Fishing Albany
Fisheries management in Albany operates under strict DPIRD South Coast bioregion regulations, including combined bag limits on demersal species like Bight Redfish and Breaksea Cod. While the West Coast demersal closure period does not apply to Albany waters, fishers must strictly observe regional bag limits and size minimums. Environmental conservation across Oyster Harbour and King George Sound helps safeguard vital seagrass nurseries for juvenile fish stocks.
Land-based anglers enjoy premier access across rock platforms, breakwalls, and sandy beaches throughout King George Sound. The Ellen Cove Boardwalk, Emu Point Jetty, and Albany Waterfront Marina produce consistent catches of King George Whiting, Southern Calamari, and Silver Trevally. Cast heavy lures from Sandpatch Beach or Cheynes Beach during autumn to intercept massive schools of migrating Australian Salmon.
Boating fishers launching from Emu Point Harbour or the Waterfront Marina access incredible inshore and offshore fishing grounds within minutes. Shallow seagrass banks inside Princess Royal Harbour yield trophy King George Whiting and large Squid on light tackle. Beyond Breaksea and Michaelmas Islands, deep reef ledges in 50 to 100 metres depth hold abundant Samson Fish, Pink Snapper, Queen Snapper, and Southern Rock Lobster.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- EMU POINT JETTY: Positioned at the mouth of Oyster Harbour, this public jetty offers exceptional land-based fishing for King George Whiting and Silver Trevally. Fish fine monofilament lines with small running sinker rigs baited with fresh squid or tube worms on a turning tide. Night fishing under jetty lights produces frequent strikes from large Southern Calamari using size 2.5 squid jigs.
- ALBANY WATERFRONT MARINA BREAKWALL: High-grade granite rock wall providing easy access to deep water inside Princess Royal Harbour. Cast long-distance patternoster rigs or small metal spoons to target Herring, Silver Trevally, and Pink Snapper on overcast days. Ensure footwear has rubber gripping soles when negotiating wet granite boulders along the seawall.
- KALGAN RIVER JETTY & SHORELINE: Premier estuarine habitat renowned for trophy Black Bream and Estuary Perch. Work small soft plastic minnows or hardbody crankbaits slowly around overhanging tea-tree roots and rock drop-offs during early mornings. Light stealthy fluorocarbon leaders are essential for coaxing wary bream in crystal-clear river sections.
- SANDPATCH BEACH: Spectacular surf beach flanked by towering wind turbines, famous for heavy autumn Australian Salmon runs. Cast 40g to 60g metal slugs into deep blue gutters on a rising tide to hook hard-fighting 5kg to 7kg salmon. Be prepared for steep beach dunes and maintain caution regarding heavy Southern Ocean shore-break.
- FRENCHMAN BAY JETTY: Sheltered jetty located on the southern side of King George Sound offering prime access to King George Whiting and Leatherjacket. Drift small natural baits over sandy patches adjacent to weed beds on a light morning breeze. The clear protected water also makes this an excellent spot for night squid fishing.
Offshore
- MICHAELMAS & BREAKSEA ISLANDS: High-energy island passages holding heavy schools of Samson Fish, Pink Snapper, and Queen Snapper. Anchor upwind of deep underwater granite ledges in 35 to 50 metres depth and establish a continuous berley trail. Drift vertical knife jigs or whole fish baits down the current lines to trigger rapid strikes.
- KING GEORGE SOUND SEAGRASS FLATS: Extensive shallow seagrass beds running through 5 to 15 metres depth inside the Sound. Ideal territory for drifting light tackle rigs baited with fresh squid or yabbies for trophy King George Whiting. Use a drift chute to slow vessel speed on windy days and cover maximum seabed area.
- LOWER KALGAN ESTUARY CHANNELS: Deep river channels in 3 to 6 metres depth holding large Black Bream and Flathead. Trolling small deep-diving hardbody lures slowly behind the boat along drop-offs accounts for high numbers of quality bream. Keep electric motor trolling silent to avoid spooking fish in shallow upper reaches.
- OUTER REEF DROP-OFFS (80M EDGE): Exposed deep-water reef structures located 12 nautical miles south of King George Sound. Heavy-tackle bottom bouncing in 70 to 100 metres produces trophy Bight Redfish, Breaksea Cod, and large Ocean Perch. Strong southerly ocean swells require careful weather monitoring before planning offshore runs.
- OYSTER HARBOUR CHANNEL LEADS: Marked navigation channel leading into Oyster Harbour holding schools of Silver Trevally and Pink Snapper during winter. Drift small metal jigs or bait rigs along the steep channel slopes on an incoming tide. High vessel traffic requires strict adherence to channel navigation rules.
Hot Spots
- EMU POINT JETTY: Prolific sheltered platform producing King George Whiting, Silver Trevally, and Southern Calamari.
- ALBANY WATERFRONT MARINA: Modern granite seawall offering deep-water access for Pink Snapper, Herring, and Squid.
- KALGAN RIVER ESTUARY: Iconic freshwater-meets-saltwater river system famous for trophy Black Bream.
- BREAKSEA ISLAND REEFS: Outer island system holding Samson Fish, Pink Snapper, Queen Snapper, and Bight Redfish.
- SANDPATCH SURF GUTTERS: High-action ocean beach gutter renowned for autumn Australian Salmon runs.
Local Bait Tips
- GHOST SHRIMP (PINK NIPPERS): Harvested using a yabbie pump on low-tide sandflats inside Oyster Harbour near the Kalgan River mouth. Position the pump over visible air holes in damp sand, pull the plunge rapidly, and empty sediment into a sieve. Store live in cool damp newspaper with sea spray to maintain high vitality.
- BLUE MUSSELS: Scraped off wooden jetty pylons and rock walls around Emu Point Harbour and Albany Waterfront Marina. Use a heavy scraping tool to dislodge dense clusters growing below the high-water line. Kept damp in a wet bucket, fresh mussels represent unbeatable bait for King George Whiting and Silver Trevally.
- SEA WORMS: Extracted from damp estuarine sandflats around the lower King and Kalgan rivers at low tide using a flat garden fork. Turn over muddy sand near seagrass beds and gather worms by hand into shallow damp sand buckets. Keep away from direct sunlight to maintain natural wriggling action on the hook.
- LIVE OCTOPUS & SQUID: Targeted over shallow seagrass beds in Princess Royal Harbour using size 2.5 to 3.0 cloth squid jigs. Cast jigs across sand-and-weed junctions on light fluorocarbon trace and retrieve with steady lifts. Live squid rigged whole on twin snelled hooks are unmatched for targeting large offshore Pink Snapper.
Boat Ramps
- Emu Point Boat Harbour Ramp:
Located inside Emu Point Boat Harbour at the entrance to Oyster Harbour, 9 km northeast of Albany off Emu Point Drive, Emu Point WA 6330. Managed by Department of Transport (DoT) WA. Features 2 concrete launching ramps with a central slim floating finger jetty. Highly sheltered from Southern Ocean swells within Oyster Harbour, though strong spring tidal currents run through the narrow entrance channel and heavy holiday pedestrian/swimmer activity populates the harbour precinct. Amenities include vast sealed car-trailer parking, modern public toilet/shower block, stainless-steel fish cleaning station with multiple taps, boat wash-down facilities, lighting, and an adjacent slipway. Free public launch access.
- Albany Waterfront Marina Boat Ramp:
Situated within the Albany Waterfront Marina precinct on Princess Royal Harbour foreshore, Toll Place, Albany WA 6330. Managed by Department of Transport (DoT) WA. Features a dual-lane grooved concrete launch ramp with a floating universal access pontoon finger jetty. Positioned right in the heart of Albany, the ramp provides deep-water access directly into Princess Royal Harbour. Fully protected by massive granite breakwaters with minimal swell exposure. Facilities feature high-capacity car-trailer parking spaces, public toilets, service wharf, high-flow fuel jetty, lighting, and walking trails connecting to CBD dining and retail. Free public access.
- Princess Royal Harbour Boat Ramp:
Located off Chipana Drive at Little Grove on the southern shore of Princess Royal Harbour, Albany WA 6330. Managed by the City of Albany. Features a single-lane concrete ramp with a short timber walkway jetty. Ideal for launching light aluminum tinnies, kayaks, and small sports-boats targeting inner-harbour Whiting and Squid. Exposed to moderate northerly winds which can chop up the shallow approach bay. Facilities include sealed vehicle parking, adjacent parkland, public toilets, and rubbish bins. No ramp fees required.
- Lower King Boat Ramp (Elizabeth Street):
Situated at the end of Elizabeth Street on the western bank of the Lower King River near Oyster Harbour, King River WA 6330. Managed by the City of Albany and Department of Transport WA. Features a dual-lane concrete boat ramp with an adjacent timber boarding pontoon. Positioned in extremely sheltered river waters, offering easy access to Oyster Harbour and the Kalgan River mouth for light craft targeting Black Bream, King George Whiting, and Flathead. Facilities include a sealed carpark with trailer bays, public restrooms, fish cleaning table, and parkland. Free public launch access.
- Frenchman Bay Boat Ramp:
Located off Frenchman Bay Road on the southern shore of King George Sound, Frenchman Bay WA 6330. Managed by the City of Albany and DoT WA. Features a single-lane concrete ramp extending into a sheltered granite cove. Offers convenient launching for small to mid-sized vessels accessing King George Sound and Vancouver Peninsula reefs without having to cross Oyster Harbour or Princess Royal channels. Amenities include unsealed car-trailer parking, public toilets, picnic benches, and historic whaling station precinct nearby. Free public launch access.
Bait and Tackle
- Albany Rods & Tackle: 120 Stirling Hwy, Albany WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9841 2236
- Trailblazers Albany: 184 Albany Hwy, Albany WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9841 7859
- BCF Albany: 380 Albany Hwy, Albany WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9842 5400
- Night & Day Pharmacy Kiosk (24-Hour Bait): 65 Lockyer Ave, Albany WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9841 1255
Basecamp & Accom
- BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park: 8 Medcalf Tce, Emu Point WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9844 1147
- Albany Waterfront Holiday Park: 2 Miami Tce, Middleton Beach WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9841 1277
- Emu Point Motel: 1 Merredin Rd, Emu Point WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9844 1001
Emergency & Safety
- Albany Sea Rescue Squad (VMR 610): Swarbrick St, Emu Point, Albany WA 6330 - Ph: (08) 9844 1005 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 81 / 82 / 88 (27MHz)
