Fishing Walpole & Denmark
Fisheries regulations across Walpole and Denmark are strictly governed by DPIRD rules, protecting sensitive estuarine nursery ecosystems and bag limits for Black Bream and King George Whiting. While the West Coast demersal closure does not extend to the South Coast, fishers must abide by local size minimums and boat possession limits. Conservation measures within Walpole-Nornalup Inlets Marine Park ensure sustainable fishing across these interconnected river channels.
Land-based anglers discover world-class Black Bream fishing along the timbered banks of the Deep, Frankland, and Denmark Rivers. Casting small soft plastics or hardbody lures around fallen logs and granite outcrops produces trophy bream exceeding 40 centimetres. Ocean beach casters targeting Blue Holes, Conspicuous Cliff, and Ocean Beach land heavy Australian Salmon and Tarwhine in deep surf gutters.
Boating fishers launching from Rest Point, Coalmine Beach, or Poddy Shot gain access to calm, protected estuary waters and wild Southern Ocean reef grounds. Drifting the Nornalup Inlet channels yields consistent runs of King George Whiting, Flathead, and Silver Trevally on light tackle. Heading offshore through Peaceful Bay or Parry Beach exposes anglers to productive deep reefs holding Pink Snapper, Breaksea Cod, and Samson Fish.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- PODDY SHOT JETTY (WILSON INLET): Prime land-based platform near Denmark offering steady action on Black Bream, Silver Trevally, and King George Whiting. Cast light running sinker rigs baited with fresh ghost shrimp or tube worms into the main channel on an incoming tide. Early morning periods provide the quietest water conditions before wind creates chop across the inlet.
- CONSPICUOUS CLIFF BEACH: Dramatic ocean beach backed by coastal wilderness cliffs, famous for large Australian Salmon and Gummy Sharks. Cast 50g metal casting spoons or heavy bait rigs into deep blue gutters cut between granite headlands. Exercise high caution regarding unexpected Southern Ocean king waves along the water line.
- FRANKLAND RIVER MOUTH ROCKS: Granite rock outcrops lining the junction of the Frankland River and Nornalup Inlet. Outstanding territory for slow-pitching small soft plastic grubs around submerged timber for large Black Bream. Ensure quiet stealthy footing on granite ledges to avoid spooking wary trophy fish in clear shallow water.
- OCEAN BEACH (DENMARK): Popular surf fishing location where Wilson Inlet meets the Southern Ocean, offering fantastic action on Australian Salmon and Herring. Fish long surf rods with patternoster rigs baited with fresh pilchard blocks or squid strips during autumn salmon runs. Watch for changing sandbar structures and strong rip currents around the river mouth.
- REST POINT JETTY (WALPOLE): Sheltered timber pier providing peaceful fishing within Walpole Inlet for Flathead, Black Bream, and Whiting. Work small soft plastics or baited hooks slowly along the muddy channel drop-offs adjacent to the jetty. Early evenings produce small runs of Southern Calamari on size 2.5 squid jigs.
Offshore
- PEACEFUL BAY REEF LEDGES: Offshore granite and limestone reef structures sitting in 25 to 40 metres of water directly off Peaceful Bay. Outstanding bottom fishing ground for Pink Snapper, Breaksea Cod, Bight Redfish, and Queen Snapper. Launching from Peaceful Bay beach requires a capable 4WD vehicle and careful swell timing over shallow reefs.
- NORNALUP INLET DEEP CHANNEL: The 2m to 5m deep channel connecting Walpole Inlet to Nornalup Inlet, holding dense schools of King George Whiting and Flathead. Drift light monofilament rigs baited with fresh ghost shrimp or squid strips on a gentle flood tide. Electric motors help maintain slow controlled drifts over target sand patches.
- PARRY BEACH OFFSHORE BOMMIES: Prominent submerged rock bommies located 3 to 5 nautical miles off Parry Beach. Vertical jigging 150g metal jigs or drift-baiting with whole pilchards triggers explosive strikes from Samson Fish and Yellowtail Kingfish. Constant vigilance is required as heavy ocean swells break unexpectedly on shallow outer ledges.
- WILSON INLET CENTRAL FLATS: Expansive shallow basin averaging 2 to 3 metres depth, holding abundant Black Bream, Tarwhine, and Flathead. Trolling small micro-crankbaits slowly behind small craft covers large search areas and locates active feeding schools. Calmer morning windows yield the best clarity for surface lure presentations.
- FRANKLAND RIVER DEEP REACHES: Navigable river channel extending kilometres upstream through dense karri forests, providing trophy Black Bream fishing. Cast floating hardbody lures under overhanging branches and slow-roll them past submerged timber snags. The calm freshwater environment requires ultra-light 4lb to 6lb fluorocarbon leaders.
Hot Spots
- REST POINT JETTY: Picturesque Walpole Inlet pier providing sheltered access for Black Bream, Whiting, and Flathead.
- PODDY SHOT (DENMARK): Iconic Wilson Inlet location famous for King George Whiting, Trevally, and Black Bream.
- NORNALUP INLET CHANNELS: Deep estuarine waterway offering premier light-tackle drift fishing for Whiting and Bream.
- PEACEFUL BAY REEF SYSTEM: Productive offshore reef network holding Pink Snapper, Breaksea Cod, and Bight Redfish.
- CONSPICUOUS CLIFF SURF: Wild ocean beach drop-off renowned for trophy Australian Salmon and Gummy Sharks.
Local Bait Tips
- GHOST SHRIMP (PINK NIPPERS): Pumped using a stainless-steel yabbie pump from intertidal sandflats inside Nornalup Inlet and Wilson Inlet at low tide. Target small air holes in wet sand, extract sediment into a sieve, and collect live shrimp. Keep in damp newspaper moistened with estuary water to ensure high liveliness on the hook.
- BLUE MUSSELS: Scraped from wooden jetty posts and rocks at Rest Point, Walpole town jetty, and Poddy Shot at low tide. Dislodge clusters using a flat scraper tool and collect into a bucket lined with damp kelp. Fresh mussels crushed lightly before rigging are irresistible to Black Bream and King George Whiting.
- SEA WORMS: Harvested by hand-forking moist muddy sand around weed margins in Wilson Inlet during spring low tides. Carefully turn over topsoil with a garden fork and pick out worms into damp sand containers. Store away from heat to keep them lively for soft-mouthed estuarine species.
- LIVE CRABS: Collected by hand from rock crevices and under granite stones along estuarine shorelines at low tide. Target small shore crabs, place them in a damp bucket with wet seaweed, and keep shaded. Rigged through the outer edge of the carapace, they represent lethal natural bait for large Black Bream around snags.
Boat Ramps
- Coalmine Beach Boat Ramp (Walpole):
Located inside Walpole-Nornalup Inlets Marine Park off Coalmine Beach Road, Walpole WA 6398. Managed by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) & Shire of Manjimup. Features a single-lane concrete slab ramp extending into Nornalup Inlet. Offers calm estuarine water launching sheltered by surrounding marri and karri forests, though low tide conditions reveal shallow sandbar approaches that force fishers to wade out or utilize Rest Point ramp for deeper draft vessels. Facilities include unsealed car-trailer parking, public toilets, shaded picnic benches, and barbecue amenities. No ramp fees required; observe marine park zoning rules.
- Rest Point Boat Ramp (Walpole):
Situated at the end of Rest Point Road within Walpole Inlet, Walpole WA 6398. Managed by Shire of Manjimup and DBCA. Features a concrete boat ramp with a timber finger jetty. Extremely protected from wind and swell, providing ideal launching for estuarine craft, dinghies, and light skiffs. Water depths at the end of the ramp drop into the main Walpole Inlet channel, allowing launching through most tide phases. Amenities include car-trailer parking, public toilets, caravan park amenities, and jetty fishing access. Free public access.
- Walpole Town Jetty Boat Ramp:
Located at the end of Boronia Street on Walpole Inlet, Walpole WA 6398. Managed by the Shire of Manjimup and DBCA. Officially recognized by DoT WA as the primary municipal town launch facility. Features a single-lane concrete ramp with a timber finger jetty providing calm, sheltered access into Walpole Inlet. Shallow mudflats require trimmed outboards during low tide. Amenities include sealed carparking with trailer spaces, public toilets, fish cleaning bench, and grassed foreshore parkland. Free public launch access.
- Peaceful Bay Boat Launching Ramp:
Located at Peaceful Bay foreshore off Peppermint Way, Peaceful Bay WA 6333. Managed by the Shire of Denmark. Features a natural compacted sand beach launching area flanked by low granite rock headlands. Launching mid-to-large offshore vessels requires a 4WD vehicle or tractor, as Southern Ocean breakers routinely wash across the beach opening making it dangerous during heavy swells. Facilities include vehicle parking above the beach, public toilets, fish cleaning table, tractor launch options via local operators, and nearby mini-mart/tackle services. Free public access.
- Poddy Shot Boat Ramp (Denmark):
Located at the end of Minsterly Road on the northern shoreline of Wilson Inlet, Denmark WA 6333. Managed by the Shire of Denmark. Features a concrete dual-lane boat ramp with a timber boarding pontoon. Positioned in calm estuarine waters, this is Denmark’s primary launch facility for accessing Wilson Inlet for Whiting, Bream, and Trevally. Shallow sandbar conditions exist at low tide, requiring low-draft vessels. Facilities include a sealed carpark with trailer bays, public toilets, fish cleaning bench, and parkland. Free public access.
- Denmark River Mouth Boat Ramp:
Located at the mouth of the Denmark River off Inlet Drive, Denmark WA 6333. Managed by the Shire of Denmark and DoT WA. Features a single-lane concrete slab boat ramp with an adjacent timber jetty. Provides tranquil river launching directly into Wilson Inlet for light tinnies, kayaks, and small motorboats targeting Black Bream and Whiting. Shallow sandbars require low-draft vessels at low tide. Facilities include unsealed car-trailer parking, public toilets, and walking trails. Free public launch access.
Bait and Tackle
- Jack F Ricketts & Co (Denmark Supply): 3 High St, Denmark WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9848 1014
- Peaceful Bay Store & Tackle: 1 Peppermint Way, Peaceful Bay WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9840 1111
- Walpole Hardware & Tackle: 32 Nockolds St, Walpole WA 6398 - Ph: (08) 9840 1145
- BP Denmark (24-Hour Bait & Ice): 12 North Coast Hwy, Denmark WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9848 1118
Basecamp & Accom
- Peaceful Bay Caravan Park: 1 Peppermint Way, Peaceful Bay WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9840 1111
- Walpole Rest Point Caravan Park: Rest Point Rd, Walpole WA 6398 - Ph: (08) 9840 1032
- Rivermouth Caravan Park Denmark: 3 Denmark River Way, Denmark WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9848 1262
Emergency & Safety
- Volunteer Marine Rescue Denmark (VMR 613): Ocean Beach Rd, Denmark WA 6333 - Ph: (08) 9848 3899 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 22 / 77 / 88 | Peaceful Bay Sea Rescue (VMR 616): Peaceful Bay Foreshore, Peaceful Bay WA 6333 - Ph: 0427 401 180 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 73 / 88 (27MHz)
