Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey fishing spots

Mandurah's Peel-Harvey estuary is famous for blue swimmer crabs (closed 1 Sep-30 Nov) and summer yellowfin whiting on the flats. The Mandurah channel, Dawesville Cut and marina walls carry herring, tailor, skippy, squid and salmon; the Murray and Serpentine rivers hold big black bream; and the 4WD beaches south of town produce tailor and mulloway.

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: Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Mandurah Ocean Marina & channel walls	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Mandurah channel & town foreshore	Channel	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Dawesville Cut	Channel	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Peel Inlet	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Harvey Estuary	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
6. Murray River	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. Serpentine River	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Tims Thicket beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–

1. Mandurah Ocean Marina & channel walls

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Marina and foreshore car parks; walk the breakwaters.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, silver trevally, tailor and school whiting. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly mornings; the walls give some shelter from the sea breeze. Faces W.
Note: Rock walls and jetties at the estuary mouth: whiting, herring, salmon and skippy by day, and small to medium tailor at night.
Safety: Wet, uneven rocks. Boat traffic in the channel entrance.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.52490, 115.71510 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mandurah Ocean Marina, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Mandurah channel & town foreshore

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Town foreshore, Mandurah traffic bridge area and canals.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Also in season: Australian herring, tailor and silver trevally. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered; good in most winds.
Note: The channel through town: herring and skippy, chopper tailor (troll small lures), bream around the jetties and canals, crabs in season and the odd mulloway.
Safety: Strong tidal flow under the bridge. Busy boat channel.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.53820, 115.71820 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mandurah Estuary, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Dawesville Cut

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Car parks on both sides (Wannanup side via Rees Place); walk the rock walls and jetties.
What's good here: Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: southern calamari, Australian herring, silver trevally and tarwhine. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Fishes in most winds; worst in strong westerlies against the run-out.
Note: Engineered ocean channel: squid and herring on the tide, skippy and silver bream, some King George whiting, and juvenile salmon where the Cut meets the estuary.
Safety: Very strong currents: do not swim or wade. Boat traffic through the Cut.
Zone: No marine park here. Hand-trawl (drag) prawn nets are banned in the Cut. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.60220, 115.63280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Dawesville Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Peel Inlet

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Shoreline reserves around Mandurah, Falcon and Coodanup; boat ramps in town.
What's good here: In season in October: yellowfin whiting, Australian herring and tarwhine. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab and Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm days; the shallow inlet gets choppy in strong wind.
Note: The larger, northern part of the roughly 130 km2 Peel-Harvey estuary: drop-net or scoop blue swimmers, and wade the flats for yellowfin whiting on small surface lures in summer. Juvenile salmon roam the estuary.
Safety: Wear shoes when wading (crabs, stingrays, shells). Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov.
Zone: No marine park. Hand-trawl prawn nets are banned in Peel Inlet. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.60160, 115.71180 · Open in Google Maps (position: Peel Inlet, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Harvey Estuary

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore reserves along the estuary south of Dawesville.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream. Also in season: yellowfin whiting. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm days; very shallow and choppy in wind.
Note: Long shallow estuary south of the Cut: crabbing in season and whiting on the sand flats, with bream near the river inflows.
Safety: Extensive shallows: check depth before boating. Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov.
Zone: No marine park. Hand-trawl prawn nets are banned in the Harvey Estuary. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.70020, 115.67840 · Open in Google Maps (position: Harvey Estuary, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Murray River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Ramps and reserves at Yunderup, Ravenswood and Murray Bend.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered river; fishable in most winds.
Note: Plentiful bream with 40 cm fish common from the lower reaches up past Ravenswood: cast lures or baits into the snags. Occasional mulloway.
Safety: Snags and submerged logs. 5-knot zones and moored boats.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.58240, 115.77320 · Open in Google Maps (position: Murray River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Serpentine River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Access from Furnissdale and the Riverside Drive ramp.
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; fishable in most winds.
Note: Good bream in the lower reaches and mulloway at times; the river gets hard to navigate further up.
Safety: Shallow and snaggy upstream.
Zone: No marine park here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.57500, 115.76250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Serpentine River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Tims Thicket beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach access south of Dawesville; 4WD needed for the beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, Australian herring and pink snapper.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly (offshore) mornings and evenings. Faces W.
Note: Open beach south of Mandurah for tailor and mulloway in the gutters, herring by day, and pink snapper at times (land-based only, 50 cm). White Hills further south is similar.
Safety: 4WD beach: soft sand and high tides. Surf and rips.
Zone: No marine park here. The metro wire-trace ban starts at Tims Thicket and runs north. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.65500, 115.61470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tims Thicket Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

6 public boat ramps are listed for Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey, 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: Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey
Ramp	Notes	Position
Mary Street boat ramp	Sealed, 6 lanes, 4 finger jetties (DoT data).	-32.52618, 115.70884 Google Maps
Breakwater boat ramp, Mandurah	Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, near the ocean entrance (DoT data).	-32.52134, 115.71480 Google Maps
Port Bouvard public boat ramp	Sealed, 4 lanes, 2 finger jetties (DoT data).	-32.60715, 115.64563 Google Maps
Parks Ridge boat ramp, Dawesville	Sealed, 4 lanes, 3 finger jetties (DoT data).	-32.62511, 115.64173 Google Maps
Yunderup boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, 2 finger jetties (DoT data); Murray River access.	-32.58400, 115.79461 Google Maps
Murray Bend boat ramp	Sealed, 1 lane, 1 finger jetty (DoT data).	-32.59757, 115.83430 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey 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, tarwhine, school whiting, southern calamari, 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 Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey

Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov (Swan River to Minninup Beach, including the Peel-Harvey); Peel-Harvey bag 10 per person, 20 per boat.
Hand-trawl (drag) prawn nets are banned in the Peel Inlet, Harvey Estuary, their tributaries and the Dawesville Cut.
Wire traces banned within 800 m of shore north of Tims Thicket.
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 Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey

Strong tidal currents in the Dawesville Cut and Mandurah channel.
The shallow estuary chops up quickly in wind.
Ocean beaches have rips; 4WD beaches need recovery gear.

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

Rockingham and Cockburn Sound (about 38 km north)
Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) (about 69 km north)
Perth metro and the Swan River (about 72 km north)
Bunbury (about 75 km south)

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: recfishwest.org.au (Peel-Harvey, Dawesville Cut, Murray and Serpentine rivers species and methods); 917thewave.com.au (Local report: Mandurah channel rock walls and Dawesville Cut jetty species); tackleworld.com.au (Tims Thicket and White Hills beaches (4WD) species); wa.gov.au (Prohibition on Fishing (Wire Trace) Order 2024: metro, Busselton Jetty and Esperance Jetty zones); 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.