Perth metro and the Swan River fishing spots

Perth's coast is a string of beaches, groynes, marina walls and the Fremantle moles where herring, tailor, whiting and skippy bite most of the year, salmon pass in autumn and pink snapper are taken from the rocks after winter storms. The Swan and Canning rivers add black bream, flathead, mulloway and summer blue swimmer crabs right in the city. On the coast, fish the mornings before the sea breeze.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

10 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

10 spots: Perth metro and the Swan River
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Mindarie Marina rock walls	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Trigg Point	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Marmion Marine Park
3. City Beach & Floreat groynes	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
4. Cottesloe groyne	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	Cottesloe Reef Fish Habitat Protection Area
5. Leighton & Port beaches	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Fremantle moles (North & South Mole)	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Point Walter	Flats	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Mosman Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
9. The Narrows (Narrows Bridge)	Channel	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
10. Canning River (Canning Bridge to Deep Water Point)	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Mindarie Marina rock walls

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Marina car parks; walk out along the breakwater.
What's good here: In season in October: pink snapper, Australian herring, tailor, silver trevally and southern calamari.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm easterly mornings; snapper often bite in the rough, weedy water after winter storms. Faces W.
Note: Northern-suburbs rock wall long known for land-based pink snapper after winter storms (50 cm minimum, bag counts toward 2 demersals), plus herring, skippy, tailor and squid.
Safety: Waves surge over the outer wall in storm swell. Slippery, uneven rocks: wear grippy shoes.
Zone: North of Marmion Marine Park's current boundary (DBCA has proposed extending the park to Two Rocks). Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.69030, 115.70140 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mindarie Marina, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Trigg Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks along West Coast Drive at Trigg.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, tarwhine, yellowfin whiting and tailor. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly mornings before the south-westerly sea breeze. Faces W.
Note: Limestone point with reef and sand patches: berley for herring and tarwhine, whiting on the sand, salmon and tailor when they move through. No wire traces within 800 m of shore.
Safety: Swell sweeps the reef at the point. Surfers and swimmers nearby.
Zone: General use area at the park's southern end: line fishing allowed. Watermans recreation area is about 2 km north; sanctuary areas lie off Hillarys. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.87560, 115.75080 · Open in Google Maps (position: Trigg Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. City Beach & Floreat groynes

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Large beachfront car parks at City Beach and Floreat.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, tailor, tarwhine and school whiting. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm or easterly mornings; the sea breeze usually arrives by early afternoon. Faces W.
Note: Classic Perth groynes: herring on berley, tarwhine around the rocks, tailor at first and last light, whiting off the sand either side and salmon in autumn.
Safety: Swell washes over the groyne tips. Patrolled swimming areas: cast away from swimmers.
Zone: No marine park or closure found here. Wire traces are banned within 800 m of shore. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.93670, 115.75470 · Open in Google Maps (position: City Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Cottesloe groyne

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Cottesloe beachfront; parking is tight on summer weekends.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, tailor, school whiting, silver trevally and southern calamari.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Mornings, before the afternoon sea breeze. Faces W.
Note: Inside the Cottesloe Reef FHPA: one rod and line each for tailor, herring, whiting, skippy and squid. No shark or ray fishing, no spearfishing, and no cleaning fish or dumping bait.
Safety: Busy swimming beach: fish the groyne away from swimmers. Swell washes the groyne end.
Zone: Line fishing is allowed in the FHPA (single rod and line); shark and ray fishing, spearfishing and collecting are banned. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.99580, 115.75060 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cottesloe Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Leighton & Port beaches

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beachfront car parks at Leighton and Port Beach, North Fremantle.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, Australian herring and school whiting. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterly (offshore) mornings and calm evenings. Faces W.
Note: Open beaches between Leighton and the North Mole: salmon schools in autumn, tailor and mulloway in the gutters at dusk and after dark, herring and whiting by day.
Safety: Rips in the gutters. No wire traces within 800 m of shore.
Zone: The Cottesloe Reef FHPA ends about 0.7 km north of Leighton. No sanctuary zone here. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.03470, 115.74470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Port Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Fremantle moles (North & South Mole)

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car access along both moles (South Mole access is managed by Fremantle Ports); walk to the heads.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: Australian herring, tailor, southern calamari, pink snapper and silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm or easterly conditions; snapper after winter storms. Faces WSW.
Note: The river-mouth breakwalls: squid over the weed, tailor on cast baits or lures, herring and skippy on berley, and big baits for pink snapper and mulloway. Coordinate is the gazetted Swan River mouth between them.
Safety: Waves break over the outer moles in big swell. Busy shipping channel: never cast toward vessels.
Zone: No marine park or closure found here. Wire traces banned (metro coast and the whole Swan-Canning estuary). Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.05530, 115.73530 · Open in Google Maps (position: Swan River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Point Walter

Type: Flats · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Point Walter Reserve, Bicton: parking, jetty and boat ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream. Also in season: southern bluespotted flathead, yellowfin whiting, tailor and Australian herring. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered; fishable in most winds.
Note: Sand spit and drop-offs in the lower Swan: wade the flats for flathead and whiting, fish the channel edge for bream and tailor, and scoop or drop-net crabs in summer (bag 5).
Safety: The spit drops off sharply into deep water with current at the tip. Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov.
Zone: Swan River reserve. The Alfred Cove section of the Swan Estuary Marine Park starts about 1 km south-east; line fishing is allowed anywhere in the marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.01060, 115.78610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Point Walter, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Mosman Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Riverside parking at Mosman Park; Mosman Bay jetty.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and black bream. Also in season: southern bluespotted flathead and tailor.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered by the river cliffs; calm nights are best.
Note: Some of the deepest water in the Swan: mulloway and bream hold in the holes and are best fished at night or from a boat; flathead on the sandy edges.
Safety: Deep water close to the bank. Boat traffic around the jetty and moorings.
Zone: Swan River reserve; no marine park or closure here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.00860, 115.77360 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mosman Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. The Narrows (Narrows Bridge)

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore paths at Mill Point (South Perth) and Elizabeth Quay side.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and black bream. Also in season: tailor. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm nights for mulloway.
Note: The bridge pylons and channel beneath hold big mulloway; bream on the pylons; summer crab drop-netting from here downstream.
Safety: Ferry and boat traffic in the channel. Fishing off the bridge itself is not a safe option.
Zone: Swan River reserve. The Milyu section of the Swan Estuary Marine Park (line fishing allowed) is about 1.3 km south; the lakes on Heirisson Island (about 3 km upstream) and Burswood Lake are closed to fishing. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
Map: -31.96220, 115.84720 · Open in Google Maps (position: The Narrows, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

10. Canning River (Canning Bridge to Deep Water Point)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore reserves at Applecross and Mount Pleasant; Deep Water Point ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: black bream and mulloway. Also in season: southern bluespotted flathead and yellowfin whiting. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered; fishable in most winds.
Note: Lower Canning flats and bridge pylons: bream and flathead on lures and prawns, crabs in summer, mulloway around the bridges after dark.
Safety: Boat traffic near the bridges and ramps. Algal blooms occur in summer: check river health alerts.
Zone: Swan River reserve; no marine park or closure here. Guide only, not for navigation: check rules.fish.wa.gov.au.
Map: -32.00110, 115.85000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Canning River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

6 public boat ramps are listed for Perth metro and the Swan River, 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: Perth metro and the Swan River
Ramp	Notes	Position
Ocean Reef boat ramp	Sealed, 10 lanes, 6 finger jetties (DoT data).	-31.76143, 115.72829 Google Maps
Hillarys boat ramp	Sealed, 6 lanes, 3 finger jetties (DoT data); Marmion Marine Park starts just outside the harbour.	-31.82174, 115.73923 Google Maps
Mindarie boat ramp	Sealed, 4 lanes, 2 finger jetties (DoT data).	-31.69159, 115.70235 Google Maps
Leeuwin boat ramp, East Fremantle	Sealed, 3 lanes, 2 finger jetties, on the Swan River (DoT data).	-32.02959, 115.76285 Google Maps
Point Walter boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, on the Swan River (DoT data).	-32.01345, 115.79179 Google Maps
Deep Water Point boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, on the Canning River (DoT data).	-32.02434, 115.85412 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Perth metro and the Swan River 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: tailor, Australian herring, silver trevally, yellowfin whiting, school whiting, southern bluespotted flathead, southern calamari, tarwhine, pink snapper, 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: Western Australian salmon (best Mar–May); blue swimmer crab (best Jan–Apr); 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 Perth metro and the Swan River

Wire traces are banned within 800 m of shore from Tims Thicket to north of Two Rocks and anywhere in the Swan-Canning estuary.
Crab fishing is closed 1 Sep-30 Nov from the Swan-Canning to Minninup Beach; Swan-Canning crab bag is 5.
Swan and Canning black bream: 25 cm minimum, bag 6, only 2 over 40 cm.
DPIRD advises removing the top shell, guts and gills of Swan-Canning crabs before cooking (algal toxin).
Cottesloe Reef FHPA: single rod and line only, no shark or ray fishing, no spearfishing.
Marmion Marine Park sanctuary areas (Boyinaboat, Little Island, The Lumps): no fishing.
The lakes on Heirisson Island and Burswood Lake are closed to fishing.
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

The zone notes here name Marmion Marine Park and Cottesloe Reef Fish Habitat Protection Area. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Perth metro and the Swan River

Afternoon south-westerly sea breeze builds quickly on the coast.
Swell washes over groynes and moles: stay off wet, weedy rocks.
Sharks are present off Perth beaches; do not swim near berley trails or fish frames.
Swan River algal blooms: check health alerts before eating shellfish or crabs.

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

Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) (about 25 km west)
Rockingham and Cockburn Sound (about 34 km south)
Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey (about 72 km south)
Lancelin, Ledge Point and Guilderton (about 95 km north)

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 (Swan River spots: Narrows Bridge mulloway, flats species, crabbing, seasons); recfishwest.org.au (Land-based pink snapper at Mindarie Marina and North Mole after winter storms); recfishwest.org.au (South Mole species and vehicle access); dpird.wa.gov.au (Cottesloe Reef FHPA rules and species); wa.gov.au (Marmion Marine Park recreational fishing order: sanctuary, recreation and general use areas); exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au (DBCA Explore Parks: Swan Estuary Marine Park sections (Alfred Cove, Pelican Point, Milyu); line fishing allowed anywhere in the park); haveagonews.com.au (Swan River deep holes around Mosman); dbca.wa.gov.au (Proposed Marmion Marine Park extension status); library.dpird.wa.gov.au (DPIRD shore-based recreational fishing survey, Perth metro 2022: herring the main shore catch at beaches, groynes and jetties); 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 West Coast bioregion closures: lakes on Heirisson Island, Lake Clifton, wreck sites); 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.