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Kalbarri fishing spots

Kalbarri sits where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean: a sheltered river in town for black bream, mulloway and some years crabs, and surf beaches and reef-backed cliffs either side for tailor and mulloway. In calm weather small boats cross the river bar to troll for Spanish mackerel and tuna, mostly in the warmer months. The Blue Holes reef just south-west of town is closed to all fishing.

Updated

4 spots here, all fished from land, plus 1 public boat ramp. Seasons follow our Mid 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

4 spots: Kalbarri
SpotTypeFished fromWaterMarine park
1. Murchison River (town foreshore)EstuaryLand-based, boat and kayakBay, estuary or river–
2. Chinaman's Beach & the river mouth (Gantheaume Bay)BeachLand-based and boatOcean coast–
3. Red BluffBeachLand-basedOcean coast–
4. Wagoe BeachBeachLand-basedOcean coast–

1. Murchison River (town foreshore)

Type
Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access
Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore parking along the town waterfront; Kalbarri service jetty ramp in town.
What's good here
Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin whiting and tailor. Now and then: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
A good fallback when strong winds blow out the open coast.
Note
Bream around the boat jetties and snags, mulloway from the mouth up to the jetties (best after dark), whiting on the foreshore flats and crabs in good years. Mangrove jack turn up around the jetties.
Safety
Strong outflow near the river mouth on the ebb. Keep lines clear of boats using the channel and moorings.
Zone
No marine park here. The Kalbarri Blue Holes Fish Habitat Protection Area (all fishing banned) is about 1.4 km south-west along the coast. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-27.70650, 114.16170 · Open in Google Maps (position: Murchison River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

2. Chinaman's Beach & the river mouth (Gantheaume Bay)

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based and boat. Short walk from town car parks; boats launch inside the river.
What's good here
Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin whiting, Australian herring and Spanish mackerel.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Morning easterlies (offshore); the afternoon southerly sea breeze makes it choppy. Faces NW.
Note
Beach on the south side of the river mouth known for big tailor; small boats fish just inside the mouth for mulloway and troll the bay for mackerel and tuna on calm days. Coordinate is the gazetted bay.
Safety
The Murchison River bar can break heavily: cross only in calm, settled conditions. Swell surges around the mouth reefs.
Zone
Kalbarri Blue Holes FHPA starts about 1.3 km south: no fishing of any kind there. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-27.70540, 114.15170 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gantheaume Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

3. Red Bluff

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based. Car park off the coast road south of town; short walk down to the beach and rocks.
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 (offshore) mornings; avoid big south-west swell. Faces WSW.
Note
Beach and reef under the red cliffs south of town: tailor and herring in the washes, with the occasional mulloway after dark.
Safety
Open ocean swell washes over the reef ledges without warning. Wear grippy footwear on the reef.
Zone
Outside any marine park; the Blue Holes FHPA (no fishing) is a few km north. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map
-27.74320, 114.14360 · Open in Google Maps (position: Red Bluff Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

4. Wagoe Beach

Type
Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access
Land-based. Track access about 25 km south of Kalbarri; a 4WD helps, check access locally.
What's good here
Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, pink snapper and Spanish mackerel.
Best tide
Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind
Easterlies (offshore) are prime, when some anglers float balloon baits out for mackerel and tuna. Faces W.
Note
Long surf beach for tailor and mulloway with the odd pink snapper from the shore (41 cm minimum here). In easterly weather, ballooned baits can reach mackerel.
Safety
Remote: carry water and tell someone your plans. Heavy surf and strong rips.
Zone
No marine park or closure found here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map
-27.93070, 114.13250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wagoe Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast
Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

1 public boat ramp is listed for Kalbarri, 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: Kalbarri
RampNotesPosition
Kalbarri service jetty boat rampInside the Murchison River; 2 lanes, unsealed (DoT data). Reaching the sea means crossing the river bar.-27.69957, 114.16862
Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Kalbarri in October: mulloway and black bream. Of the 19 species our Mid West list has for this part of the coast, 2 peak in October 2026 and 11 more are in season.

Peak in October: mulloway and black bream.

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

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

Out of season in October: mahi mahi (best Jan–Apr).

Seen now and then, so not rated: blue swimmer crab, King George whiting, Western Australian salmon, southern bluespotted flathead and WA dhufish.

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 Kalbarri

  • Kalbarri Blue Holes Fish Habitat Protection Area (just south-west of town): all fishing prohibited.
  • 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 is 41 cm north of Lancelin (50 cm south of it).

Marine parks and no-take zones

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

Safety at Kalbarri

  • The Murchison River bar is dangerous in swell: check conditions and watch the sets before crossing.
  • Cliff-top and ledge fishing in the national park gorges is hazardous: stay back from edges and wave-washed ledges.
  • Hot, remote country: carry water and tell someone your plans.

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

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

Sources and checked dates