Shark Bay is a vast area of shallow seagrass beds, sandy beaches, clear water and abundant marine life.
The area is best known for its pink snapper, which can be caught off the beaches, but boat-based fishing is more productive.
Sand whiting, squid and blue crabs are other highlights.
Much of the area is easily fished by cartopper boat or canoe, with beach launching easy enough for portable boats in many areas.
Concrete boat ramps are at the township of Denham and nearby tourist stop Monkey Mia, and further north at Carnarvon.
Many fishos stay at Tamala Station’s coastal camps, while others camp at Shelter Bay near famous Steep Point at the entrance to the bay.
The marine habitat throughout is mostly sandflats, intersected by shallow channels, with vast seagrass beds.
There is coral and rocky reef in some areas, most extensive in the northern region, but can also be found off some beaches and headlands.
There are 12 types of seagrass in the bay and the ecosystem supports about 12,000 dugongs, many turtles and a healthy fish and crab population, as well as many tiger sharks.
The area is a marine park with some no-fishing zones and special regulations governing the taking of Shark Bay pink snapper.
Shark Bay snapper don’t intermix with pink snapper stocks outside the bay.
The bay’s unique snapper stock was overfished in years past but has recovered with strict management, be sure to check the WA Fisheries website for the specific Shark Bay rules.
Other fish caught include flathead, garfish, tailor, mackerel, trevally, queenfish and mulloway.
Sharks are ever-present, including big tiger sharks.
Blue crabs are seasonally abundant.
The local emperor are called black snapper or piggies. These and tuskfish (bluebone) are found on the shallow reefs, with red emperor, snapper, dhufish, spanish mackerel and more caught outside the bays.
Ocean access is gained by launching from the beach inside Steep Point at Shelter Bay and travelling through the passage, or launching at other sites within the bay and travelling the extra distance.
The town of Carnarvon can be used to access the northern bay waters.
A ferry is available to Dirk Hartog Island. Carnarvon has a tackle shop and at the time of writing a new artificial reef was to be installed, however the old jetty, famous for its black jewfish, had been wrecked by a cyclone.
The best boating time in Shark Bay is between June and October, when winds are lighter and temperatures milder. Strong winds blow in summer.
Steep Point and False Entrance are renowned landbased fishing spots at the entrance to the bay near the southern end of Dirk Hartog Island.
Schools of large silver drummer can be seen swimming around Shelter Bay, and there are reef fish and more off the nearby sandspit.
Steep Point itself can produce anything, including cobia, yellowtail kingfish, big tailor, sailfish, tuna and reef fish, but spanish mackerel are the main catch.
Campsite bookings must be done well in advance for Steep Point and Shelter Bay, book a site here.
Bait, lures & tackle
If fishing from a boat relatively light gear can be used within the bays, as the snapper are usually small to medium sized.
The sand whiting are not large by more southerly standards but are still well worth catching, and are best targeted with “finesse” style spinning gear and fresh bait.
Tiny soft plastic lures and poppers will also take whiting.
Squid are usually readily available and make good bait for snapper. They can be taken on baited or artificial jigs.
Of the packet baits, prawns, bluebait, whitebait and pilchards work well on most of the local fish species.
Pilchards presented on ganged hooks work well around the rocks and shallow reefs for tailor.
Paternoster rigs are standard fare when beach and boat fishing, as they help keep baits above the weeds. Use star sinkers and small long-shank hooks.
For Steep Point landbased fishing, specialist rock fishing gear is needed. Balloon fishing is popular when chasing spanish mackerel, and drop gaffs are needed to land big fish as the platform is high from the water.
Weather & tides
Shark Bay tides are relatively small.
Like much of WA there can be a strong afternoon sea breeze.
The best boating time is between June and October, when winds are lighter and temperatures milder. Strong winds blow in summer.
Mackerel fishing is seasonal, but fish can be caught all year at Steep Point.
Special features summary
Pink snapper are caught from shore.
The shallow inner parts of Shark Bay produce many tasty sand whiting and squid.
Reef fish such as bluebone and emperor are caught from shore in surprisingly shallow water around any rock patches, although these fish are generally small.
Pink snapper are in good numbers after being over-fished years ago.
Strict snapper fishing rules apply to prevent over-fishing.
Landbased fishing at Steep Point is world class but specialist gear.
Shark Bay tides
Book camping at Steep Point or Shelter Bay
WA fishing regulations
Shark Bay Marine Park
Shark Bay Federal Marine Reserves
WA marine parks
Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.
