Some of Australia’s biggest mulloway come from the wild ocean beaches of the Nullabor.
Yalata Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) has natural dune camping areas adjacent to 40km of arguably the best remote surf fishing beaches in Australia.
There is also public access at the eastern end of this coastline outside the Yalata IPA.
This is a truly remote 4WD location, being about 980km from Adelaide to Yalata Roadhouse and about another 50km from the highway to the surf beach, some of it over soft sand tracks.
The months either side of Christmas are good for mulloway, with the best results had fishing big tides of the full and new moons.
Use fresh or live bait and strong tackle that will handle large mulloway.
Daytime fishing at high tide can work, with less chance of hooking sharks and rays than at night.
Salmon are caught in winter, and snapper and tailor visit the area.
Lure fishing is always an option as the water is clear.
Shark fishermen will be kept busy.
Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation offers 15 unique campsites, spread 40km along Yalata coastline. Each campsite is different, ranging from 100m to 900m from the beach and with several marked entry points allowing vehicle/ATV access directly onto the beach.
Strict camping conditions apply, and the possession of alcohol is prohibited.
Breaking the rules can result in removal from the site and a permanent ban.
Entry is allowed when a booking has been confirmed for the named guests on the permit.
The camping fee is $30 per person per night, with no concession options available.
This is not an area to be taken lightly because of its remoteness, but the potential rewards are great.
There is no mobile phone coverage.
Visitors need 4WD vehicles with recovery gear, and must be self-sufficient. A compressor to reflate tyres after sand driving is essential.
Campers must bring enough fresh water to allow for breakdown or sand bogging. Campers should also bring bring shade and refrigeration.
The campsites are positioned close to good fishing gutters, which minimises the need to travel.
Access to more distant gutters can be done with a 4WD or quad bike, keeping in mind that if bogged you are in a remote area and may need to self-recover the vehicle.
A Yalata spokesman said the fishery was being managed for sustainable development, with catch and release strongly encouraged.
Two marine sanctuary areas apply to landbased fishos, as well as no-go zones for boaters – the no-go zone is much larger from May 1 to October 31 each year.
Visit the website www.environment.sa.gov.au/marineparks/About/zones/far-west-coast for details.
Yalata bookings can be made through www.yalata.com.au with pre-payment by credit card.
The public access area outside Yalata IPA is at Dog Fence Beach and further east towards Fowlers Bay.
Yalata Beach is off limits. Access to Dog Fence Beach is via Nallanippi Road.
Entering via Dog Fence crossing is deemed trespassing.
Yalata campsite maps, from west to east …
Hilton
Bob’s Kitchen
Jaxson’s
Geues
Tjitji-Tjutaku
Coombra
Granites
Eucla (WA) tides
SA fishing regulations
SA marine parks
Yalata regional beaches at Beachsafe
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Some external videos filmed around Yalata are featured below.
