Shark Bay and Denham fishing spots

Shark Bay is a vast, shallow World Heritage gulf where temperate and tropical fish overlap. Denham's jetty and seagrass flats suit squid, whiting and bream; boats chase pink snapper, tailor, cobia and mackerel across Denham Sound; and the cliffs of Steep Point are classic land-based game country. Strong southerly winds shape most trips, and April to October is usually calmer.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here: 7 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat, plus 4 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our Gascoyne 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

9 spots: Shark Bay and Denham
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Denham jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park
2. Little Lagoon	Lake	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park
3. Denham Sound (boat)	Bay	Boat	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
4. Gregories (Francois Peron NP)	Beach	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park
5. Herald Bight (Francois Peron NP)	Beach	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park
6. Steep Point	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	Shark Bay Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
7. Shelter Bay (Steep Point)	Bay	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park
8. Turtle Bay, Dirk Hartog Island (boat)	Bay	Boat	Ocean coast	Shark Bay Marine Park
9. Nanga Bay	Beach	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	Shark Bay Marine Park

1. Denham jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. On the Denham foreshore beside the town boat ramp; park nearby, short walk.
What's good here: Peak in October: squid and whiting. Also in season: tailor, western yellowfin bream, pink snapper and mulloway.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Light winds or easterlies; strong afternoon southerlies make it hard going. Faces SW.
Note: Jig squid over the weed, float baits for tailor at dawn and dusk, and fish light lines on the sand for whiting and bream. Pink snapper and mulloway turn up now and then after dark.
Safety: Keep clear of boats using the ramp and channel. Rays, stonefish and sharks are common: wear shoes on the flats and do not wade with bait or catch.
Zone: Denham's town waters sit just outside the marine park; the general use zone starts about 2 km offshore Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -25.92894, 113.53385 · Open in Google Maps (position: Recreational Jetty, Coastal Infrastructure DOT (DOT-020))
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Little Lagoon

Type: Lake · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. A few minutes north of Denham by road; park and walk the shoreline.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting. Also in season: western yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in most winds; calm days are best for sight casting.
Note: Shallow lagoon joined to the sea by a creek: light lines with prawn or small lures along the sand edges for whiting and bream. Line fishing only in this recreation zone.
Safety: Shuffle your feet on the flats for rays and stonefish.
Zone: Little Lagoon Recreation Zone: line fishing allowed; no nets, drop nets or spearfishing Guide only, not for navigation: check wa.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -25.89790, 113.53670 · Open in Google Maps (position: Little Lagoon, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Denham Sound (boat)

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat. Launch at the Denham town ramp; plan for long, exposed runs.
What's good here: Peak in October: cobia. Also in season: pink snapper, tailor, mulloway and school mackerel.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Calm mornings and light easterlies; there is little shelter once the southerly sets in.
Note: Drift the deeper channels and around the islands for pink snapper (no seasonal closure in Denham Sound, but bag and size limits apply); tailor, cobia and school mackerel hunt bait over the banks.
Safety: Afternoon southerlies throw up steep chop fast in this shallow water. Carry an EPIRB and log your trip with someone ashore.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. The middle of the sound is outside Shark Bay Marine Park (the park boundary is about 4.4 km from this point) and its edges are general use zone. Sandy Point Sanctuary Zone (Dirk Hartog Island, about 15 km west) and Big Lagoon Sanctuary Zone (about 18 km east) open onto the sound: no fishing in them Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -25.77600, 113.26500 · Open in Google Maps (position: Denham Sound, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Gregories (Francois Peron NP)

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. High-clearance 4WD only beyond the Peron Homestead; deep soft sand, lower tyre pressures; park fee, bookable camps.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting. Also in season: western yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterlies (offshore); exposed to westerlies. Faces NW.
Note: Beach camps on the west side of Peron Peninsula that are popular with anglers: whiting and bream on light gear over the sand, tailor at dawn and dusk. Small dinghies launch over soft sand at South Gregories.
Safety: Remote: no water, fuel or supplies in the park.
Zone: General use zone; the nearest sanctuary zones are Gudrun Wreck, about 14 km north, and Big Lagoon, about 16 km south Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -25.55710, 113.47470 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gregorys Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Herald Bight (Francois Peron NP)

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. High-clearance 4WD on the east side of Peron Peninsula; bookable campground.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting. Also in season: western yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: South-westerlies: the bight is sheltered from the prevailing south-west wind. Faces ENE.
Note: Long curved beach on the eastern shore of the peninsula, often fishable when the west side is blown out: work the shallows for whiting and bream and the edges at first light for tailor.
Safety: Remote: carry water and recovery gear.
Zone: General use zone of Shark Bay Marine Park Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -25.59980, 113.55030 · Open in Google Maps (position: Herald Bight, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Steep Point

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. High-clearance 4WD only via Useless Loop Road and sandy tracks; park entry fee and bookable camping.
What's good here: Peak in October: longtail tuna, sailfish, spangled emperor and cobia. Also in season: Spanish mackerel, tailor, pink snapper and mulloway.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Light easterlies or calm with a small swell; dangerous in big south-westerly swell. Faces NW.
Note: The mainland's westernmost point and a famous land-based game ledge: balloon or cast live baits for mackerel, tuna and billfish; night baits for tailor, snapper and mulloway.
Safety: Rock and cliff fishing: wear a lifejacket and grippy footwear, watch the swell for several sets first, never fish alone. High cliffs, king waves and blowholes; DBCA asks for extreme care near cliff edges. Very remote: carry at least 10 L of water per person per day, recovery gear and a PLB.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. General use zone; Surf Point Sanctuary Zone is about 2 km north-east: no fishing there Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -26.14310, 113.15890 · Open in Google Maps (position: Steep Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Shelter Bay (Steep Point)

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Same 4WD route as Steep Point; bookable campground facing South Passage.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally and whiting. Also in season: tailor and pink snapper.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerlies blow offshore here; April to October brings lighter winds. Faces NE.
Note: Calm bay inside the point, facing Dirk Hartog Island over South Passage: fish the shallows on light tackle for tailor, small snapper, trevally and whiting, or use it as a base for boats working the passage.
Safety: Strong currents run through South Passage: small boats take care.
Zone: General use zone; Surf Point Sanctuary Zone lies about 5 km north Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -26.17150, 113.19250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Shelter Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Turtle Bay, Dirk Hartog Island (boat)

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Boat. Long boat run from Denham or Shelter Bay, or the vehicle barge to the island; national park fees apply.
What's good here: Peak in October: trevally, spangled emperor and cobia. Also in season: pink snapper, Spanish mackerel, coral trout and Rankin cod.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Settled weather only; the island's west side is fully exposed.
Note: Sheltered anchorage at the island's north end where mackerel harass bait; pink snapper, reef fish and pelagics along the island, with GT and big tailor off the western rocks.
Safety: Open-ocean conditions around the island: carry an EPIRB and check the forecast both ways.
Zone: General use zone; Sandy Point Sanctuary Zone is on the island's east coast Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -25.49170, 112.98330 · Open in Google Maps (position: Turtle Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Nanga Bay

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Off Shark Bay Road south of Denham; DoT lists an over-beach launch site at the bay.
What's good here: Peak in October: whiting. Also in season: pink snapper, western yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Easterlies (offshore); open to the south-west. Faces SW.
Note: On Freycinet Reach: pink snapper from small boats and whiting and bream in the shallows. Freycinet snapper closure 15 Aug-30 Sep, and a 5 kg fillet possession limit applies in the management zone.
Safety: Shallow banks: launch and retrieve on the right tide.
Zone: General use zone; L'Haridon Bight Sanctuary Zone is about 5 km north and Hamelin Pool (closed to all fishing) about 15 km east Guide only, not for navigation: check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
Map: -26.25400, 113.80090 · Open in Google Maps (position: Nanga Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

4 public boat ramps are listed for Shark Bay and Denham, 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: Shark Bay and Denham
Ramp	Notes	Position
Denham town boat ramp	Sealed, 2 lanes, 1 finger jetty, about 50 trailer bays; 5-knot limit in and out of the channel.	-25.92778, 113.53278 Google Maps
Denham north-west ramp	Sealed single lane at the north-west end of town; about 30 trailer bays.	-25.92666, 113.53068 Google Maps
Monkey Mia boat ramp	2 lanes, 2 finger jetties, about 50 trailer bays (DoT lists it unsealed, the DBCA guide sealed). Inside the Monkey Mia Recreation Zone: no line fishing in the Dolphin Interaction Area; snapper closed in the Eastern Gulf 1 May-31 Jul.	-25.79314, 113.72024 Google Maps
Nanga Bay beach launch	Unsealed over-beach launch on soft sand; 4WD and small boats only.	-26.25557, 113.80335 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Shark Bay and Denham in October: whiting, cobia, trevally, spangled emperor and 7 more. Of the 27 species our Gascoyne coast list has for this part of the coast, 11 peak in October 2026 and 13 more are in season.

Peak in October: whiting, cobia, trevally, spangled emperor, longtail tuna, sailfish, squid, estuary cod, queenfish, marlin and mud crab.

Also in season: tailor, pink snapper, western yellowfin bream, mulloway, Spanish mackerel, school mackerel, coral trout, Rankin cod, mangrove jack, pikey bream, red emperor, goldband snapper and blue swimmer crab.

Seen now and then, so not rated: barramundi, king threadfin and golden snapper.

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 Shark Bay and Denham

Shark Bay Marine Park: no fishing in sanctuary zones; recreation zones (Monkey Mia, Little Lagoon, Dubaut Inlet) allow line fishing only (no nets, drop nets or spears); no line fishing in the Monkey Mia Dolphin Interaction Area.
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is closed to all fishing.
Pink snapper: Eastern Gulf closed 1 May-31 Jul, Freycinet Estuary 15 Aug-30 Sep, waters north of Bernier Island (incl. Koks Island) 1 Jun-31 Aug; Denham Sound has no seasonal closure; min 45 cm, bag 2.
Freycinet Estuary Management Zone: hold no more than 5 kg of fillets or one day's bag of whole fish (all species).
Fishing from a powered boat needs a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence; Gascoyne demersal bag is 4 per person from 1 Jun 2026.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Shark Bay Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Denham Sound (boat) and Steep Point: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Shark Bay and Denham

Wind is the main limit: southerlies blow hard on many afternoons and the shallow gulf chops up fast.
Francois Peron, Edel Land and Dirk Hartog Island are remote 4WD country: carry water, recovery gear and a PLB, and tell someone your plans.
Stonefish, stingrays, sea snakes and sharks are common: wear shoes on the flats and do not dump bait or frames near shore.
Do not feed dolphins or sea birds.

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

Carnarvon (about 117 km north)
Kalbarri (about 214 km south)
Coral Bay (about 310 km north)
Geraldton and Dongara (about 341 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, Coastal Infrastructure DOT (DOT-020) (Western Australian Department of Transport), 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); recfishwest.org.au (Spot and species notes: Denham jetty, flats, Little Lagoon, Denham Sound, Dirk Hartog Island, Steep Point, Nanga); exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au (Shark Bay marine reserves visitor guide: zones, sanctuary list, jetties and ramps, wildlife cautions); wa.gov.au (What each Shark Bay Marine Park zone allows (sanctuary, recreation, special purpose, dolphin area)); exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au (4WD access, Gregories and Herald Bight camps, small-boat launching); exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au (Steep Point and Shelter Bay access, cliffs, water and seasonal wind advice); rules.fish.wa.gov.au (Shark Bay pink snapper closures and Freycinet Estuary Management Zone limits); dpird.wa.gov.au (Gascoyne Coast bioregion rules and closures); dpird.wa.gov.au (Demersal bag and size limits from 1 June 2026); catalogue.data.wa.gov.au (Denham jetty coordinate (DoT Coastal Infrastructure DOT-020, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.