Fishing Spots in SA

Port Lincoln is a major commercial centre for the Eyre Peninsula and a popular destination for visitors. It is also renowned as the Great White Shark capital of the world. These magnificent eating machines were heavily targeted in the mid twentieth century and a world record 1,208 kilo Great White was caught on a rod and reel by Alf Dean in 1959. Today, Great White Sharks are a totally protected species.

Fishing Spots

There are plenty of excellent fishing spots in and around Port Lincoln and many of which are in relatively safe and protected waters. The town jetty and main wharf can offer some great fishing all year round. Catches include salmon, king george whiting and yellowfin whiting, herring, snook and squid. The main wharf is very deep and you never know what fish you’re going to land. Tuna and trevally are some of the fish sought after from the main wharf.

Kangaroo Island is the third largest island in Australia. It is 112kms southwest of Adelaide and 13kms offshore from Cape Jervis. The island is 150kms long and 57kms at its widest point with an area covering around 4,405 square kilometers. The island is free from foxes and rabbits, and has a quarter of its land mass dedicated to protected areas, therefore making the island one of the most un-spoilt refuges in Australia.

Fishing Spots

Kangaroo Island offers plenty of fishing opportunities from its numerous beaches, rivers, jetties and bays. One of the popular spots is Kingscote which has one of the few jetties that yield consistent numbers of king george whiting, tommy ruff (herring), big snook, trevally and squid. Bream can be landed from Cygnet River which is south of Kingscote. Bay of Shoals is a protected inlet that is abound with whiting, Australian salmon and flathead. There is a nice jetty at Vivonne Bay where you can land trevally and mackerel, whilst salmon and flathead can be caught on the reefs. West Bay on the western tip of Kangaroo Island can provide catches of groper, rock cod and big snapper from the rocks.

Innes National Park is on the southwest tip of Yorke Peninsula and is the largest area of native vegetation remaining on the Peninsula. The western coastline of Innes NP and beyond from West Cape to Daly Head is reputable for the best fishing spots in Spencer Gulf.

Fishing Spots

The coastline is made up of a myriad of rock and beaches with some nice sheltered bays. One of these protected bays is Pondalowie Bay which provides some good fishing on its beaches where you can target flounder, flathead, whiting and salmon. Browns Beach has a nice reef along its entire length and is reputed to yield good salmon catches in winter and good-sized trevally in summer. The beach to the south end which is reached by track from Browns Beach may hold mulloway, salmon and sharks in its depths. If you are targeting around the submerged rocks on either end, you may be lucky enough to hook a snapper.

As the Murray River heads towards the sea, it enters Lake Alexandria and from there divides into five channels leading towards the Murray Mouth which is an opening to the Southern Ocean. The waters either enter the Southern Ocean or mix with the waters of the Coorong which is a coastal lagoon about 2 to 3kms wide and is around 140kms long.

Fishing Spots

The Murray Mouth is a unique place because the shoreline can drastically change overnight depending on tidal movements and wind. The area can be accessed by 4WD by driving along the beach from Goolwa Beach or from one of the southern access points such as Tea Tree Crossing near Salt Creek.

The Murray Mouth area is renowned for its monster Mulloway fishing. When the Murray River levels need to be lowered, there is a great phenomenon that happens when the freshwater barrage that contains the Murray Basin is opened. The outflow of dead fish and organisms attract huge schools of Mulloway waiting just outside the Murray Mouth for a feeding frenzy. During this time is when anglers from all parts line the shores for a chance to land a big Mulloway - known to reach 40kgs.

During the summer months (November to the end of January), Mulloway make their breeding migration into the Coorong. When the surf is calm, good results can be obtained by wading out and luring or bait casting beyond the breakers. You could also fish inside the Coorong and expect fair results at dusk and throughout the night.