Exmouth Game Fishing Club has had around 150 gamefish records in state, national and international categories, covering 28 species, which demonstrates the fishing quality in this region.
The town sits on a peninsula that forms borders Exmouth Gulf, with Ningaloo Reef to the west of the peninsula, extending south along the coast.
Despite the lack of significant rivers, Exmouth offers huge variety, from sight fishing clear, sandy flats inside reef lagoons, to deep-sea trolling for blue, black and striped marlin over the Continental Shelf, and coral reef fishing.
The eastern gulf flats offer different habitat again, with extensive mangrove and mudflat shallows that hold cod, trevally, threadfin salmon, queenfish and mud crabs, along with occasional barramundi.
The western gulf, from about Learmonth north, produces tropical reef fish and temperate species such as tailor and pink snapper.
The Continental Shelf is at its closest point to the Australian mainland on the north-west end of Exmouth Peninsula.
This is perhaps Western Australia’s prime billfish area, with the big three marlin species, broadbill swordfish and sailfish all taken.
Exmouth has good boating facilities, with a big marina and protected boat ramp.
There are sealed ramps at Bundegi, north of Exmouth, and Tantabiddi, on the ocean side of the peninsula.
Boats open this area up, but there is plenty of scope for shore-based fishing, with the marine rock walls a great place to start.
How to fish Exmouth
Known billfish grounds include the drop-off directly out from Tantabiddi boat ramp northwards, and offshore from the Muiron Islands.
Sailfish, dolphin fish, cobia, wahoo, spanish mackerel and tuna are also encountered in these areas.
Good reef fishing is had around North West Cape.
Dinghy anglers can catch spangled emperor, coral trout, Charlie Courts and tuskfish, as well as pelagic fish.
A larger trailerboat gives access to deeper water with red emperor, rankin cod, jobfish, chinaman, pearl perch and more.
The pearl perch is like a smaller version of WA’s temperate water dhufish.
North West Cape’s oyster rocks are a well-known haunt of oversize trevally. These are taken on poppers near sunrise and sunset.
Queenfish, trevally and permit are caught in the reef lagoons using sight-fishing methods.
The small “Charlie Court” cod is popular with Exmouth visitors because of its abundance near shore, and its eating quality.
Dinghy anglers generally target inshore reefs from Bundegi to Point Murat. Even here, humpback whales give the odd scare as they surface in close.
Further offshore, on a series of sand ridges, sailfish are found.
The sailfish are usually chasing bait schools entering and leaving the gulf with the tides.
The Muiron Island area is popular with the local charter boats, targeting both reef and pelagic fish.
Note the many sanctuary zones of Ningaloo Marine Park.
North of the gulf the Ashburton River near Onslow is regarded as the southern limit of the barramundi’s range, it is perhaps fish from this river that are found on occasion in the eastern gulf in summer.
The southern gulf has been traditionally accessed by fishermen through Giralia Station, which had accommodation and camping for a fee. The station was acquired by the WA Government in 2022, with a national park and associated marine park planned for the region. See news stories here and here.
Exmouth township has hotels/motels, caravan parks and camp sites, and there are station stays and park stays to the south along the Ningaloo Reef coast.
Diving and snorkelling is popular in this area because of the clear water and spectacular coral reefs.
Giant whale sharks and manta rays regularly visit.
Weather & tides
Exmouth tides are small, to around 2.45m movement.
Like much of WA there can be a powerful afternoon sea breeze.
Summer may bring cyclones that travel south-west down the coast from the tropical north.
Exmouth tides
WA fishing regulations
Ningaloo Marine Park
WA marine parks
Return to WA Fishing Map
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