Onslow and Mackerel Islands fishing spots
Onslow is a small Pilbara town on Beadon Bay and the jumping-off point for the Mackerel Islands about 22 km offshore. Shore anglers work the Beadon Creek groyne, creek mouths and tidal creeks for queenfish, cod and mud crabs, while boats chase red emperor, coral trout and Spanish mackerel around the islands. The cooler months are the most comfortable time to fish.
Updated
2 spots here: 1 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat, plus 1 public boat ramp. Seasons follow our Pilbara 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. Beadon Creek groyne | Breakwall | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 2. Mackerel Islands (Thevenard Island) | Island | Boat | Offshore | – |
1. Beadon Creek groyne
- Type
- Breakwall · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. In town at the Beadon Creek harbour; fish cleaning table near the boat ramp. Coordinate is the gazetted Beadon Bay, about 600 m north of the groyne.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: queenfish, trevally, estuary cod and mud crab.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Southerlies (offshore); exposed to northerlies. Faces N.
- Note
- The town groyne at the creek entrance is the local land-based spot: queenfish and trevally chase bait on the tide, cod sit in the rocks, and the tidal creeks behind Beadon Bay hold mud crabs.
- Safety
- Keep clear of the working wharf and harbour traffic. Onslow is the southern edge of crocodile range: sightings are rare but possible.
- Zone
- No marine park zoning here Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -21.63540, 115.13220 · Open in Google Maps (position: Beadon Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Mackerel Islands (Thevenard Island)
- Type
- Island · offshore (boat)
- Access
- Boat. About 22 km offshore from Beadon Creek; charters and a ferry run from town and moorings can be hired at the islands.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Spanish mackerel, trevally, sailfish and queenfish. Also in season: red emperor, coral trout and Rankin cod.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Settled weather; the run out is exposed to afternoon sea breezes.
- Note
- Ten low islands with reefs and shoals: bottom-bounce for red emperor, trout and Rankin cod; troll or cast for Spanish mackerel, GT and sailfish.
- Safety
- Open-water crossing: EPIRB, marine radio and a good forecast.
- Zone
- No marine park zoning at the Mackerel Islands Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -21.45670, 114.98860 · Open in Google Maps (position: Thevenard Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
1 public boat ramp is listed for Onslow and Mackerel Islands, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beadon Creek boat ramp | Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, about 100 trailer bays; in the Beadon Creek maritime facility. | -21.64874, 115.13111 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Onslow and Mackerel Islands in October: trevally, queenfish, estuary cod, Spanish mackerel and 11 more. Of the 26 species our Pilbara coast list has for this part of the coast, 15 peak in October 2026 and 11 more are in season.
Peak in October: trevally, queenfish, estuary cod, Spanish mackerel, sailfish, mud crab, barramundi, mangrove jack, golden snapper, whiting, longtail tuna, cobia, marlin, spangled emperor and squid.
Also in season: coral trout, red emperor, Rankin cod, king threadfin, blue threadfin, black jewfish, pikey bream, western yellowfin bream, school mackerel, goldband snapper and blue swimmer crab.
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 Onslow and Mackerel Islands
- Ashburton River: no netting other than a throw net or drop net.
- North Coast netting: haul and set nets banned; a net licence is needed for any throw net.
- 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 Onslow and Mackerel Islands
- Onslow is the southern end of crocodile range: sightings are rare but stay croc-aware around creeks.
- Irukandji occur across tropical northern Australia: avoid swimming in the warmer months and carry vinegar.
- Cyclone season runs roughly November to April: watch warnings and secure boats.
- 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
- Exmouth and Exmouth Gulf (about 109 km west)
- Dampier and Karratha (about 218 km north-east)
- Coral Bay (about 218 km south-west)
- Port Hedland (about 389 km 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 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 (Onslow fishing spots: Beadon Creek groyne, beaches, creeks, Mackerel Islands); discoveryholidayparks.com.au (Shore species near creek mouths, crabbing in Beadon Bay creeks, Mackerel Islands species); australiasnorthwest.com (Mackerel Islands target species and moorings); wa.gov.au (Ashburton River netting order); dpird.wa.gov.au (North Coast netting rules and net licence); broome.wa.gov.au (Irukandji season and range across tropical northern Australia (Shire of Broome)); dpird.wa.gov.au (Demersal bag and size limits from 1 June 2026).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.