Marion Bay is a large bay under the southern “foot” of Yorke Peninsula.

It is one of two places where boats can be launched near the bottom of the peninsula, the other being Pondalowie Bay.

It is not an ideal launch site however, being exposed and only a single lane.

Marion Bay jetty fishes well for squid, gar, tommy ruff and mullet.

The beach within the bay is renowned for an autumn mullet run.

Boaters who want large KG whiting can launch here and go 25km east to Foul Bay, which produces the big fish.

Beaches from Marion Bay east to Troubridge Point produce mulloway.

Big flathead are also caught.

Butlers Beach, east of Marion Bay, has excellent surf salmon fishing.

Marion Bay lies just outside Innes National Park.

Local charter operators visit the many offshore grounds, including further west towards Port Lincoln, where samson, morwong, harlequin fish, kingfish, trevally, snapper, nannygai and sharks are caught, but take note of Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.

To the north, Wedge Island, located in the lower Spencer Gulf between York Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula, is accessible by sea trip from Marion Bay or by aeroplane from Adelaide and Warooka.

This is a remote location in the wild Southern Ocean and suitably seaworthy boats are essential.

Charter operators visit Wedge Island and beach-house accommodation is available.

As well as reef fish, southern bluefin tuna can be expected in spring/summer.

Snapper are spring/summer, nannygai are all year, kingfish are mainly summer/autumn.

Marion bay tides
Marion Bay coastline
Innes National Park
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in South Australia – more info here.

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Ardrossan is best known among fishos for its public jetty and ship-loading jetty, but it also has a large, ground-breaking artificial reef nearby.

The Windara Shellfish Reef began as a 4ha reef made of 60 concrete reef balls, limestone, oyster shells and live native oysters.

Phase two in 2018 saw the reef expanded to 20ha.

The reef is expected to grow and provide good snapper fishing when the 2023 snapper ban is lifted.

Ardrossan has a small marina, adjacent to the bulk loading jetty, which is fished by boat but can not be publicly accessed.

Good grounds are located near the marina.

Tommies, squid, snook, blue crabs, salmon trout and mullet are caught from the public jetty, and occasional school mulloway.

Fishing is best in the late afternoon and evening, and early morning, from October until Easter.

A hopper barge was scuttled south-east of Ardrossan in 1984 and is a known big-snapper spot, with slimy mackerel, chow, whiting and mulloway.

Crab raking grounds lie north and south of Ardrossan and gar dabbing and flounder spearing can be done in these places around high tide in calm weather.

Crabs are caught all year but are best from September to April, especially if wading and raking.

March and April are considered best.

The Ardrossan Sanctuary Zone restricts fishing around the Zanoni shipwreck.

Big yellowfin whiting can be caught from the beaches using light tackle and fresh or live seaweed worms.

A great fishing spot to try south of Ardrossan is Port Julia.

Ardrossan GPS Marks

Barge 34 31.815S 138 03.784E

Ardrossan tides
Ardrossan beaches
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in South Australia – more info here.

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.

Southend is at the southern end of Rivoli Bay, with surf, rock, jetty and boat fishing.

A highlight is bush camping near the beach in Canunda National Park , with mulloway (summer), salmon and mullet (winter) and gummy sharks, all a chance in the surf.

Southend boat ramp is exposed. Southend jetty is worthwhile for bread and butter, including squid.

Beachport is at the north end of Rivoli Bay.

Beachport’s boat ramp is poor at low tide.

For boaters, Ringwood Reef is almost 2km long and lies just 6km off Beachport, while West Rocks and Lipson Rock are 4km out.

All produce snapper, trevally, squid, sweep and mulloway, as well as many of the inshore species mentioned earlier.

Beachport has a superb jetty – at 772m (formerly 1.2km) it is the second longest jetty in South Australia, covering a vast expanse of shallow water.

Squid, mullet, Australian salmon, tommies, gar, bream, whiting and mulloway are caught.

The best local fishing beaches are arguably the aptly named Salmon Hole and Glen Point Beach, but there’s many more.

The water is often very clear at these beaches, making for good lure fishing.

Mulloway are chance in the surf, but rays are often first to the bait.

Bowman Scenic Drive gives access to much of the coast.

Beachport Conservation Park has great coastal scenery, camping, 4WD tracks and fishing.

Rivoli Bay fishing GPS marks

NOTE: Extreme care required at Ringwood and De Mole reefs because of breaking waves.
West Rock 37 31.118S 140 01.577E
Ringwood East 37 32.054S 140 02.473E
Ringwood West 37 32.172S 140 01.746E
‘Three Mile’ 37 31.513S 139 58.443E
Lipson Rock 37 30.767S 140 02.303E
Sherbert Rock 37 31.232S 140 03.839E
De Mole Reef 37 29.661S 140 02.048E

Southend tides
Southend beaches
Canunda National Park
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in South Australia – more info here.

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.