Southern Ocean Waters
South Coast
Demersals OPEN • Premium reef fishing • Salmon runs
About the South Coast
The South Coast stretches from Augusta to the South Australian border - over 1,200km of rugged coastline where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. This is WA's only region where demersal fishing remains fully open, making it the go-to destination for snapper, dhufish, and breaksea cod while the West Coast closure is in effect.
The coastline is a mix of protected bays, granite headlands, and exposed reef systems. Albany's King George Sound offers sheltered fishing year-round, while the waters off Bremer Bay and Esperance are more exposed but hold quality fish. The continental shelf drops away sharply in places - the Bremer Canyon is world-famous for its marine life and holds big pelagics.
Water temperatures are cooler than the West Coast (14-21°C), which suits salmon, King George whiting, and southern species. The Leeuwin Current brings warmer water and occasional tropical visitors during summer.
Key Fishing Areas
- Albany & King George Sound - Protected water, excellent reef fishing, salmon
- Bremer Bay - The Canyon access, big snapper, samsonfish
- Esperance & Recherche Archipelago - 105 islands, pristine reef systems
- Augusta & Cape Leeuwin - Where two oceans meet, salmon, KG whiting
- Denmark & Wilson Inlet - Black bream, flathead, herring
Why Fish Here
- Demersals OPEN - Fish for snapper, dhufish, baldchin while West Coast is closed
- Less pressure - Fewer boats than Perth waters
- Quality fish - Cooler water = firmer, better eating flesh
- Variety - Salmon, reef fish, whiting all in one trip
- Scenic - Some of WA's most beautiful coastline
Seasonal Guide
When to target key species on the South Coast.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Salmon | • | • | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | • | • | • | • |
| Pink Snapper | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ● | ● |
| King George Whiting | ★ | ★ | ● | ● | • | • | • | • | ● | ● | ★ | ★ |
| Dhufish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Samsonfish | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● | • | • | • | • | • | ● | ★ | ★ |
| Black Bream | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ★ | ★ | ★ | ● |
Legend: ★ Peak season | ● Good fishing | • Available but slower
Top Targets
The species this region is famous for.
Techniques That Work
Bottom Fishing
The bread and butter of South Coast reef fishing. Paternoster rigs or running sinker setups. Squid, octopus, and pilchards are the go-to baits. Target snapper, dhufish, breaksea cod over reef in 30-80m.
Trolling for Salmon
When the salmon are running, trolling is the most effective method. Bibbed minnows at 5-6 knots around headlands and along beaches. Look for bird activity and bait schools.
Slow Pitch Jigging
Gaining popularity for demersals. Lighter tackle, more fun. 150-300g jigs worked slowly over reef. Effective for snapper, dhufish, and samsonfish.
Light Tackle Estuary
South Coast estuaries are underrated. Small soft plastics for bream and flathead. Float fishing for herring. Great option when offshore is blown out.
Weather & Conditions
Wind Patterns
Summer: Morning easterlies, afternoon sea breezes (SW-SE). Get out early.
Winter: Frontal systems from the west. Strong NW-W winds ahead of fronts, then SW change.
Best windows: Early morning year-round. Post-front days often have light winds.
Sea State
Swell: Southern Ocean swell is persistent. 2-3m is normal. King George Sound offers refuge.
Bar crossings: Albany and Esperance have protected access. Bremer Bay can be tricky.
Water clarity: Generally excellent. Can be affected by river runoff in winter.
Water Temperature
Summer: 18-21°C. Warmest Feb-Mar.
Winter: 14-17°C. Coolest Aug-Sep.
Effect: Cooler water keeps salmon around longer. Snapper active in 16-20°C.
Best Times
Daily: First light is prime. Snapper bite well at dawn and dusk.
Tides: Run-in tide generally best for reef. Slack water good for demersals.
Moon: New and full moon periods can fire up snapper activity.
🚗 Access & Logistics
Distance from Perth
- Augusta: 320km (3.5hrs)
- Albany: 420km (4.5hrs)
- Bremer Bay: 515km (5.5hrs)
- Esperance: 720km (7.5hrs)
Worth the drive. Many anglers make long weekends or week-long trips.
⛽ Fuel & Facilities
Fuel: Available in Albany, Esperance. Limited in smaller towns - fill up before you go.
Boat fuel: Albany and Esperance have marina fuel.
Tackle shops: Albany and Esperance have good tackle stores.
🏕️ Accommodation
Caravan parks at all major towns. Book ahead for Easter, Christmas, and school holidays. Albany and Esperance have hotels and holiday rentals.
📱 Services
Mobile coverage: Good in towns. Patchy between. Telstra best for regional.
Marine radio: VHF recommended. VMR in Albany and Esperance.
Local Tips
When the ocean's rough, South Coast estuaries fish well. Wilson Inlet, Oyster Harbour, and Denmark River hold quality bream and flathead. Great backup plan.
The run can be early (March) or late (June) depending on water temperature. Follow the reports and be ready to travel when they're on.
The submarine canyon creates unique conditions. Nutrient upwelling attracts everything from baitfish to killer whales. Samsonfish, kingfish, and big snapper.
Quality squid and octopus are the top baits for demersals. Fresh is best - frozen works but not as well. Local bait shops in Albany stock fresh squid when available.
Species in South Coast
63 Open
Pelagic - OPEN (16)
Demersal (18)
Nearshore & Estuarine - OPEN (18)
Other Finfish - OPEN (5)
Crustaceans - OPEN (2)
Molluscs & Invertebrates - OPEN (4)
Boat Ramps
Boat sizes: S = Small (<5m) | M = Medium (5-7m) | L = Large (>7m)