The Complete Guide To Jurien Bay Fishing in 2024: Spots, Varieties + More

Fishing in Jurien Bay is a popular activity for both locals and tourists. Personally, I’ve been fishing since I was a kid, so I’m confident in the fact that Jurien Bay offers some of the best fishing spots in Western Australia! 

Why Go Fishing In Jurien Bay?

Whether you prefer land-based fishing or getting out on a boat, Jurien Bay has something to offer everyone. Read on for all the best fishing spots, the details on what you can catch, where to get your gear, where to stay and more. 

As someone who loves to spend the day fishing on the beach with a beer in hand, Jurien Bay is one of my favourite spots. This small coastal town is located just 2.5 hours (220 km) north of Perth, and it offers a range of fishing options for both beginners and avid anglers. 

Jurien Bay is home to some of the best fishing spots in Western Australia. One of the things I love most about Jurien Bay is the variety of fish you can catch. From dhufish to snapper, whiting, tailor, and even the occasional mackerel, there’s always something biting.

It’s easy to launch your boat to head into deeper waters from the Jurien Bay Marina, but there’s also plenty of land-based fishing options including beach, jetties and rock walls. 

The area is also home to the Jurien Bay Marine Park – it’s a biodiversity hotspot so fishing the area is always exciting. The marine park includes a variety of different fishing zones, each with its own rules and restrictions – the Marine Park WA app is handy for letting you know where you can and can’t fish. 

Overall, Jurien Bay is a great spot for anyone who loves outdoor water activities, it’s no wonder so many people come back year after year. 

The Best Fishing Spots in Jurien Bay

There are plenty of fantastic fishing spots in and around Jurien Bay. There is something to suit everyone – from easily accessible beach fishing to secluded offshore spots. Read on for all the info on the best fishing spots in Jurien Bay. 

Jurien Bay Marine Park

Jurien Bay Marine Park is a protected biodiversity hotspot that runs from Wedge up to Greenhead and extends 5 km offshore. It encompasses the limestone reef system that runs parallel to the coastline, various island nature reserves and ecologically important seagrass meadows. 

Most of the spots listed below fall within the marine park, but there are some restrictions such as sanctuary zones where fishing is not permitted and there are restrictions around things like spearfishing, rock lobster fishing, crabbing and netting in some areas.

Be sure to check out the Jurien Bay Marine Park Visitor Guide so you can follow all the rules. 

Jurien Bay Jetty

The most obvious spot for fishing in Jurien Bay is at the Jurien Bay Jetty. This relatively new jetty reaches an impressive 162m out into the ocean and is close to town making it an accessible fishing spot for most people. 

A large variety of marine life calls the jetty home which makes it a great fishing spot. Common catches from the jetty include herring, pink snapper, mulloway, skippy, tailor, whiting and flathead. 

The best time to fish the jetty is in the early morning or at dusk. Night-time squid fishing is also popular at the jetty as squid are attracted to the lights. 

Jurien Bay Jetty is located at Roberts St, Jurien Bay.

Jurien Bay Beach Fishing

Fishing from the shores of Jurien Bay beaches is a popular choice as it’s accessible, but keep in mind that at times seaweed along the beaches can make land-based fishing a challenge. There are plenty of beaches to explore and you’re sure to find a special spot. 

Common catches when beach fishing at Jurien Bay include whiting, flathead, bream, tailor, and herring. 

The best time for land-based fishing in Jurien Bay is at dawn, dusk and at night. 

Marina Walls at the Jurien Bay Harbour 

The rock walls of the Jurien Bay Harbour is another great fishing spot – easily accessible and close to town. You’ll always see people setting up and throwing a line in from the marina walls. 

Common catches here include tailor, herring, silver trevally, whiting and flathead. 

Jurien Bay Harbour is located at 1230 Harbour Drive, Jurien Bay. 

Sandy Cape

The stunning Sandy Cape Recreation Park is located 15 minutes north of Jurien Bay. The campground is accessible by 2WD and the beach is a short walk from here. Alternatively, 4WDs can access the beach tracks and snag a prime, secluded spot. 

You can catch bream, mulloway, tailor and herring from Sandy Cape. Make sure you check the signs for where you can and can’t fish.

If you want to head off-shore to fish, small boats can be launched from the beach at Sandy Cape. 

There’s heaps to do in the area after you reel in the line – 4WD tracks to explore, bush walks, scenic lookouts, swimming, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, sandboarding, camping and plenty more. 

If you’re staying at the Sandy Cape campground you’ll have access to facilities that include toilets, dump point, BBQs and camp kitchen. 

For everything you need to know about the recreation park, check out my Complete Guide to Sandy Cape.

North Head

This one’s for the 4WD enthusiasts. North Head is a stunning section of beach located 25 mins north of Jurien Bay and the beach is only accessible by 4WD. 

Popular beach catches from North Head include herring, whiting, mulloway and tailor. Make sure you check the signs for info on where you can and can’t fish. 

Check out the WWII radar installation during your journey. There are also some great walking trails and 4WD tracks so you can make the most of your fishing trip.

Green Head

Green Head is located 30 kms north of Jurien Bay. There are a few land-based spots around the area including Dynamite Bay, Point Louise and South Bay. The waters here are shallow so land-based catches are small, you can expect to catch whiting, herring and tailor. 

However, fishing offshore from Green Head can be fantastic. Possible off-shore catches include baldchin groper, dhufish, samson fish, snapper, tuna and mackerel.

Boats can be launched from Green Head from the  concrete ramps at the following locations:

• Boat ramp off Ocean View Drive and Johns St (near Morphett Park) – best for larger boats. There’s a jetty and plenty of parking but the ramp can be covered in weed at times. There’s also a fish cleaning station available
• Boat ramp off Ocean View Drive South Bay – no jetty

Hill River

Located between Jurien Bay and Cervantes is Hill River Estuary, here, the river meets the ocean so you’ve got the best of both worlds – ocean or river fishing (note: at certain times of the year the river is cut off from ocean). 

The most popular spot for fishing is the beach at the river mouth – It’s accessible by 4WD. There’s plenty of variety at Hill River, you can catch bream, herring, tailor and mulloway.

There’s also a bike trail here so you can make the most of your outdoor adventure. 

Cervantes

If you don’t mind heading a little further, check out Cervantes, 17 minutes south of Jurien Bay. There are plenty of great land-based spots in and around Cervantes including Hangover Bay, Kangaroo Point, Cervantes Jetty, Thirsty Point, and Back Beach. 

Common catches around Cervantes include whiting, tailor, silver trevally, tarwhine, mulloway, herring and squid. 

For more information, check out my Complete Guide to Fishing in Cervantes.

Jurien Bay Offshore Fishing

While there is some fantastic land-based fishing in and around Jurien Bay, heading offshore can make those bigger catches possible!

There are some great spots around the islands off Jurien Bay, teeming with marine life. Boullanger Island, Favourite Island and Tern Island are popular spots and the islands provide some shelter. Offshore catches can include pink snapper, yellowtail kingfish, dhufish, mackerel, Samson fish and baldchin groper.

Keep in mind there are sanctuary zones throughout the Marine Park, particularly east of Boullanger Island, make sure you’re aware of the rules that apply to your spot. There may also be sea lions in the area as they breed on the offshore islands, make sure you keep a minimum of 10 m away from them.

Further offshore, you’ll find reefs full of marine life. If you head to deeper waters you may be lucky enough to catch coral trout, breaksea cod, Spanish mackerel or red emperor. 

Boats can be launched from the Jurin Bay Marina. There are 4 ramps and plenty of car and trailer parking. There’s also a fish-cleaning station in the carpark.  

Jurien Bay Fishing Charters

If you’re keen to get off-shore but want to take the hassle out of it, why not join a fishing charter? There are a number of companies that offer both group and private fishing charters in the area.  

Experienced local guides will take you to all the best spots and provide all the equipment needed to make that big catch. They can cater to all experience levels and do all the hard work for you!

Note: Recently demersal fish catch quotas have been reduced between Perth and Kalbarri so most fishing charters are temporarily closed. 

What Can You Catch When Fishing In Jurien Bay?

Jurien Bay is a great spot to throw in a line and get rewarded with a huge range of fish! Here’s all the info on the most common varieties you can catch in the area. Please keep in mind that bag and size limits apply and up-to-date rules can be found at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website. 

Whiting

Starting with my personal favourite – whiting! I have fond memories of going whiting fishing as a kid and being rewarded with the tastiest dinner! 

King George Whiting are one of the most common fish varieties caught in Western Australia. They can be caught all year round but prefer shallow, warm waters. They can be targeted with fresh bait such as prawns, squid, worms and mussels. See the Recreational Fishing Rules for King George Whiting size and bag limits. 

Yellowfin Whiting (aka ting tings) can be caught in Jurien Bay. They can be found in shallow, sandy areas throughout the year but are most active in summer. They can be caught on a range of baits including prawns, squid, and worms. They can be targeted using prawn blade lures and small surface poppers. See the Recreational Fishing Rules for Yellowfin Whiting size and bag limits. 

Tailor

Tailor are a popular catch in WA as they’re super accessible along the coastline. Tailor feed on smaller fish, so the best bait to target them includes whole baits like mulies, blue bait, pilchards and guardies. If you’re lure fishing, choose lures that resemble baitfish – both soft plastics or metal are fine.  

The best time to target tailor is at dawn or dusk. 

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for tailor size and bag limits.

Herring

Herring are a schooling fish that can be found in a variety of habitats including estuaries and rivers, open ocean and inshore reefs. 

Herring will go for most baits including mulies, whitebait, squid, worms and maggots, however, keep in mind that their mouths are small so large bait will be picked at. Small soft plastics and metal slices can also be effective with herring. 

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for herring size and bag limits. 

Silver Trevally

Silver trevally (aka skippy) is the smallest of the trevally species and they are aggressive hunters which makes them fun to target. They’re commonly found around structures like jetties, wrecks and reefs. 

Silver trevally can be caught all year round on a wide variety of bait, so long as it’s small,  including prawns, pieces of whitebait, scalie mackerel or sandworms. They’ll also go for soft plastics and small metal lures.

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for silver trevally size and bag limits. 

Pink Snapper

Pink snapper are a great catch – they’re super tasty.

Small snapper can be found in shallow waters and right from the beach but larger fish are commonly found around offshore reefs. 

The best bait to use for snapper includes mulies, pilchards, slimy mackerel and squid. 

As a demersal species, there are a few rules that apply to pink snapper. See the Recreational Fishing Rules for pink snapper size and bag limits as well as seasonal closures. 

Mulloway

Mulloway (aka Jewfish and ghost fish) are a popular fish to target in WA. 

Mulloway naturally feed on smaller fish, prawns, squid, worms, and octopus so the best bait to target them is whole pilchards, prawns, worms and bait strips. Anglers may also have luck with soft plastics and minnow lures. 

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for Mulloway size and bag limits.

Blue swimmer crabs

Sometimes called ‘blueys’ or ‘blue manna’, these crabs are commonly found along the WA coastline from Dunsborough up to Port Hedland in sheltered waters, estuaries and open water to 50 metres deep. 

They naturally feed on small fish, molluscs, small crustaceans, and worms. 

In WA it’s legal to catch crabs by hand, diving for them, scooping or using a drop net but most other methods are banned. If you’re after bait for your nets, fish heads are the way to go. The best time to target blue swimmer crabs is at night when they hunt for food. 

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for blue swimmer crab size and bag limits as well as details about necessary licences and restrictions.

Dhufish

In WA dhufish (aka dhuies) are most common between Kalbarri and Augusta on reefs 20-50 metres deep. 

Dhufish naturally feed on smaller fish, molluscs and crustaceans so the best bait to target them includes whole fish, pilchards and squid. They’ll also go for soft plastics and metal jigs. 

As a demersal species, there are a few rules that apply to dhufish, see the Recreational Fishing Rules for dhufish size and bag limits as well as seasonal closures and special rules. 

Baldchin Groper

The tasty baldchin groper (aka baldie) is found along the WA coastline from Coral Bay down to Cape Naturaliste, close to the shore and on the seabed and around reefs, at depths of 20 – 250 metres. 

Soft plastics, metal jigs and octopus jigs are great for targeting baldies. In terms of bait, a small hook with prawns, mulie, squid or octopus are your best bet. 

As a demersal species, there are a few rules that apply to baldies, see the Recreational Fishing Rules for baldie size and bag limits as well as seasonal closures and special rules. 

Samson Fish

Samson fish are strong swimmers which makes them a popular sporting fish. They can be found from Shark Bay to Esperance both in open water and around structures like reefs or wrecks. 

Their natural diet includes smaller fish like pilchards, red snapper, yellowtail scad as well as cuttlefish and squid. Therefore, best bait when targeting Samson fish includes mulies and squid. Stick baits and diving minnows can also be useful. 

See the Recreational Fishing Rules for Samson fish size and bag limits. 

Where To Stay In Jurien Bay

There are plenty of Jurien Bay accommodation types to suit each type of traveller. My top picks are: 

Jurien Bay Tourist Park

✅ Best for families and budget travellers

Jurien Bay Tourist Park is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from Jurien Bay Jetty and is my top pick. 

The cottages are comfortable and clean and include everything you’ll need on your Jurien Bay fishing trip. They’re air-conditioned and have a private bathroom, fridge, stovetop, microwave, kettle, toaster and TV. There’s even a balcony so you can sit back and relax as you watch the sunset. 

There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained – a playground right next door and a jumping pillow. It’s also right next door to the Jurien Bay Beach Cafe so brekky is sorted!

The Heights Bed and Breakfast

✅ Best for a peaceful escape

The Heights Bed and Breakfast is situated on a 5-acre property that’s just a 10-minute drive from Jurien Bay. It offers a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Beautiful bushland will surround you and you may even get to meet the family of kangaroos that live nearby!

The clean and comfortable rooms have comfy beds, strong wifi and best of all you’ll wake up to a delicious cooked breakfast each morning.  

Jurien Bay Motel Apartments

✅ Great location

Jurien Bay Motel Apartments is just a short walk from the town centre and beach. The apartments are self-contained and come equipped with a kitchenette, comfortable living area and private bathroom. 

Best Time To Go Fishing In Jurien Bay

The best time to go fishing in Jurien Bay depends on what you’re targeting, but generally fishing at dawn and dusk is best as fish are more active and are feeding at these times.

Where To Buy Bait and Tackle in Jurien Bay

If you find yourself in need of bait and tackle, or just want to get local advice, Seasport Tackle is your best bet. 

Seasport Tackle stock a huge range of outdoor gear including everything you need for a great day fishing – rods, reels, line, bait, lures and accessories. 

Their staff are also very friendly, helpful and have heaps of knowledge about the best spots and local tips.

Seasport Tackle is located at 6 Roberts Street in Jurien Bay. 

Travelling From Perth To Jurien Bay

Jurien Bay is just 236 km north of Perth and there are two main ways to get there:

• By Car: Take the scenic 2.5 hr drive along Indian Ocean Drive
• By Coach: Catch the N1 or N5 service from East Perth Station to Jurien Bay Roadhouse

Need a car?

Last Words on Jurien Bay Fishing

Jurien Bay is home to some fantastic fishing spots where you can snag a whole variety of fish, it’s a great destination for your next Perth weekend getaway!

If you’re after some more great WA fishing spots, check out my Complete Guide to Fishing in Augusta, Complete Guide to Fishing in Busselton, Complete Guide to Fishing in Dunsborough or the Complete Guide to Fishing in Cervantes.

More Fishing Guides:

Here’s some inspiration for your next fishing trip:

• Complete Guide to Fishing in Dunsborough (2024): Spots, Tips, Varieties + More!
• Complete Guide to Fishing in Busselton in 2024: Spots, Varieties + More
• The Complete Guide To Fishing In Cervantes
• The Complete Guide To Fishing In Augusta

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