Dirk Hartog Island lies north of Steep Point, forming part of a north-south land barrier that creates Shark Bay.
The island is serviced by an airstrip and a single-car ferry across South West Passage.
Vehicle numbers on the island are capped.
The island has a homestead, six camping areas and limited upmarket accommodation.
At Dirk Hartog you must be self-sufficient. There is no drinking water.
Self-recovery is the only way if travelling alone and a satellite phone is a good idea.
The Overlander roadhouse 200km south of Carnarvon is the last fuel stop before heading to Steep Point.
It is about 41km to the turn-off to Useless Loop, then 170km to Steep Point. The barge picks you up from Shelter Bay in the morning.
Visit www.dirkhartogisland.com for more information.
How to fish Dirk Hartog
Depending on conditions, there is excellent fishing for everything from spanish flag to pink snapper, with huge popper-smashing tailor and spanish mackerel.
Urchin Point, 5km south of Cape Inscription, is a good platform in the right conditions.
It is a shallow reef with a rocky outcrop. There is a shack 30m from the beach.
Turtle Bay is beneath the lighthouse at Cape Inscription. The bay is accessed via a steep track that winds down loose sandy cliffs to a sheltered beach interspersed with reefs. There are countless fish.
Fishing with bait from the beach usually results in a feed of fish.
The Aquarium is about 20 minutes from Urchin Point via a track through tight scrub over some sharp rocks and diff-banging ledges. Expect reef fish and snapper to 6kg+.
Best results here are achieved drifting pillies down the cliff edges.
50 Cent Reef is a shallow reef washed by huge waves. Casting soft plastics produces smaller tailor and unstoppable runs by unseen bigger fish in water less than 1m deep.
Any of the island’s beaches can produce fish, especially those ending at headlands. The shallow bays inside the island have blue swimmer crabs.
Bait & Tackle
Take a cliff gaff and heaps of terminal tackle.
Take poppers and wire traces.
You’ll need long-life baits or frozen pillies if you have a freezer.
High-speed spinning reels on 3m rods are good for slugs and poppers, with longer rods for bait fishing the surf. Take a 15kg outfit for ballooning for pelagic species.
Shark Bay tides
Book camping or accommodation at Dirk Hartog Island
WA fishing regulations
Shark Bay Marine Park
Shark Bay federal marine reserves
WA marine parks
Return to WA Fishing Map
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