Cam replied:

Peter,
Save your time & energy. The fishing in WA is lousy. I wouldnt even bother going anywhere near the water with a rod. Just leave these sort of things to the locals who struggle day after day trying to catch a fish. See you where the big ones are ;-)

Lux replied:

G'day Pete , depending where you go fishin in the west mate, but a general set up with a flick rod and a surf rod will see you right anywhere around the coast and the rivers,,if you can let us know where you intend going I might be able suggest rigs and bait setups and what you might catch...I think Cams pulling ya leg.....Lux

Member - James replied:

Pete, I have been to WA several times and going there again next year. Compared to the Eastern states the land based fishing in WA is magic. Blue swimmer crabs for the taking around Busselton, big Tailor up around Geraldton and Carnarvon and big threadfin salmon around Port Hedland, 80 mile beach and under certain conditions Broome. At Port Smith between Port Hedland and Broome, almost any variety can be caught. The jetty at Broome, particularly near high tide, and particularly if that occurs after dark can also provide some excitements and breakoffs.

I would recommend a light beach rod, about 10', 15lb line, ganged 3.0 or single 3/0 hooks and pilchards (mulies) either whole on the ganged hooks or in pieces on single hooks. Find out what the locals are using in the way or rigs and bait. If the tailor and salmon are really on, you can get by using shiny lures. If I recall there is a bag limit of 5 for tailor, not sure of the limt for salmon.

Buy a small collapsible smoker, smoked tailor and/or salmon, either hot or cold is a joy to be experienced.

Some of the larger towns have charter boats and if you want some larger varieties like spanish mackeral, giant trevally and heaps of others, one or two trips on these boats could be most rewarding and certainly cheaper than buying your own boat.

Moneypit replied:

Peter,

A good starting point is www.fishingwa.com

Lots of great fishing and a dinghy is a big help but they are there to be caught all up and down the coast.

I'm up in the NW of WA and here mainly because of the fishing but most of what I do is boat based.

Problem with going off the beach is finding water for long enough given the 8 metre tidal differences.

Just remember that what you call pilchards we call mulies. Its a polony/devon, bathers/swimmers thing.

Dave