Rockingham and Cockburn Sound fishing spots
Cockburn Sound and the Rockingham coast are Perth's most sheltered salt water: groynes, jetties and limestone points for squid, herring and whiting, blue swimmer crabs in season, and famous winter-spring pink snapper aggregations that are now closed to fishing from 1 August to 31 January. Shoalwater Islands Marine Park wraps Point Peron, Safety Bay and Warnbro Sound.
Updated
6 spots here: 4 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak, 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
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Woodman Point groynes | Breakwall | Land-based | Ocean coast | – |
| 2. Cockburn Sound (boat) | Bay | Boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 3. Point Peron | Headland | Land-based | Ocean coast | Shoalwater Islands Marine Park |
| 4. Palm Beach Jetty (Rockingham) | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 5. Mersey Point Jetty (Shoalwater) | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | Shoalwater Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 6. Warnbro Sound (boat) | Bay | Boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Shoalwater Islands Marine Park |
1. Woodman Point groynes
- Type
- Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Woodman Point Regional Park, Munster: car parks by the boat ramp and groynes.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian herring, southern calamari, tailor, school whiting and silver trevally. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Easterly mornings; the point is exposed to the south-westerly sea breeze. Faces WSW.
- Note
- Breakwaters and groynes around the point and ramp: herring and squid most of the year, whiting, skippy, tailor and salmon at times. The old Ammo Jetty is being rebuilt (due by summer 2027).
- Safety
- Groyne rocks are slippery. Keep clear of the busy boat ramp.
- Zone
- No marine park here. Cockburn Sound pink snapper closure applies 1 Aug-31 Jan. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.13690, 115.74470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Woodman Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Cockburn Sound (boat)
- Type
- Bay · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat and kayak. Launch from Woodman Point, Naval Base, Point Peron or Palm Beach ramps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: southern calamari, Australian herring and school whiting. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Morning easterlies; the sea breeze raises a steep chop by afternoon.
- Note
- Big sheltered sound for small boats: squid over the weed, whiting and herring, and crabs (bag 5) outside the 1 Sep-30 Nov closure. Pink snapper are off-limits to boats.
- Safety
- Naval and port restricted areas around Garden Island and the industrial jetties. Steep afternoon chop in the sea breeze.
- Zone
- No marine park in the main sound; Shoalwater Islands Marine Park begins at Point Peron. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.20470, 115.72810 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cockburn Sound, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Point Peron
- Type
- Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Point Peron Road car parks, Rockingham.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: Australian herring, silver trevally, southern calamari and tailor.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Easterly or northerly winds; exposed to south-west swell. Faces W.
- Note
- Limestone point at the north end of the marine park: herring and skippy on berley, squid over the weed, whiting on the sand and tailor at dawn. A popular snorkelling spot too.
- Safety
- Undercut limestone ledges and swell surges. Snorkellers in the water: cast away from them.
- Zone
- General use area: line fishing allowed. The Shoalwater Bay special purpose zone (line fishing allowed) is just south; Seal Island sanctuary zone about 2.5 km south. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.26610, 115.68470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cape Peron, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. Palm Beach Jetty (Rockingham)
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. The Esplanade opposite Fisher Street, Rockingham; on-street parking.
- What's good here
- In season in October: southern calamari, Australian herring, school whiting and tarwhine. Out of season now: blue swimmer crab.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Southerly winds (offshore here); northerlies make it rough. Faces NNE.
- Note
- A 125 m jetty on the Rockingham foreshore and one of Perth's busiest: squid, herring and whiting, with crabs in season (bag 5 in Cockburn Sound).
- Safety
- Busy with swimmers in summer. Two boat ramps nearby: watch for boats.
- Zone
- Outside the marine park; Cockburn Sound snapper closure applies 1 Aug-31 Jan. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.27690, 115.72220 · Open in Google Maps (position: Palm Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
5. Mersey Point Jetty (Shoalwater)
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater; car park including bus bays.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian herring, southern calamari, school whiting and silver trevally.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Easterly winds. Faces W.
- Note
- Jetty used by the Penguin Island ferry: herring, squid, whiting and skippy. Fishing is allowed but give way to commercial operators when they berth.
- Safety
- Ferry berthing: reel in and keep clear. Shallow sand bar to Penguin Island: do not try to walk across.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. In the Shoalwater Bay special purpose zone (line fishing allowed). Seal Island sanctuary zone is about 700 m west and Second Rock about 1.3 km south-west: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.30340, 115.70150 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mersey Point Jetty, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
6. Warnbro Sound (boat)
- Type
- Bay · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat and kayak. Launch from Safety Bay or Port Kennedy ramps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: southern calamari, Australian herring and school whiting.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Morning easterlies before the sea breeze.
- Note
- Sheltered sound inside the reefs: King George whiting and squid on the weed-sand edges, herring on berley. Pink snapper are closed here 1 Aug-31 Jan, and to boats all year under the demersal closure.
- Safety
- Reefs and the Saxon Ranger wreck area: know your marks. Sea breeze chop by afternoon.
- Zone
- General use area: line fishing allowed. Becher Point sanctuary zone about 1.9 km south; the Saxon Ranger wreck site (no fishing) about 1.6 km north. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -32.34000, 115.71560 · Open in Google Maps (position: Warnbro Sound, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
6 public boat ramps are listed for Rockingham and Cockburn Sound, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woodman Point boat ramp | Sealed, 8 lanes, 5 finger jetties (DoT data). | -32.13863, 115.76342 Google Maps |
| Naval Base boat ramp | Sealed, 1 lane (DoT data). | -32.18305, 115.77563 Google Maps |
| Point Peron boat ramp | Sealed, 4 lanes (DoT data). | -32.27045, 115.69727 Google Maps |
| Palm Beach boat ramps | Sealed; two ramps east and west of Rotary Park, 4 lanes in total (DoT data). | -32.27565, 115.71619 Google Maps |
| Safety Bay boat ramp | Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty (DoT data); launches straight into Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. | -32.30693, 115.71972 Google Maps |
| Port Kennedy boat ramp | Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty (DoT data). | -32.36625, 115.72941 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Rockingham and Cockburn Sound in October: King George whiting, mulloway and black bream. 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: King George whiting, mulloway and black bream.
Also in season: Australian herring, southern calamari, school whiting, silver trevally, tailor, tarwhine, yellowfin whiting, southern bluespotted flathead, samsonfish, yellowtail kingfish and pink snapper.
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 Rockingham and Cockburn Sound
- Cockburn and Warnbro sounds pink snapper closure 1 Aug-31 Jan (land and boat), out to Five Fathom Bank.
- Crab fishing closed 1 Sep-30 Nov; Cockburn Sound crab bag 5. DPIRD advises removing the top shell, guts and gills of Cockburn Sound crabs before cooking.
- Shoalwater Islands Marine Park sanctuary zones (Seal Island, Second Rock, Becher Point) and the Saxon Ranger wreck site: no fishing.
- Wire traces banned within 800 m of shore.
- City of Cockburn: no fishing in Port Coogee waterways or near the Coogee Beach shark barrier.
- 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.
Marine parks and no-take zones
The zone notes here name Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Mersey Point Jetty (Shoalwater): its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Rockingham and Cockburn Sound
- Afternoon sea breeze builds steep chop in the sounds.
- Restricted defence and port areas around Garden Island, HMAS Stirling and the industrial jetties.
- Sharks follow the snapper and salmon aggregations.
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
- Perth metro and the Swan River (about 34 km north)
- Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) (about 34 km north-west)
- Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey (about 38 km south)
- Bunbury (about 113 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: rockingham.wa.gov.au (City of Rockingham: Palm Beach and Mersey Point jetties, ramps); cockburn.wa.gov.au (City of Cockburn: permitted spots (Woodman Point groynes, Port Coogee breakwaters) and banned areas); recfishwest.org.au (Woodman Point Ammo Jetty rebuild and species); wa.gov.au (Shoalwater Islands Marine Park order: sanctuary and special purpose areas, permitted line fishing); wa.gov.au (Cockburn and Warnbro Sound pink snapper closure order); 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.