The Kimberley and Pilbara regions offer some of the best wilderness and adventure fishing experiences in Australia.
From ocean to lakes, creeks, mangroves and rivers - there are plenty of both freshwater and ocean fishing opportunities. Hire a boat, join a tour or fish from the land. It's your own fishing adventure!
Barramundi Fishing
Chasing the elusive Barramundi, or ‘Barra’, is a huge and thrilling challenge. Growing up to a massive two meters, ‘Barra’ are lazy predators - ambush feeders lurking around river mouths, submerged snags and rocky outcrops. The can be caught year-round, but odds are better during the warmer weather, when they swim upstream to spawn.
The waters around Dampier, Barred or Willie Creek, Broome Jetty and the Fitzroy River's deep pools are filled with Barra, as are the Lower Ord, Pentecost and Dunham Rivers around Kununurra.
Tides
The huge tidal range of up to 11 metres creates fantastic creek and river fishing for Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, Fingermark or just hunt for mud crabs.
Fishing Licences and Tours
You will need a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) for any fishing activity from a powered boat excluding on organised fishing boat charters or tours. For most land base fishing, a license is not required however for certain fishing equipment including some fishing nets a license may be required. For information on when a licence is required or to purchase your license check out the Fisheries website, or visit one of the many fishing stores in the Kimberley and Pilbara.
Fish for the Future
Australia’s North West has a pristine marine environment and an abundance of great fishing experiences. To help keep it that way, please follow the principles of Fish for the Future. Check out size and catch limits at the local visitor centre.
Fishing Safety Tips
- Take extra fuel, water, tools, basic spare parts and a first aid kit.
- Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return.
- Always stay with your vehicle or boat if something goes wrong.
- If you intend to venture off road, make sure your vehicle and trailer and suitable for the terrain and that you carry the necessary recovery and safety equipment.
- Carry an EPIRB or satellite phone, life jackets and sufficient food and water for those on board.
- Be Crocwise
- Clean fish away from camp and boat ramps, camp away from the water's edge and do not provoke crocodiles in any way.
- Be wary of box jellyfish and Irukandji, which inhabit northwest waters. The sting can cause extreme pain and can be life threatening. Always have vinegar in the boat for stings and seek medical advice if stung.
- Check tide charts before you head out - it's easy for boats to become stranded at low tow tide or to get caught out by the incoming tide if creek fishing.
Broome Fishing
There are plenty of land-based fishing spots in and around Broome which you can visit without being on a tour including - Roebuck Bay, Crab Creek, Broome Jetty, Entrance Point, and Gantheaume Point. If you'd prefer a tour - Absolute Ocean Charters based in Broome offer ocean, creek and mangrove fishing tours and private charters.
About an hour and half drive from Broome, Eco Beach Resort offer unique walk-in or heli-fishing creek fishing experiences . For the more adventurous, hire a 4WD and make your way up the Dampier Peninsula with spectacular land-based fishing locations including at Willie Creek and Kooljaman Resort.
Heli-Fishing Tours
Catch the elusive barramundi in some of the Kimberley's most remote fishing spots!
Kimberley Fishing
Adventuring through the Kimberley, the coastline, the many lakes, rivers and creeks offer sensational fishing experiences. Explore the region yourself or join a fishing tour for a truly memorable experience in some of Australia's most remote lands.
Pilbara Fishing
Check out Dampier, Point Samson, Cossack, Onslow, Mackerel Islands and Cowrie Cove for some of the Pilbara's best fishing locations. The Pilbara is a hotspot for bluebone fish, barramundi, whiting, crabs and squid.