Browse through the fact sheets featuring some of our favourite WA fish species to discover heaps of info including where you can find them and our best tips on how to fish for each species.
Fishing for Science
Species fact sheets
Catch and release: essential practices
Advice on fishing and handling sportfish species to ensure their safe release back into the ocean.
Barcheek coral trout
RFW Top Tip: Use heavy leader and drag as they will cut you off on reef if given a chance!
Black marlin
RFW Top Tip: Look for bait schools on your echo sounder, as marlin will often be close by.
Blackspot tuskfish
RFW Top Tip: Blackspot tuskfish cannot resist an unweighted crab bait but make sure you use a heavy leader as they are renowned for their power and wrapping your line around sharp reef.
Cobia
RFW Top Tip: It’s common to find cobia swimming on the backs of manta rays and large sharks. Keep your eyes peeled and always have a lure ready.
Golden trevally
RFW Top Tip: Golden trevally will often be found on sand flats trailing sharks and rays. They feed on the small crustaceans being disturbed by the movement of the larger species.
Red emperor
RFW Top Tip: Use heavy gear to increase your chances of getting them past the sharks.
Sailfish
RFW Top Tip: Focusing effort around the weeks on either side of new and full moons, looking for diving birds on bait balls and trolling skipping teasers are highly effective ways of increasing your chances of finding this fish.
Spanish mackerel
RFW Top Tip: Spanish mackerel are famous for being twilight feeders so focus your effort around sunrise and sunset for your best chance at catching one.