The coastline immediately north of Adelaide forms the upper Gulf of St Vincent.

These relatively protected waters have shallow low-energy beaches and mudflats.

The sand and seagrass beds host a range of bread and butter fish, but the seasonal run of blue swimmer crabs is the big attraction for many fishos.

These are caught mostly by raking.

St Kilda

This town is at northern end of the Port River and is a well-recognised fish nursery.

It is reached from Port Wakefield Rd.

Bream, yellowfin whiting, mullet, salmon trout and blue swimmer crabs are the main catch, and despite being a shallow area, large snapper were caught here in years past.

St Kilda boat ramp gives access to Adelaide’s northern grounds.

A large rock wall is located between St Kilda and Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserve and Barker Inlet Aquatic Reserve.

Port Parham

North of St Kilda, the shallow coast continues and is a mecca for crabbers.

Access points include Middle Beach, Thompson Beach, Port Parham and Webb Beach.

Crab raking is the usual method of capture and bag limit catches are not uncommon.

Fishermen will also find quality yellowfin whiting in summer, flathead, squid and flounder.

Port Wakefield

Port Wakefield is located at the top of the Gulf of St Vincent.

The shallow waters have mainly whiting, garfish, flathead, snook, tommy ruffs and squid.

The boat ramp is in a creek that requires some tide for easy entry.

There are snapper in summer, including some big ones, but finding structure is hard.

Blue crabs are abundant in summer, with the biggest crabs taken in March.

There is a large marine sanctuary wide of Port Wakefield.

Quality yellowfin whiting can be caught on the rising tide, but king george whiting caught in the upper Gulf are often small.

St Kilda tides
Port Parham tides
Port Wakefield tides
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks

NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in South Australia – more info here.

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