Ningaloo & Beyond
Gascoyne
World-class reef fishing • Billfish alley • Ningaloo Marine Park
About the Gascoyne
The Gascoyne stretches from Kalbarri to the Exmouth Gulf - a transition zone where temperate and tropical waters meet. This region includes Shark Bay (a World Heritage area) in the south and Ningaloo Reef in the north - two of Australia's most spectacular marine environments.
Shark Bay around Denham and Dirk Hartog Island offers exceptional fishing for whiting, snapper, sharks, and crabs in the sheltered inner bays, plus big GTs and mackerel on the ocean side. Further north, Exmouth is the gateway to Ningaloo and some of the best fishing in Australia. The continental shelf drops away close to shore, putting blue water species within easy reach.
Spanish mackerel, sailfish, marlin, giant trevally, and quality reef fish are all available. Ningaloo Marine Park has sanctuary zones where fishing is prohibited, but vast areas remain open. The reef system creates incredible habitat - from shallow coral gardens to deep drop-offs and offshore FADs.
Key Fishing Areas
- Shark Bay - World Heritage area, whiting, snapper, sharks, crabs
- Denham - Main Shark Bay access, excellent land-based and boat fishing
- Dirk Hartog Island - Remote island, big GTs, mackerel, reef fish
- Exmouth Gulf - Calm water, barra, crab, prawns, mangrove jack
- Ningaloo Reef - Coral trout, spangled emperor, GTs, reef fish
- The Continental Shelf - Billfish, tuna, wahoo, mackerel
- Coral Bay - Family-friendly, great reef access
- Carnarvon - Gascoyne River, mulloway, bream
Why Fish Here
- Variety - Billfish to barra, reef fish to pelagics
- Blue water close - Continental shelf within 20km
- All species open - No closures like the West Coast
- Year-round - Something's always biting
- World-class GTs - Some of Australia's best
Seasonal Guide
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Mackerel | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Pink Snapper | • | • | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | • | • |
| Giant Trevally | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● |
| Coral Trout | ● | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Sailfish/Marlin | • | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | • | • | • | • | • |
| Spangled Emperor | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Yellowfin Tuna | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | • | • | • | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Legend: ★ Peak season | ● Good fishing | • Available but slower
Top Targets
Techniques That Work
High-Speed Trolling
Essential for mackerel, wahoo, and tuna. Skirted lures at 8-12 knots. Wire trace for mackerel. Work the reef edges and drop-offs.
Popping & Stickbaits
The GT method. Heavy PE8-10 outfits, 200mm+ poppers. Cast to reef edges and structure. Brutal fishing - be prepared.
Bottom Fishing
Reef species over coral structure. Paternoster rigs with squid, fish, or octopus. Target ledges and bommies in 20-60m.
Live Baiting
Premium method for billfish and big mackerel. Catch scaly mackerel or yakkas, deploy under a balloon. Patience required but rewards are big.
Weather & Conditions
Wind Patterns
Summer: Variable, can be calm for days. Occasional cyclone activity Dec-Apr.
Winter: SE trades dominate. Generally fishable but can blow 15-25 knots.
Best months: Mar-May and Sep-Nov for calm conditions.
Sea State
Exmouth Gulf: Very protected. Fishable in most conditions.
Ningaloo: Can be lumpy with SE trades. Inside the reef is calmer.
Offshore: Need good weather windows for blue water trips.
Water Temperature
Summer: 27-29°C. Tropical conditions.
Winter: 22-24°C. Still warm by southern standards.
Effect: Warmer water = more tropical species. Mackerel prefer 24-27°C.
Cyclone Season
Dec-Apr is cyclone season. Watch forecasts closely. Book accommodation with flexible cancellation. Fishing can be exceptional after a cyclone passes.
🚗 Access & Logistics
Distance from Perth
- Carnarvon: 900km (9hrs)
- Coral Bay: 1,130km (12hrs)
- Exmouth: 1,270km (13hrs)
Most visitors fly to Learmonth (Exmouth) or drive over multiple days. Worth the effort.
⛽ Fuel & Facilities
Fuel: Available in Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth. Boat fuel at Exmouth Marina.
Tackle: Good shops in Exmouth. Limited in Coral Bay.
Ice/bait: Available in Exmouth. Bring frozen bait if possible.
🏕️ Accommodation
Book well ahead, especially Apr-Oct. Exmouth has hotels, caravan parks, and holiday rentals. Coral Bay is smaller - very limited availability in peak season.
Charters
Multiple charter operators in Exmouth. Day trips and extended charters available. Good option if you don't have a boat rated for blue water.
Local Tips
Ningaloo Marine Park has no-take areas. Download the WA Fishing app and know the boundaries. Fines are serious. The open areas are huge - plenty of water to fish.
Spanish mackerel have serious teeth. Wire trace is essential. Single-strand 40-60lb wire or 49-strand cable. They'll cut through fluorocarbon like butter.
Heat is real up here. First light fishing is productive and more comfortable. By 10am it's hot. Afternoon sessions work if you can handle the sun.
Everyone wants to fish the reef, but the Gulf holds barra, crab, mangrove jack, and big queenfish. Protected water when the wind blows. Don't ignore it.
Species in Gascoyne Coast
63 Open
Pelagic - OPEN (22)
Demersal (19)
Nearshore & Estuarine - OPEN (15)
Other Finfish - OPEN (4)
Crustaceans - OPEN (2)
Molluscs & Invertebrates - OPEN (1)
Boat Ramps
Boat sizes: S = Small (<5m) | M = Medium (5-7m) | L = Large (>7m)