NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in SA. More recently, new restrictions were announced following a destructive marine algal bloom … view them here.
Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide, has an exceptional fishing jetty.
This is an important platform for Adelaide fishermen because the area inside the long reef at the jetty’s end holds salmon schools.
Schools of salmon often come inside the reef during heavy weather in winter.
But the salmon also show up at other times.
Bait and lures work, and the fishing is frantic when salmon are on.
Juvenile salmon, locally called salmon trout, are caught throughout the year.
The jetty is also popular with squid fishermen.
Less well known is that the jetty and nearby beaches produce yelloweye mullet during the annual autumn run.
Yelloweye mullet take small meat baits, including cockle, prawn and minced red meat.
Occasional snapper, silver trevally, zebra fish, mulloway, kingfish, sweep, rays and sharks are caught at the jetty from time to time, but salmon are the main catch.
Divers report 50 species of fish can be found around the reef, which is a marine sanctuary. No fishing is allowed within the sanctuary but line fishing is permitted from local beaches and most of the jetty, and also within the nearby Onkaparinga River, a bream hotspot.
There is a raised coastal walkway called the Witton Bluff Base Trail that runs north along the rocks from near the jetty. At high tide some of the rocks along this walkway drop into deep water, a likely spot for chasing mulloway and more. Nimble fishos could hop over the railing at several locations to access the rocks, but check the latest by-laws first, which are likely to evolve. The walkway was still being built when we checked it out, and it remains to be seen if an access gate will be built for fishermen to walk onto the rocks.
Here is a list of recommended tackle for SA waters.
Here is the SA seasonal fishing calendar for various fish species.
A reminder that special snapper rules apply in SA, and new restrictions were announced following a destructive marine algal bloom ... view details here.
Onkaparinga River mouth tides
South Port (Onkaparinga mouth) on Beachsafe
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks
SA stocked dams
SA dam water levels
Murray River fishing spots
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