The time is near! The salmon are rounding the bend of the South-West and heading your way!
With the annual salmon migration around the West Australia Coast upon us and the Easter long weekend fast approaching, fishers can go into over drive and go to all extremes to target these fish, often overlooking simple steps to ensure a safe return at the end of the day.
‘Keep the sand between your toes’ as you round up the family and dog, head to a nearby beach and give it a shot at catching these fantastic sport fish.
Being part of a community of fishers on the beach, experiencing world class fishing whilst spending it with our families is part of our culture and although salmon are a superb sports fish, it’s not worth putting your life at risk when the salmon turn up Recfishwest Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Rowland says.
“With countless locations suitable for beach fishing along our coast, offering a variety of experiences depending on the adventure you seek, there’s no excuse to not put personal safety at the forefront of your mind,” Andrew said.
As we’ve seen in previous years, Salmon move in large schools and often track close to shore, hiding in the gutters along the beach awaiting smaller prey, making them accessible from our beaches for fishers of varying abilities and ages. It’s a great way to introduce youngsters to the sport, point out the silver flashes as they dart past and wait for the rod to buckle over.
Fishing is an experience in itself, whether you catch and keep your fish, or release them after the fight, just to be able to bring your fish onto the sand, hear the cheers from fellow fishers and take some snaps with the kids, makes for a memorable outing with the family. The great thing is, if the fish are there, often given away by birds flying over as they pick up remaining bait fish and fish hitting the surface as the salmon force their prey to the top; they are caught using just about any method! Baits, lures, fly’s, you name it, they’ll chase it.
For those seeking the action, the popular spots to fish are along the beaches and headlands of the south western coasts. The sheltered bays around Dunsborough are famous for their salmon fishing as the schools pass through, with Bunker Bay and Rocky Point the most consistent locations. Along the south coast, the mouth of the Warren River, Windy Harbour, Parry’s Beach, Bornholm, Nanarup, Cheynes Beach, Bremer Bay, Reef Beach and Fosters Beach are all fine salmon fishing locations.
If you want to let those tyres down on your 4wd, White Hills to Preston beach area, Cheynes Beach and Parry’s Beach are popular spots and there will be fish between the capes and Hamelin Bay, making it a great spot to check into the camp grounds nearby and spend the weekend with the kids. Sometimes you’ll find some of these spots quite secluded offering privacy, relaxation and the sense of ‘the perfect getaway’ for some. What more could you want then to drive along a beach, set up the camp chairs, stick a rod in a holder and wait for the school to arrive with great company.
If Salmon isn’t your thing, majority of these beaches also produce Skippy, Whiting, Herring, Samson fish, Bonito and more. Alternatively the rivers on the south coast can offer superb bream fishing, where you’ll find Herring, Skippy, whiting and Squid waiting for a lure to pass by in the estuaries.
Where ever you are and whatever you are targeting, make sure you speak to your local tackle store before heading out, to find a safe beach near you where you can target fantastic fish like Salmon.
Not knowing your surroundings can make it unsafe but also unenjoyable, so please check the weather, read the safety/warning signs, keep an eye out for potential hazards, wear appropriate clothing/footwear and always tell someone y our plans.
Still haven’t arranged your accommodation for this weekend yet? We’ve got you covered! Join us at the annual ‘Great Salmon Campout Event’ for the 24-15th March with offers the fishing weekend getaway that you need without the hassle of having to arrange it yourself.
Recfishwest offer the perfect timing and location to learn how to catch Salmon all jammed into one awesome weekend, where you don’t have to think! Accommodation at Cheynes Beach Caravan Park is inclusive with plenty of activities on offer to keep you and the family busy.
We know that fishing offers many benefits to us both mentally and physically, so why not throw the reef shoes in the car and head down for a cast. Registrations are filling up so please get in quick!
For those heading to Albany for the Easter Weekend, head into your local tackle stores to find our map of safe beach fishing locations, Salmon fishing tips and catch care tips. Free loan life jackets are also available from these stores.
Want to know our top 3 salmon lure picks? Find them here.
Bait fishing your preferred option? Read about salmon rigs and techniques here.
To keep up to date where the fish are biting, sign up for our FREE fishing reports here.
This is a Fishing Safety Message brought to you by Fish and Survive!
Once again this year, Albany’s popular Salmon Holes was the scene of a fantastic rock fishing safety initiative over Easter, with the Albany Offshore Boating and Fishing Club coordinating a safety stand at the popular fishing location. This year’s stand was an unprecedented success, offering fishers the chance to borrow life jackets (PFDs) for free and enabling volunteers to pass on the crucial messages regarding rock fishing safety to many inexperienced anglers.