Cape Jaffa, South Australia

Cape Jaffa is an all-round fishing holiday destination, with an excellent marina, good crayfish grounds and easy landbased fishing.

A big boat is not needed to fish in close in good conditions, as there are relatively sheltered waters between Cape Jaffa and Kingston.

The shallow weed bottom comes in close to shore and king george whiting, garfish, flathead, tommies, snook and squid are usually easily found.

Within the marina salmon, flathead, trevally and bream can be caught.

The jetty produces most local species, including many squid for those who fish calm, clear mornings and evenings in warm weather.

For boaters, the substantial Margaret Brock Reef lies 7km west of Cape Jaffa, extending about 8km north and south.

There is broken ground inside the reef through to the cape, with species such as snapper, kingfish and crayfish.

Some reef areas break, including North Rock and South Breaker, and great care is required.

Cape Jaffa’s king george whiting are caught over a kilogram at times from weed patches in Wrights Bay and a spot called “The Pinnacles”.

Snapper, sharks and crayfish are caught at King Rock and North Reef, with anchoring and berleying each side of a tide change usually productive.

As well as bread and butter species, large mulloway are caught in the harbour and off the jetty at night but they are finicky, with livebait a must, preferably a squid or salmon trout.

Wrights Bay beach has big mulloway in summer. Fish a high tide at night on a full or new moon.

Outside the inner reefs, big snapper, thresher and whaler sharks, bluefin tuna and more are caught, but big boats are needed.

Cape Jaffa’s low-energy beaches are shallow but can fish well on big tides, with sheltered spots providing garfish and flounder at night for dab netters and spearers.

Weed is often present on the beaches, and weed worms make good bait.

Summer brings good conditions in this area for yellowfin whiting.

Autumn is a good time to visit Cape Jaffa and Kingston as there are fewer holidaymakers about than in summer, the seas are calm, and summer species are usually still around.

For surf fishos, there is 160km of high-energy beach leading north from Kingston to the Coorong, with plenty of 4WDers making the trip to find the best gutters for mulloway, salmon, gummy sharks and tailor.

If you plan to visit this long beach be fully prepared as there are no facilities after Kingston.

South of Cape Jaffa there are more good fishing opportunities around Robe.

Here is the SA seasonal fishing calendar for various fish species.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Cape Jaffa weather and tides
Cape Jaffa coastline
Cape Jaffa (Kings Camp) coastline
SA boat ramps
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

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

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline feedbacks
View all comments

Book your fishing B&B early at Booking.com



Buy Redback on eBay