As an ex-Londoner, I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned angler – far from it. Back home my fishing experience was zero, and even now I’d still put myself firmly in the “keen amateur” camp. But after a few days casting lines off the Kimberley coast, I get why fishing up here has such a pull.
Kuri Bay sits about 330km north of Broome, tucked inside the Lalang-Garram/Camden Sound Marine Park. Up until 2016, this stretch of coastline was inaccessible to most people – but now, you can hop on a Mallard Flying Plane or seaplane, cruising over Montgomery Reef on your way to a spot that still hosts one of Australia’s oldest working pearl farms. It’s the kind of place that feels a million miles from anywhere, and the perfect base for a few days of world-class fishing, good food, and that off-grid feeling the Kimberley does so well.
Casting Lines in a Biodiversity Hotspot
I spent four days at Kuri Bay doing exactly what I came for: fishing. Each morning we’d hop aboard the Saba San – which means “Miss Mackerel” – and head out into some of the most pristine waters I’ve seen. Bust-ups were happening left, right and centre, and we landed Spanish mackerel, golden trevally, tuna, mangrove jack, bluebone, queenies, coral trout — and even the elusive barra.
Peter Tucker (Tux), who runs Kuri Bay Sport Fishing, is a natural people person. He was endlessly patient with my questionable casting and taught me to master the trusty uni knot. When he wasn’t helping us land fish, he’d point out sea eagles overhead, turtles drifting by, or an eagle ray launching clean out of the water — no surprise then that the recent ABC The Kimberley documentary was filmed just nearby. We even spotted a couple of the hides used in the show.
There were just six of us on the trip, split between two boats — Tux skippered one, and his guide Sammy took the other half of the group each day. It made for a relaxed, personal experience, and meant we were always where the fish were biting.
If we ever hit a quiet patch, we’d reel in, have a quick breather, and Tux would have us hooked up again within minutes.
More Than Just Fishing
Even when the rods were bending, it was hard not to get distracted by the Kimberley itself. Some days we’d pull into a creek and have lunch under the shade — a chance to take a break and soak it all in. The sandstone cliffs around us would catch the light just right, glowing deep red in the afternoon sun. One afternoon a croc drifted by at a safe distance, quietly reminding us where we are.
For anyone keen on a break from the reels, Tux’s stories didn’t stop on the boat — he’d share tales about Camden Harbour, Kuri Bay and the surrounding islands while we were trolling, and happily swap rods for a bit of exploring too. One afternoon he took us to see ancient lava pipes, some estimated to be up to eight million years old — a real geological phenomenon. We even checked out dynamite holes in the rocks and old settlement sites, including a grave site on Sheep Island — all tied to the 1800s ‘Three Ships’ story. (If you’re into your history, look up There Were Three Ships by Christopher Richards.)
Life at the Bay
Back at camp, life was relaxed and comfortable. The rooms are simple but spot-on for where you are — a short walk to the bathroom (or an en suite if you booked a VIP room). The daily laundry run was a running joke; everyone laughed about actually getting their socks back, unlike at home (!).
Mornings meant waking to birdsong and the odd barking owl — and for early risers, a wander up to the lookout was well worth it, watching the sun spill across the bay before breakfast. After that, we’d head out for the day’s fishing before returning later in the afternoon to tawny nurse sharks circling the jetty — always a fun welcome back. Then it was up to our rooms for hot showers before gathering for drinks and a charcuterie board, swapping stories about the day’s catches and keeping an eye out for rock wallabies as the sun went down.
Once we’d all unwound, we’d wander down to the old Pearlers’ Mess Hall overlooking Kuri Bay for dinner — usually fresh sashimi and panko-crumbed fish we’d caught just hours earlier. It was pretty special to learn a bit about the bay’s pearling history while tucking in. Not exactly roughing it!
Why Fishing in the Kimberley is Worth It
It’s not hard to see why people fly in from all over the world — some chasing the notorious ‘blue bastard’ on fly (a real bucket-list catch for visiting American anglers), others soaking up glassy days on untouched water. Tux has plenty of repeat guests and I get it — the fishing really is world-class, but it’s everything else too: the wildlife, the scenery, the stories, and that sense you’re experiencing a part of Australia few get to see.
I might not have grown up fishing, but after a few days at Kuri Bay, I get the hype. If you’ve ever wondered what fishing in the Kimberley is really like — I can confirm, it’s every bit as pristine, remote and unforgettable as you’d hope.
