Port Lincoln is located within a highly regarded fishing region at the southern end of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

There are good facilities for boaters, with excellent fishing grounds in close and out wide, and two good fishing jetties within the town, being the town jetty and tourist park jetty.

Other fishable jetties in the region are at North Shields, Tumby Bay, Coffin Bay and Mt Dutton Bay.

There are marinas at both Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay, with boat ramps at Tumby Bay, North Shields, Port Lincoln, Taylors Landing, Port Neill, Coffin Bay and Mt Dutton Bay.

With appropriate equipment and care, beach launching can be done at Louth Bay, Avoid Bay and Farm Beach.

Some of the best beach and rock fishing is near Port Lincoln in the Lincoln National Park. Entry permits are at the Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre.

Landbased fishing near the town provide great salmon action at times, and kingfish are caught within the marina.

Port Lincoln Bay itself is shallow and has flounder, mullet, bream, gar, snook, tommies, flathead, blue crabs and yellowfin whiting.

Landbased whiting are caught at Tulka, from the rocks, while boaters get good catches of whiting at Proper, Spalding Cove, North Shore, Carcase Rocks, Taylors and Thistle Island.

Squid are found throughout the bays.

Blue crabs are best in the shallows around March, which is also a good time for gar.

Spotted whiting are usually good around Tulka, North Shore and Thistle Island.

Offshore fishing produces just about all SA species, depending on how far you are willing to travel.

A highlight is bluefin tuna, which often swim outside the local tuna aquaculture pens.

The Cabbage Patch and South Neptune Islands are go-to spots.

The more distant reefs hold big samsonfish, yellowtail kingfish, tuna, blue groper, blue morwong and more.

For those who want to fish the islands south of Port Lincoln the beach launch at Taylors Landing gives access to Taylor Island just 5km away.

Further on lie the islands of Thorny Passage.

Quality snapper and spotted whiting are caught within the passage, with samson, nannygai and morwong on the deep reefs outside.

This is not an ideal area for trailerboaters, with strong currents and the power of the Southern Ocean.

Charter services are recommended to fish the wide reefs and Neptune Islands.

For surf and rock fishermen, Sleaford Bay south of Port Lincoln has big salmon.

Rock platforms such as Millers Hole and Salmon Hole require a long gaff or drop gaff to land big fish.

Other regional spots include Elliston, which usually has salmon from the beaches between Sheringa and Mt Camel.

Talia Rocks produces big salmon with gummy and school sharks at night.

Tommies, squid and flathead are caught at Walkers Rocks.

Coffin Bay’s sheltered waters have mostly salmon trout, whiting, squid and tommies. The deeper water in Dutton Bay is best for gummy sharks.

Farm Beach has whiting, flathead, garfish, tommies, snook and squid. Offshore of Point Sir Isaacs there are nannygai, blue morwong and gummy sharks.

Whiting can be caught from the rocks at Frenchman’s Beach, with flathead at Gallipoli Beach and Coles Point.

Salmon are good at Gunyah Beach, Greenly and Convention Beaches.

A tug hull was sunk in Boston Bay in 1990 as an artificial reef, and it produces big snapper at times (snapper fishing is currently banned in SA).

Port Lincoln’s best fishing periods

KGking george whiting, pink snapper, salmon, samson, nannygai, sweep, snook, trevally, flathead, gummy and school sharks, tommy ruff, garfish, squid – all year, but with peaks at specific times.

Tuna and kingfish are best in late summer to autumn.

Yellowtail kingfish are best from November to April

Blue swimmer crabs are best November to May.

Southern rock lobster are best December to May.

Yelloweye mullet best in winter and autumn.

Port Lincoln and its nearby towns are popular during holiday periods so book early.

GPS Marks
Bronzewing Hull 34 40.912S 135 52.482E

Port Lincoln tides
Port Lincoln beaches
Lincoln National Park
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks
Return to SA fishing map

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.

See Part One of this article here.

Some of South Australia’s great fishing spots are located on the southern and western York Peninsula coast.

A special feature for touring fishos is the selection of camp sites run by York Peninsula Council.

As well as great rod and line fishing for whiting, mullet, Australian salmon, tommy ruffs and gar, it is usually easy to find squid and blue swimmer crabs in season, and flounder spearing can be enjoyed off the more sheltered shallow beaches.

Here are some of the more popular fishing areas.

Stenhouse Bay

This is a superb fishing area within Innes National Park. Bush camping is available.

The jetty has produced yellowtail kingfish, but is better known for autumn/winter mullet and salmon.

Mulloway are caught in the bay.

A sanctuary exists south of the bay.

Pondalowie Bay

This bay is also within Innes National Park.

The beach launch provides access to exciting offshore grounds, but the weather must be right to contemplate fishing, and a swell can make launching impossible.

The fishing, from Emmes Reef north-west to Wedge Island, can be superb.

Wedge Island is inhabited, with several holiday houses that can be hired.

Boaters usually fish the calmer waters between Wedge and North Island for whiting and snapper.

The beach on the north side has big flathead and salmon.

Yellowtail kingfish are common around the island.

Browns Beach

Like some other great salmon beaches, this beach has an outlying reef, and salmon move inside on a rising tide.

Fishing is best in winter, but some salmon stay all year.

This is a somewhat famous fishing beach in SA.

Walking is required, and a permit for Inness National Park.

To the north, Dust Hole Beach has salmon in winter and big mulloway in summer, along with mullet, flathead and sharks.

It also requires walking, depending where the gutters lie.

North of the Dust Hole Beach is Daly Head and Gleesons Landing.

Gleesons has 4WD access and a reasonably sheltered beach launch.

The beach has salmon and mullet, with occasional mulloway.

Corny Point

This is at the north-west tip of Yorke Peninsula, with Berry Bay nearby and West beach to the immediate south.

There is free camping at Corny Point, from where you can walk off for a fish.

West Beach is the last proper surf beach heading north along this coast, as beaches in the gulf are more sheltered.

There is surf fishing at nearby Berry Bay for salmon and mullet.

There is a caravan park 4km east of the point, with a tractor available for beach launching.

Small boats can fish this reasonably sheltered area, and the local garfish, whiting and tommy ruff are big.

Further out are snapper grounds.

Point Turton

The marina is suitable for large boats.

The jetty produces the usual SA species, including kingfish.

Whiting, snook, gar, flathead and flounder are caught in close.

This is a protected area in a southerly, but north-westerly winds make it rough.

About 10km to the east, 4WD launching can be done at Hardwicke Bay.

The same applies at Port Rickeby to the north, which also has a small jetty.

Port Victoria

This town has most facilities, including a sheltered all-tide ramp and long jetty.

Wardang Island lies 10km offshore, providing a great deal of protected water to fish.

All the usual species are caught, with spotted whiting within and outside the bay.

Flounder are common in the bay and there is flounder spearing.

To the north, Balgowan has an exposed boat ramp.

Port Hughes

This town has excellent boating facilities inside a marina, although it is shallow at low tide.

The long jetty fishes well for tommy ruff, gar and squid, with blue crabs and yellowfin whiting in summer.

Oversize whiting, snook and snapper can be caught on the wide grounds.

Tiparra Reef has a light and is good for gar, snook and squid, while snapper fishos should head out to the Steamer channel.

There are whiting, squid and gar grounds in close.

Gar dabbing is popular in northern Moonta Bay on a calm night, with good fishing for a variety of species at Walrus Rock and Bird Reef.

Tiparra Reef
34 03.913S 137 23.494E

Tiparra Wide
34 04.654S 137 18.261E

Wallaroo

The town’s long jetty fishes well, with snapper caught at the end, usually after rough weather, as well as occasional kingfish.

Otherwise it is best for gar, squid and blue crabs.

The town has excellent boating facilities.

Big snapper are reliable on grounds about 10km out.

There is an artificial reef of tyres 9km out.

Two small shoals within Wallaroo Bay are usually worth a look.

Wallaroo Tyre Reef
33 51.411S 137 34.384E

Moonta Shoal
33 53.883S 137 34.902E

Riley Shoal
33 53.220S 137 34.951E

Port Broughton

Yet another gulf town with a long fishing jetty.

Yellowfin whiting are a popular catch here. Use fine tackle and the freshest possible bait. Fish an evening rising tide for best results.

Big snapper are targeted out wide on the Illusion wreck and on Plank Shoal.

The boating facilities are excellent but the entrance channel is shallow and winding.

There is an artificial reef made from car bodies.

Car Reef
33 32.914S 137 51.483E

Port Pirie

NOTE: Port Pirie and Port Germein marine sediments are contaminated with lead and other heavy metals, which is found in local shellfish and fish. Read this for details.

Port Augusta

The shallow waters of upper Spencer Gulf lead north to the town of Port Augusta.

It is an unusual marine area, being shallow and sheltered from all winds except southerlies.

A quirk of Port Augusta is the two power stations that have hot water outlets.

These are renowned for attracting big kingfish, with fish over 50kg taken.

Livebait and strong gear is needed.

Another odd local catch is the tropical dolphin fish (mahi mahi), which are occasionally brought in by warm currents passing the state.

Big snapper are caught in the channel, but most Adelaide snapper fishos travel onward to Whyalla and Arno Bay.

Otherwise, the waters here are best for yellowfin whiting, blue crabs, gar, bream and snook.

Boating facilities are good. There is a tyre reef 20km south of Port Augusta.

Augusta Tyre Reef
32 39.914S 137 45.879E

Stenhouse Bay tides
Pondalowie Bay tides
Browns Beach tides
Corny Point tides
Port Turton tides
Port Victoria tides
Port Hughes tides
Wallaroo tides
Port Broughton tides
Port Pirie tides
Port Augusta tides
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks
Browns Beach on Beachsafe
York Peninsula camp sites in Innes National Park
York Peninsula camp sites run by the council

NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in SA. More recently, new restrictions were announced following a destructive marine algal bloom … view them here.

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.

See Part Two of this article here.

Some great fishing can be had in the upper Gulf of St Vincent from Port Wakefield and south down the York Peninsula coast.

The mostly sandy shallows in the upper gulf have prolific seagrass meadows that are home to plenty of whiting, squid, flathead, gar and flounder, along with runs of blue crabs.

At the foot of the peninsula, places like Marion Bay have superb offshore fishing for samsonfish, kingfish, tuna and more.

Price

This community on the upper western Gulf of St Vincent has two creeks with mostly juvenile fish.

Launching by 2WD into Wills Creek is at high tide only if you don’t have 4WD.

Private (illegal) artificial reefs have been sunk in the upper gulf and these hold pink snapper in summer.

Ardrossan

This town is somewhat famous among fishos for its great fishing jetty, but it now also has a purpose-built “natural” artificial reef.

The 4ha reef is made of concrete reef balls, limestone, oyster shells and live native oysters.

Ardrossan has outstanding crabbing, along with squid, tommy ruff, gar and yellowfin whiting.

There are good all-tide boat launching facilities, and a hopper barge artificial reef 15km offshore holds snapper in summer.

Black Point

This holiday community is on a wide shallow bay, and being on the west side of the gulf the winds are offshore in summer.

The main catch in the shallow bay are yellowfin whiting, flathead, flounder, yellow-eye mullet, gar, squid and blue crabs.

There are snapper offshore, but finding ground, or someone’s private artificial reef, can be difficult.

Black Point launch site is exposed, and dries as the tide falls.

Nearby Port Julia has a small jetty that dries at low tide, and a basic launch site.

Squid are caught off the point at high tide, best in early mornings and late afternoons when the water is calm and clear.

Port Vincent

This small town has a marina that provides sheltered all-tide boat launching.

Unlike many gulf towns, there is no fishing jetty.

The attraction for boaters is Orontes Bank about 15km offshore, which produces king george whiting, gar, snapper and squid.

The whiting here are generally bigger than those in the far upper gulf.

There is a blue crab run in summer.

North Spit north of Port Vincent is a great low-tide location for blue crabs.

Garfish dabbing is best on a dark night (no moon).

Stansbury

The jetty produces king george whiting at the far end, and garfish, yellowfin whiting, tommy ruff, snook and squid.

There is a good summer run of blue crabs, usually raked around South Spit.

The boat ramp is excellent.

Along the coast north of Stansbury are excellent squidding grounds.

Wool Bay

There is a short jetty which produces mostly squid, gar and tommy ruff.

The launch site is poor and requires 4WD.

Port Giles

The long loading jetty here produced big snapper in years past.

Otherwise, tommy ruff, slimy mackerel, chow, trevally, squid and gar are the main catch.

The jetty is closed when grain is being loaded.

The rocks to the north are known to produce snapper, usually after a storm.

South of Port Giles, Salt Creek Bay at Coobowie has yellowfin whiting, mullet and flounder.

There is a tyre reef 3km off Giles Point.

Giles Tyre Reef approx 35 02.715S 137 47.483E

Edithburgh

The small jetty here punches above its weight, with tommy ruff, garfish, snook and squid. Night is best.

The boat ramp is adequate and king george whiting caught on nearby grounds are usually of a good size.

There is snapper and more at Troubridge Shoals, Tapley Shoal and Marion Reef for those with suitable boats.

Currents can be strong and fishing is best done at the turn of the tide.

Marion Bay

This large bay is under the “foot” of Yorke Peninsula near the entrance to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.

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

Marion Bay is not an ideal launch site however, being exposed, a single lane, poor at low tide and sometimes affected by weed.

A 4WD is needed to launch and retrieve.

There is a large marine sanctuary zone in this area but it includes a shore-based exclusion zone where fishing is permitted.

The long jetty fishes well for squid, gar, tommy ruff and mullet.

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

The worms found in the beached seaweed mounds are great bait for the mullet, but mince and cockle also works well.

Boaters who want to catch large king george whiting should launch here and go 25km east to Foul Bay.

Offshore grounds in this region produce huge whiting, samson, blue morwong, harlequin fish, yellowtail kingfish, trevally, snapper, nannygai, sharks and more.

Price tides
Ardrossan tides
Black Point tides
Port Vincent tides
Stansbury tides
Wool Bay tides
Port Giles tides
Edithburgh tides
Marion Bay tides
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

See Part Two of this article here.

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.