Port Hedland fishing spots
Port Hedland is a busy iron-ore port with good fishing on its doorstep: tidal creeks for threadfin, jacks and mud crabs, a marina fishing platform over an artificial reef, and offshore reefs and FADs for mackerel, tuna and red emperor. Tides are big, creeks fish best on moving water after rain, and Cape Keraudren to the north-east is a favourite camping and fishing trip.
Updated
4 spots here, all fished from land, plus 3 public boat ramps. 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. Port Hedland public jetty | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 2. Spoilbank Marina fishing platform | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 3. West Creek, Finucane Island | Estuary | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 4. Cape Keraudren | Headland | Land-based and boat | Ocean coast | Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
1. Port Hedland public jetty
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Beside Marapikurrinya Park at the harbour end of town (gazetted as Mainstreet Jetty).
- What's good here
- Peak in October: trevally and whiting. Also in season: pikey bream.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Not confirmed for this spot yet. Faces ENE.
- Note
- Town jetty next to Marapikurrinya Park with close views of the ore ships: bream, whiting and small trevally on light gear. Keep lines clear of the shipping channel.
- Safety
- Strong tidal currents along the harbour. Port security zones apply around berths and the channel.
- Zone
- No marine park zoning Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -20.31170, 118.57410 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mainstreet Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Spoilbank Marina fishing platform
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Spoilbank Marina on the town foreshore; the public fishing jetty stands on the marina's western seawall, has two levels and has fish cleaning nearby.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: mangrove jack and estuary cod. Also in season: coral trout.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Not confirmed for this spot yet. Faces NNW.
- Note
- Purpose-built two-level, wheelchair-friendly platform over reef balls: drop baits or soft plastics into the structure for jacks, cod and even coral trout.
- Safety
- Keep clear of the marina entrance and the four-lane ramp.
- Zone
- No marine park zoning Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -20.30500, 118.58830 · Open in Google Maps (position: Spoilbank Marina, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. West Creek, Finucane Island
- Type
- Estuary · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Finucane Island west of the port, beside the Finucane Island ramp; coordinate is the gazetted island.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: mangrove jack and mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin and blue threadfin.
- Best tide
- Moving water around the tide changes; creeks fire after rain.
- Best wind
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Note
- Land-based threadfin water: cast vibes or soft plastics and fresh baits along the creek edges and mouth for threadfin and blue salmon; jacks and mud crabs in the mangroves.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge. Steep, muddy banks on a big run-out tide.
- Zone
- No marine park zoning; fish traps are banned in creeks and estuaries Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -20.30340, 118.55270 · Open in Google Maps (position: Finucane Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. Cape Keraudren
- Type
- Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Cape Keraudren Coastal Reserve, north-east of Port Hedland past Pardoo; pay camping fees to the ranger; part-concrete ramp.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: trevally, estuary cod and mud crab. Also in season: king threadfin.
- Best tide
- Fish the rocky headland on low tide; check the tide every day.
- Best wind
- Light winds; exposed to northerlies. Faces N.
- Note
- Rocky cape at the start of Eighty Mile Beach: GT and cod off the rocks at low tide, threadfin along the nearby beach, and mud crabs in the mangrove creeks.
- Safety
- Crocodile country: stay a few metres back from the water, never wade or clean fish at the edge. Very big tides and fast-flooding flats.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park: Kurtamparanya Sanctuary Zone starts about 2.4 km east and Pananykarra Sanctuary Zone about 5.6 km west (no fishing in either); the Pananykarra and Banningarra Creek shore-based zones allow no boat fishing: check the park map Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
- Map
- -19.95530, 119.76880 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cape Keraudren, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
3 public boat ramps are listed for Port Hedland, with positions from Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033) and Composite Gazetteer of Australia. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.
| Ramp | Notes | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Port Hedland town ramp (Richardson Street) | Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, about 100 trailer bays near the town centre. | -20.30951, 118.57784 Google Maps |
| Finucane Island boat ramp | Sealed single lane, about 50 trailer bays. | -20.30722, 118.53461 Google Maps |
| Spoilbank Marina boat ramp | Four lanes with two floating access jetties; usable at all tides but launch near high tide for better grip. Coordinate is the gazetted marina, not the ramp itself. | -20.30500, 118.58830 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Port Hedland in October: mangrove jack, estuary cod, trevally, mud crab 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: mangrove jack, estuary cod, trevally, mud crab, whiting, barramundi, golden snapper, Spanish mackerel, longtail tuna, queenfish, cobia, sailfish, marlin, spangled emperor and squid.
Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin, pikey bream, coral trout, black jewfish, western yellowfin bream, school mackerel, red emperor, goldband snapper, Rankin cod 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 Port Hedland
- Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park (from Cape Keraudren east): no fishing in sanctuary zones; some special purpose zones limit shore or boat fishing.
- Fish traps are banned in all estuaries, inlets, rivers and creeks.
- 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
The zone notes here name Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Cape Keraudren: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Port Hedland
- Crocodiles live in Hedland creeks, including Pretty Pool: do not swim or wade in creeks.
- Irukandji occur across tropical northern Australia: avoid swimming in the warmer months and carry vinegar.
- Very big tides drain bays to mudflats and can cut off sandbars; keep clear of shipping channels and port berths.
- 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
- Dampier and Karratha (about 175 km west)
- Onslow and Mackerel Islands (about 389 km south-west)
- Broome and Roebuck Bay (about 463 km north-east)
- Exmouth and Exmouth Gulf (about 497 km west)
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 (Public jetty, Cooke Point, Spoilbank platform species, creek species, ramps, offshore species); transport.wa.gov.au (Spoilbank Marina ramp lanes, tide advice and two-storey fishing jetty); australiasnorthwest.com (Cape Keraudren species, tides, ramp and camping); bookings.discoveryholidayparks.com.au (Threadfin at West Creek on Finucane Island; Pretty Pool crocodiles); exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au (Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park zones near Cape Keraudren); broome.wa.gov.au (Irukandji season and range across tropical northern Australia (Shire of Broome)); wa.gov.au (Fish trap ban in estuaries and creeks); bhp.com (Port Hedland artificial reef under construction (Oct 2026)); dbca.wa.gov.au (Crocodile safety).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.