Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) fishing spots

Wadjemup / Rottnest Island, a short ferry ride off Fremantle, has clear, sheltered bays on the north side for herring, squid and whiting, and wilder reef at the west end where salmon, tailor and kingfish turn up. Most spots are a bike ride from Thomson Bay. Five sanctuary zones and island-wide rules (no spearfishing close in, no shellfish collecting) apply, so plan around them.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here, all fished from land. 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: Rottnest Island (Wadjemup)
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Thomson Bay & Main Jetty	Jetty	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Rottnest Island Reserve
2. Army Jetty (Kingston Beach)	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Rottnest Island Reserve
3. Bathurst Point	Rocks	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Rottnest Island Reserve; no-take zone nearby
4. Longreach & Geordie bays	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Rottnest Island Reserve
5. Parakeet Bay	Bay	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Rottnest Island Reserve; no-take zone nearby
6. Ricey Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Rottnest Island Reserve
7. Wilson Bay	Bay	Land-based	Ocean coast	Rottnest Island Reserve; no-take zone nearby
8. Radar Reef platform	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	Rottnest Island Reserve; no-take zone nearby

1. Thomson Bay & Main Jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Ferry arrival point at the Settlement; walk or ride.
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: Sheltered from the south-westerly sea breeze. Faces ENE.
Note: The arrival bay: herring off the main jetty by day and squid drawn to the lights at night. Keep well clear of ferries and berthing boats.
Safety: Heavy ferry and boat traffic around the jetties.
Zone: Kingston Reef sanctuary zone (no fishing) begins about 550 m north-east of the bay. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.99810, 115.54560 · Open in Google Maps (position: Thomson Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Army Jetty (Kingston Beach)

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Short ride south from the Settlement towards Kingston.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, school whiting, silver trevally and southern calamari.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from southerly winds. Faces NE.
Note: Popular family jetty at the southern end of Thomson Bay: herring, whiting and skippy, with squid in season. Coordinate is the gazetted Kingston Beach.
Safety: Swimmers and snorkellers use the jetty area.
Zone: Kingston Reef sanctuary zone is about 800 m north. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.00280, 115.55470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Kingston Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Bathurst Point

Type: Rocks · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Short walk north of the Settlement to the lighthouse.
What's good here: Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: Australian herring, silver trevally and southern calamari.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerly winds (offshore here). Faces NNE.
Note: Lighthouse point near the Settlement: berley up for herring and skippy, with the odd King George whiting on the sand edges.
Safety: Low reef gets wet in northerly swell.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Kingston Reef sanctuary zone is about 300 m east: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.99000, 115.54220 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bathurst Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Longreach & Geordie bays

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Bike or bus from the Settlement; busy boat moorings in summer.
What's good here: Peak in October: King George whiting. Also in season: Australian herring, southern calamari and school whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerly winds; northerlies make the bays rough. Faces N.
Note: Sheltered north-side bays: herring and squid from the shore and dinghies, whiting on the sand between weed beds.
Safety: Moored boats and swimmers in summer: cast with care.
Zone: No sanctuary zone in these bays; Armstrong Bay sanctuary zone is about 1.5 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.98940, 115.53000 · Open in Google Maps (position: Longreach Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Parakeet Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Bike or bus along the north road.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, southern calamari and school whiting. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerly winds. Faces N.
Note: North-side bay with reef and sand: herring and squid, and occasional salmon in the shallows.
Safety: Reef edges can be slippery.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Armstrong Bay sanctuary zone starts about 120 m west: there only rod-and-line fishing from the shore in the signposted spots. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.98860, 115.51440 · Open in Google Maps (position: Parakeet Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Ricey Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Bike ride out along the north-west road.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, tailor and silver trevally. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm days with southerly or easterly winds. Faces NW.
Note: Reef-fringed north-west beach named among the island's well-known shore spots: herring and skippy, with tailor and salmon at times.
Safety: Swell surges over the reef.
Zone: No sanctuary zone here; Armstrong Bay zone about 1.4 km east. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -31.99920, 115.49110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Ricey Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Wilson Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Long bike ride to the west end.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian herring, southern calamari and tailor. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Northerly or easterly winds (offshore here). Faces SSW.
Note: Lesser-known bay near the west end: herring and squid, with salmon and tailor when they are around.
Safety: Southern Ocean swell sweeps the west end.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. The West End demersal sanctuary zone begins about 600 m west. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.02330, 115.46250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wilson Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Radar Reef platform

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. End of the island road at Cape Vlamingh; long bike ride.
What's good here: In season in October: yellowtail kingfish, tailor and Australian herring. Out of season now: Western Australian salmon.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Northerly or easterly (offshore) winds and small swell only. Faces SW.
Note: West-end reef platform famous for salmon in the run and occasional kingfish, with tailor in the washes. Inside the West End zone, only rod or handline from the shore stretch the order allows.
Safety: Waves sweep the platform: wear a lifejacket and watch the sets. Wade the reef only in calm conditions.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. The West End Demersal sanctuary zone starts about 100 m west of this point: inside it only rod-and-line fishing from the short stretch of shore set out in the order, and boats may troll for pelagics only. Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.02640, 115.45780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Radar Reef, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

No public boat ramp here has a position in the open data we use, so none is listed.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) 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, silver trevally, school whiting, tailor, yellowtail kingfish, yellowfin whiting, tarwhine, southern bluespotted flathead, samsonfish 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: 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 Rottnest Island (Wadjemup)

Rottnest sanctuary zones: Parker Point (incl. part of Salmon Bay), Kingston Reef and Green Island (Green Island jetty excepted) are no fishing; Armstrong Bay allows shore rod and line only in signed spots; West End allows shore rod and line only on the Radar Reef platform and boat trolling for pelagics.
No netting, and no taking of most shellfish, urchins, corals or seahorses, within 800 m of the island. Spearfishing is banned within 800 m of shore from Point Clune around the east end to Salmon Point, and within 200 m elsewhere.
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 Rottnest Island Reserve. A no-take zone starts close to Bathurst Point, Parakeet Bay, Wilson Bay and Radar Reef platform: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Rottnest Island (Wadjemup)

Exposed south and west ends get big swell: stay off wave-washed reef.
Island admission fees apply; bring water for long bike rides.
Busy ferry and boat traffic in Thomson Bay.

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 25 km east)
Rockingham and Cockburn Sound (about 34 km south-east)
Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey (about 69 km south)
Lancelin, Ledge Point and Guilderton (about 94 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 and ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), 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 (Rottnest spot knowledge: main jetty, Bathurst Point, Radar Reef, Ricey Beach, boat species); wa.gov.au (Prohibition on Fishing (Rottnest Island) Order 2007: sanctuary boundaries and permitted areas); ria.wa.gov.au (Rottnest Island Authority: what is allowed in each sanctuary zone); rottnestfastferries.com.au (Army Jetty and main jetty species); sealink.com.au (Wilson Bay species (via search summary)); wa.gov.au (Prohibition on Fishing for Demersal Scalefish Order 2025: boat closure in the West Coast Region, shore line fishing exempt); 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).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.