Augusta has a large estuary, worthwhile rivers, and safe launching into the sea through a large marina located inside Cape Leeuwin.

There are reef grounds extending south-east from Cape Leeuwin, keeping in mind the Ngari Capes Marine Park sanctuary.

Augusta’s impressive Hardy Inlet is fed by the Blackwood and Scott Rivers.

A dinghy gives access to the estuary’s bream, spotted and yellowfin whiting, tailor, salmon, herring, trevally, flathead, cobbler, herring, mullet, flounder, prawns and blue crabs.

The estuary is something of a nursery, so an abundance of little fish can be a problem.

Beach fishing east of the inlet entrance is good, with 4WD tracks leading through to Windy Harbour, with creek mouths along the way.

Salmon are the main catch in late summer/autumn.

In poor weather some beaches north of Augusta offer shelter.

Local fishing spots include:

Colour Patch – near the shops at the estuary mouth, whiting, flathead, bream, trevally, herring.
Ellis St Jetty – as above, with mulloway at night.
Ringbolt Bay – squid, whiting, herring.
Deepdene – 4WD track off Cosy Corner Rd, beach fishing.
Hamelin Bay – north of Augusta, fish the beach by 4WD or travel further to Caves Rd.
Skippy Rock – trevally, herring, samson, kingfish and snapper.

North of Augusta, Hamelin Bay, Prevelly, Gracetown and Canal Rocks are popular destinations for boaters.

Gracetown’s Cowaramup Bay is picturesque and has a van park, beach launching and good grounds nearby.

Beaches and rocks in this area have tailor, salmon, herring, trevally and groper, but care is required on the rocks.

Note that Kilcarnup Sanctuary Zone exists north of Cape Mentelle, with the Cape Freycinet Zone about 15km to the south. A larger sanctuary zone exists wide of Cape Freycinet under the South West Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

Blackwood River fishing spots

The Blackwood is the longest river in WA’s south-west and the only river that has historically maintained an annual flow.

Its source is near Kukerin, about 500km from the sea entrance.

The tidal section of the Blackwood River has some huge bream, along with quality yellowfin whiting in the estuary, but light tackle and fresh or live bait is a must.

The trick to catching the big bream is often just getting past all the little ones.

This may mean using lures or fishing at night.

Sea-run trout are a chance in the lower river in late winter and spring, but the river has mostly redfin in the upstream section, as well as cobbler (freshwater catfish).

Tidal water extends to Schroeders Weir, about 50km from the mouth.

Decent bream fishing extends as far as Warner Glen (Chapman Pool) about 40km upstream of the mouth, but is usually better downstream around Alexandra Bridge (25km).

Bream move upstream in summer. Heavy rain will push marine fish downstream.

Trout are around Darradup, Jalbarragup, Nannup and Wrights Bridge, but the fish can be hard to find. Rainbow and brown trout are caught.

Eulin Crossing is a popular access point.

The river is an attractive location and popular with kayakers.

Weed can be an issue at times, and Hardy Inlet has been affected at times by water quality issues related to local land use.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for WA waters.

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