Derby and King Sound fishing spots
Derby sits on the mudflats of King Sound, home to some of the biggest tides in Australia at around 11 m. The town jetty is the main land-based spot for threadfin, mulloway, barramundi and mud crabs, while boats and 4WDs reach the mouths of the Fitzroy, May and other rivers for barra and threadfin. The dry season is the usual time to visit; saltwater crocodiles are common.
Updated
4 spots here: 3 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat, plus 1 public boat ramp. Seasons follow our Kimberley coast 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
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Derby Jetty | Wharf | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 2. Fitzroy River mouth (King Sound) | River | Boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 3. Point Torment | Headland | Land-based and boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 4. May River | River | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
1. Derby Jetty
- Type
- Wharf · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Port of Derby on the edge of town; walkway, parking and toilets; public access to the northern section of the wharf.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi and mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin and black jewfish.
- Best tide
- Incoming tide, about 2-3 hours either side of high; sunset on the run-in is a favourite.
- Best wind
- Easterlies (offshore); exposed to westerlies. Faces WNW.
- Note
- Wharf reaching into King Sound: bait for threadfin, mulloway and the odd barra, and drop crab nets for muddies. The tide rises and falls around 11 m, so fish the top half.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge. Huge tides and fast currents: never climb down the wharf structure.
- Zone
- No marine park here; Mayala and Lalang-gaddam marine parks are well north in King Sound Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -17.29181, 123.60711 · Open in Google Maps (position: Derby Jetty, Coastal Infrastructure DOT (DOT-020))
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Fitzroy River mouth (King Sound)
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat. Long, tidal boat run south from the Derby ramp; experienced crews only.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi and mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin and black jewfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Light winds; King Sound gets rough against the tide.
- Note
- King Sound's biggest river: barramundi, some over a metre, and threadfin in the tidal reaches and at the mouth, best in the warmer months and after the wet.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge; stay in the boat. Extreme tides, fast currents and shifting sandbanks.
- Zone
- Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -17.42640, 123.56610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Fitzroy River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Point Torment
- Type
- Headland · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and boat. 4WD only, north of Derby; check track conditions at the Derby Visitor Centre.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin and black jewfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Easterlies (offshore). Faces WNW.
- Note
- Remote point on King Sound north of Derby: threadfin and salmon on the tide off the mangrove-fringed shore, crabs in the creeks. Species are those typical of King Sound.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge. Remote with big tides: carry water, recovery gear and a PLB.
- Zone
- Not in a marine park; Lalang-gaddam Marine Park is about 11 km north Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -17.03140, 123.58360 · Open in Google Maps (position: Point Torment, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. May River
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. 4WD via the Gibb River Road side tracks; check road conditions at the Derby Visitor Centre.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi, mangrove jack and mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Note
- Tidal mangrove river east of Derby: barra and jacks around snags on lures, threadfin near the mouth, crabs in the mangroves. Species are those typical of King Sound rivers.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge. Remote and closed by wet-season rain: check roads.
- Zone
- Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -17.20830, 123.91350 · Open in Google Maps (position: May River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
1 public boat ramp is listed for Derby and King Sound, with positions from Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033). Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.
| Ramp | Notes | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Derby boat ramp | Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, about 100 trailer bays at the port. Tidal range is around 11 m: launch and retrieve near high water. | -17.29317, 123.60849 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Derby and King Sound in October: mud crab, barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper and 10 more. Of the 25 species our Kimberley coast list has for this part of the coast, 14 peak in October 2026 and 10 more are in season.
Peak in October: mud crab, barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, estuary cod, whiting, Spanish mackerel, longtail tuna, trevally, queenfish, cobia, sailfish, marlin and spangled emperor.
Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin, black jewfish, pikey bream, school mackerel, coral trout, red emperor, goldband snapper, Rankin cod and blue swimmer crab.
Seen now and then, so not rated: squid.
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-based line fishing. Any fishing from a powered boat (incl. crabbing, squid, catch and release) needs a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence: $40/yr, half price concession incl. under 16 (DPIRD, Oct 2026). Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Western Australia's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Rules at Derby and King Sound
- Barramundi: min 55 cm, max 80 cm, bag 2.
- Kimberley netting restrictions apply; a net licence is needed for any net.
- No boat fishing in Danggu (Geikie) Gorge on the Fitzroy River.
- Powered boats need a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence; North Coast demersal bag is 4 per person from 1 Jun 2026.
Marine parks and no-take zones
Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Derby and King Sound
- Saltwater crocodiles are common around Derby and in all King Sound rivers and creeks.
- Tides of around 11 m: mudflats flood fast and currents are strong.
- Remote country: roads close in the wet season; check with the Derby Visitor Centre.
- Irukandji occur across tropical northern Australia: avoid swimming, especially November to June.
- Crocodile country: saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries, beaches and around islands here. Stay well back from the water's edge, never clean fish at the water, and don't stand on logs or overhanging banks. More.
- Marine stingers (box jellyfish and irukandji) can be in these waters, mostly in the warmer months: cover up if you wade or swim, and carry vinegar. More.
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
- Broome and Roebuck Bay (about 165 km south-west)
- Port Hedland (about 626 km south-west)
- Dampier and Karratha (about 794 km south-west)
- Daly River (NT) (about 841 km north-east)
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, Coastal Infrastructure DOT (DOT-020) (Western Australian Department of Transport), 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: catalogue.data.wa.gov.au (Boat ramp coordinates, lanes, finger jetties and trailer bays (WA DoT Public Boat Ramps DOT-033, CC BY 4.0)); public-services.slip.wa.gov.au (DPIRD Fisheries Guide polygons (DPIRD-061): every spot was tested against sanctuary, fishing-prohibition and FHPA areas); public-services.slip.wa.gov.au (DBCA Legislated Lands and Waters (DBCA-011): which marine park each spot sits in); australiasnorthwest.com (Derby Jetty, King Sound river mouths, Point Torment, May River, jetty species); westernaustralia.com (Jetty tide advice (2-3 h either side of high), species, crocodiles); waholidayguide.com.au (Derby jetty species and tidal range); recfishwest.org.au (Fitzroy River big barramundi); kimberleyports.wa.gov.au (Port of Derby handover to KPA; recreational access to ramps and northern wharf continues); rules.fish.wa.gov.au (Barramundi limits); dpird.wa.gov.au (Geikie Gorge boat-fishing ban and North Coast rules); broome.wa.gov.au (Irukandji season and range across tropical northern Australia (Shire of Broome)); catalogue.data.wa.gov.au (Derby Jetty coordinate (DoT Coastal Infrastructure DOT-020, CC BY 4.0)); dbca.wa.gov.au (Crocodile safety).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.