Fishing Guide whilst visiting Yelverton Brook

Busselton – the hot spot is the Busselton Jetty, providing good catches of squid, herring, whiting (including King George Whiting) and crabs. The beaches and rocks also provide similar species but not as with much success as the jetty. Crabs can also be scooped along the beaches in the evenings. Offshore reefs fish well for jewfish, snapper and big skipjacks. Boat ramps are on the northern side of the jetty and near Abbey Beach towards Dunsborough.

Busselton is nestled along Geographe Bay which is sheltered by Cape Naturaliste Ridge and provides a haven for boating, fishing, swimming, water ski-ing and crabbing along it’s 30km of clean, sandy beaches.

Dunsborough – There is an excellent boat ramp into a sheltered bay at Dunsborough near the locality of Quinderlup a sandy beach with small wooden jetty. Marine Rescue is based here. Old Dunsborough has another boat ramp but watch the rocks on the tides.

Good reef fishing is just a few kilometres offshore. Land based anglers will have better results from Mel up to the lighthouse. Ask the locals for directions to the windmills, torpedo rocks and the artifical reef for big skippy, tailor and reef fish.

The HMAS swan dive wreck 3kms off Point Picot has a fishing exclusion zone, enquire at the Dunsborough Tourist Bureau for greater details.

Meelup - The beautiful rocky bay of Meelup off Cape Naturaliste has a sandy sheltered beach with safe swimming and grassed foreshore which has shade, Gas bbq’s, toilets and showers. A great spot and very popular with the locals and tourists. Good fishing as well either from the beach or rocky outcrops either side of the bay. Canoe hire is often here over the summer time.

Castle Rock has no facilities but fishing for herring, flounder, whiting and salmon can be productive.

Eagle Bay is a sheltered bay with similar fishing to Meelup, eagle Bay offers possible beach launching for small boats. The road between Meelup & Eagle Bay is very close to the water, scenic and a most beautiful drive along a northern beachfront. Check out the view from Meelup coming down the ridge but one must keep their eyes on the road!

Bunker Bay is ideal for picnicking, swimming, fishing and occasional surfing. Walking trails lead to scenic spots and rock fishing. A new café is open to all with great views and access to the beach. Great Salmon fishing when they run!

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is 13kms from Dunsborough. Open for tours daily, built in 1903 of local limestone. Good fishing from the rocks, but it is a long walk down and the sea can be dangerous. Great new walk trails for whale watching with special platforms for viewing the water. Whale season between Sept – Dec.

Sugar Loaf Rock – has bird watching, rare seabirds nesting and a lookout. A fair walk down to the rocks but has excellent fishing for salmon in autumn, though it can be dangerous! Good all round rock fishing (with care).

Canal Rocks – is off Caves Road 5km south of Yallingup, a nice swimming beach, great for body boarding. Plenty of rocks for fishing from. A boat ramp, parking area & toilets. Major development plans hopefully will not ruin this wonderful area.

Wydup & Injidup – has a picnic site 2km past Canal Rocks and 5kms along a sealed road to a small area for picnics close to the beach. Very sheltered spot with lots of trees. Excellent views of Canal Rocks, used by fishermen & surfers.

Ellensbrook Homestead – is 4kms off Caves Road on Ellensbrook Road partially sealed offering access to historic homestead run by the National Trust a small fee applies for entry. Offers access to walk trails & grassed picnic area with permanent stream flowing alongside homestead. Great old Mulberry tree in summer for treats. The homestead built by the Bussell family over 100years ago, great bird watching & toilets. Access to beach for fishing & swimming is also there. A nice rock pool for summer swimming along the beach. Turnoff is 5km from Gracetown.

Seven kms south of Gracetown is the turn off to Margaret River.

Margaret River – the best fishing is at the mouth of the Margaret River at Prevelly Park. Found 8kms west of Margaret River. An excellent fishing area with great snorkelling and swimming beaches. A good boat ramp launches into a sheltered but reefy bay. The café has reopened for food on the far side of the bay.

Redgate Beach – is 3kms off Caves Road and has a monument marking the area where the ill-fated ship “georgette” was wrecked.

Contos – access is off Caves Road where you go into visit Lake Cave, tearooms at the cave site with all facilities. Access to coast is available down a 5km track and offers good views, great fishing & a sandy beach where we have seen a mother dolphin sheltering her new calf along the shoreline.

Boranup scenic drive through the towering Karri forests has many tracks through it and you can access the coast by 4x4. Point Road is one a nice spot about 6kms along Boranup Drive from the northern entry off Caves Road.

Cosy Corner – is a great fishing and snorkelling bay possible boat launching is via the beach ramp. Fishing from the rocks and beach is productive and the bay also has a nice swimming beach. Great views but an unsealed road into Cosy Corner.

Augusta – where the Hardy Inlet meets the sea at Flinders Bay 320km south of Perth. WA’s third oldest settlement, it offers you a myriad of fishing grounds for the angler who likes variety as well as plenty of things to do & see. There is several grassed picnic areas along the foreshore. Take a drive out past Flinders Bay along the scenic drive the Leeuwin Lighthouse. A new café is now open for a great coffee in the place where the two oceans meet!

Whales -  season is late May – Sept.

Fishing – a dozen different venues can be sampled in and around Augusta. The Hardy Inlet is well known for black bream, whiting, silver bream, herring and mulloway. The upper reaches near Molloy Island are best for black bream and marron (local freshwater crayfish though you need a license for these tasty morsels!)

Rock and beach fishing are great towards the lighthouse and Skippy Rock (off scenic drive).

Offshore fishing is also good for pike, jewfish and snapper. The boat ramp at Flinders Bay is best for ocean access, as the mouth of the river can be dangerous. There are two boat ramps in town and another one near Molloy Island. Deepdene Beach and stinky Bay are top producers of salmon and silver bream during summer.

You can go on a whale watching cruise on Flinders Bay or a river cruise.

Marron - Alexander Bridge and Sues Bridge offer great spot s to try and get a feed of Marron but remember to get a licence, Fisheries Office in Busselton for all permits required.