial fishing is banned in the estuary; hand-trawl prawn nets are banned for recreational fishers too. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.30460, 115.69100 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pelican Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. The Cut (Leschenault entrance)

Type: Channel · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. By boat (about 20 minutes from estuary ramps) or a long walk along the Leschenault Peninsula.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, Australian herring and silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm or easterly conditions.
Note: Rock walls at the estuary entrance: tailor, herring and mulloway in summer, from the rocks or a boat.
Safety: Strong current through the entrance. Boat traffic in the channel.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.30470, 115.67360 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Cut, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Collie River (lower reaches)

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Riverside reserves from the Leschenault flats up to Treendale Road.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Also in season: Australian herring.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered.
Note: Black bream on small minnow lures and mulloway in the deep holes of the lower river; best in winter when the river is flowing.
Safety: Snags and steep banks.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.30300, 115.69210 · Open in Google Maps (position: Collie River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Koombana Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Bunbury foreshore; refurbished Bunbury Service Jetty in the outer harbour.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, silver trevally, school whiting and southern calamari. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerly winds (offshore here). Faces N.
Note: Sheltered bay beside the city: the refurbished service jetty gives deep water for herring, skippy, crabs and whiting, and squid are taken around the weed.
Safety: Port shipping: keep out of restricted port areas.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.31330, 115.64780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Koombana Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Bunbury harbour breakwall (Point Casuarina)

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks at Point Casuarina and the Casuarina Boat Harbour.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, Australian herring, silver trevally, southern calamari and pink snapper.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm or easterly conditions; snapper after a blow. Faces WNW.
Note: The harbour walls fish best for tailor and mulloway (big mulloway at night in the deep shipping channel), with herring, skippy, squid and the odd pink snapper after a blow.
Safety: Swell surges over the outer wall. Port restricted areas.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.31470, 115.63470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Point Casuarina, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Bunbury Back Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Ocean Drive car parks; Hungry Hollow and the south breakwall end are favourite stretches.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: Australian herring and tailor. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly (offshore) mornings; strong afternoon sea breeze. Faces W.
Note: Surf beach for herring and tailor, mulloway after dark where the gutters run deep, and salmon in autumn.
Safety: Rips and surf. Rocky sections at Hungry Hollow are slippery.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -33.34710, 115.62130 · Open in Google Maps (position: Back Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

6 public boat ramps are listed for Bunbury, with positions from Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033). Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.

Boat ramps: Bunbury
Ramp	Notes	Position
Sykes boat ramp	Sealed, 4 lanes, 2 finger jetties (DoT data).	-33.32232, 115.64183 Google Maps
Casuarina Boat Harbour public boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty (DoT data).	-33.31129, 115.63784 Google Maps
Pratt St (Eaton Park) boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, Leschenault/Collie access (DoT data).	-33.31154, 115.69951 Google Maps
Riviera Way boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes (DoT data).	-33.30953, 115.69611 Google Maps
Ridley Place boat ramp, Australind	Sealed, 2 lanes, 2 finger jetties (DoT data).	-33.27875, 115.71321 Google Maps
Turkey Point boat ramp	Over-beach launching, 1 lane, inside the inner harbour (DoT data).	-33.30646, 115.67465 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Bunbury in October: mulloway, black bream and King George whiting. Of the 23 species our Perth and South West list has for this part of the coast, 3 peak in October 2026 and 11 more are in season.

Peak in October: mulloway, black bream and King George whiting.

Also in season: Australian herring, tailor, silver trevally, yellowfin whiting, school whiting, southern calamari, tarwhine, pink snapper, southern bluespotted flathead, samsonfish and yellowtail kingfish.

Closed now for some fishing only: pink snapper (closed to boat and kayak fishing, until spring 2027).

Closed now in part of the area: blue swimmer crab in Swan-Canning rivers to Minninup Beach (15 km south of Bunbury), incl. Cockburn Sound, Peel-Harvey and Leschenault (1 September to 30 November); pink snapper in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds incl. waters west to Five Fathom Bank - land and boat (1 August to 31 January).

Out of season in October: blue swimmer crab (best Jan–Apr); Western Australian salmon (best Mar–May); western king prawn (best Dec–Mar); mahi mahi (best Jan–Apr).

Seen now and then, so not rated: Spanish mackerel, WA dhufish, queen snapper, bight redfish and southern bluefin tuna.

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: Western Australia's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

No licence for shore fishing. Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) for any fishing from or using a powered boat: $40/yr, half price concession (DPIRD, Oct 2026). Separate $50 licences for rock lobster, abalone and netting. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Western Australia's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Bunbury

Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov from the Swan River to Minninup Beach (15 km south of Bunbury), including the Leschenault Estuary.
Hand-trawl prawn nets banned in the Leschenault Estuary and tributaries.
West Coast demersal closure (16 Dec 2025 until DPIRD reopens it, planned spring 2027): no demersal scalefish (pink snapper, dhufish, baldchin, cods etc.) from boats or kayaks; shore and jetty line fishing stays open, mixed bag 2.
Pink snapper minimum size 50 cm.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Bunbury

Swell and surge on the harbour breakwall and The Cut walls.
Port shipping and restricted areas.
Peninsula beaches are 4WD only.

Western Australia: official links

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

Boating: Western Australia boating safety and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Powered boats <4.8m: everyone wears L100+ when >400m offshore in unprotected waters. >=4.8m there: children 1-12 wear L100+. PWC: always. Paddle craft <4.8m: wear L50S+ >400m offshore.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Marine Rescue WA (Volunteer Marine Rescue Service, DFES). Log on and off by marine radio with the local marine rescue group every trip, or use the Log on Log off (LOLO) feature in the DECKEE app, which notifies Marine Rescue WA.

Marine parks and closed areas: DPIRD - marine protected areas and fishing, WA recreational fishing rules site (interactive MPA maps) and Australian Marine Parks (North-west and South-west networks).

Water Police HF watch: Water Police monitor HF 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz 24/7; VHF 16/67 Perth metro only. More.

Western 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

Busselton and Dunsborough (about 57 km south-west)
Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey (about 75 km north)
Rockingham and Cockburn Sound (about 113 km north)
Augusta (about 122 km south-west)

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Western 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 Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033) (Western Australian Department of Transport), 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: visitbunburygeographe.com.au (Visit Bunbury Geographe '12 Fishing Spots': Back Beach, harbour, The Cut, Leschenault, Buffalo, Binningup, Collie River); recfishwest.org.au (Bunbury Service Jetty reopening and species); wa.gov.au (Prohibition on Fishing for Demersal Scalefish Order 2025: boat closure in the West Coast Region, shore line fishing exempt); dpird.wa.gov.au (DPIRD bag and size limits (pink snapper size zones, crab limits)); public-services.slip.wa.gov.au (DPIRD Fisheries Guide map service (DPIRD-061 consolidated notices and orders): closure, marine park order and FHPA polygons used for the zone check); catalogue.data.wa.gov.au (WA Department of Transport Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033), CC BY 4.0: ramp coordinates, lanes and finger jetties).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.