Fishing Information

No matter the season in Broome there are plenty of fish to challenge even the most weathered of fishermen.

To maintain this abundance, please refer to the bag and size limits and additional fishing regulations stipulated by the Fisheries Department (WA). These regulations are designed to ensure that fish stocks will remain plentiful into the future.

November fishing around Broome

 

 

Dry Season Fishing

From around May the dry season is taking hold and the easterlies are starting to blow. Threadfin Salmon are the go; not only are they a great fighting fish, they taste bloomin’ marvellous. They can be caught on the incoming tide off Cable Beach and at the creek mouths on and after high tide. Try them on live bait or brightly coloured lures that are visible in the murky waters.

Before long the easterlies will well and truly establish and in the morning you’ll find it pretty rough going off shore. If you’re stuck on the beach, try for Queenfish or Trevally (cast slices or poppers). Alternatively you can try for Threadfin Salmon and Mangrove Jack in the creeks.

As the easterlies ease off in the afternoon try your luck at with a bit of reef fishing around Disaster Rock or Gantheume Point. If you’re after a plate fish, Blue Bone Groper, Northwest Snapper, Red Emperor and Spanish Flags will keep you happy. Edible wise, you might want to think twice about cobbler and catfish! Be warned, steer clear of the catfish’s spines on the back of the dorsel fin and at the base of the gills.

Offshore/pelagic species at this time of the year include, the very tasty, Spanish Mackerel and Long-tail Bluefin Tuna. Tuna are probably best spotted by keeping an eye on birds such as boobies and terns hovering in the skies above hoping to spot the small bait fish sought by the tuna. Boat up to the school and cast your lure in front. Mackrel will go for a floating bait such as a pilch.

Wet Season Fishing

Rougher conditions and on shore winds in the wet season (October to April) mean that fishing is focused on protected areas such as within Roebuck Bay and in Dampier and Crab Creek.

For many, wet season fishing all about the elusive, fast moving and very jumpy Barramundi (Barra). Although Barra are around all year, in dry season when the waters are colder, they are much harder to find. Barra inhabit a variety of habitats, from creeks to estuaries to open waters, hence a variety of fishing techniques can be applied and for that matter, a variety of bait types.

Try for a Barra at Willie Creek or Barred Creek north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsular. A bit further out of town (on the way to Derby), the Fitzroy River is a popular Barra fishing spot. Langi Crossing, Snag Pool and Willams Pool on the Fitzroy River can be accessed through Yeeda Station. Keep in mind the pastoral lease protocol (see below) when travelling on pastoral leases.

There’s a good reason why 55cm is the minimum catch size and 80cm is the maximum catch size. Barra, which all begin life as male fish, take about 3 years to reach maturity (55cm). At around 5 or 6 years of age, the sex changes to female (yes, really!). At this time, the fish is approximately 80cm in length. So, to protect future fish stocks, all female Barramundi are protected. Those caught that are longer than 80cm, must be released. To ensure a successful release, do not hold the fish by the mouth or gills (this will kill them) and return them to the water as fast as possible.

If Barra aren’t your thing, try for a Giant Trevally at the end of the wet season, perhaps a Mangrove Jack or a bit of crabbing…

If a cyclone is slowing down your style, perhaps a few drinks and a fish tale or two will pass the time suitably…

Crocodile Safety Salt and freshwater crocodiles are present at many locations in the Kimberley Region. Be crocodile aware. Saltwater crocodiles ARE DANGEROUS. Despite their title they can also be found in fresh water. So keep a few things in mind if you are fishing in crocodile country (if you don’t know, assume you are): Do not swim or wade in water, or stand in or near the water to fish. Do not dangle arms and legs over the sides of a boat Do not clean fish from you boat. On shore, clean fish well away from the water’s edge Do not camp near the water’s edge Do not let pets near the water’s edge Do not ‘routinely’ perform any task at the water’s edge And remember: in the Kimberley, all crocodiles are protected species.

Pastoral lease protocol If you are fishing on, or travelling across, a pastoral lease, be sure to adhere to pastoral lease access rules: Request permission from the homestead Leave gates and fences as you find them Do not light fires Take your rubbish with you Leave the waterholes, tanks and troughs to the cattle – take your own water supplies. Do not take dogs or firearms onto the property without the leaseholder’s permission.

Your Safety & the Environment If in doubt, don’t go out! Let someone reliable know where you are going and when to expect you to return. Travel in pairs on any gravel or muddy roads. A quick shower of rain can turn normally good roads into a quagmire. Please be cautious when heading out in the boat as we can expect some strong Westerly winds during that can really turn the water into a washing machine and put boaters and anglers at risk. Log your journey with Broome Sea Rescue – These voluteers do a great job of looking after marine safety. The wind around Broome can blow your plastic bags into the water easily and they can easily kill the resident turtles. Stow all rubbish or better still wrap bait in newspaper. Stow any tangled or excess fishing line as entaglement with fishing line and tackle is a big killer of bird life in Broome and Australia. From the 1 April 2008, every skipper of a registrable recreational vessel powered by a motor greater than 4.5kwp is be required to hold a Recreational Skipper’s Ticket. For additional information on recreational boating and safety, visit the Department of Planning andInfrastructure(WA) website.