fbpx

Best Fishing Spots in Bremer Bay + Tips for a Great Catch

Fishing reel placed with the ocean in the background

Is Bremer Bay worth the visit?

Bremer Bay, located in the great southern region of Western Australia is nestled in a small coastal town bounded by the Southern Ocean. It is located two hours east of Albany and four hours west of Esperance. You can also reach Bremer in about seven hours as the crow flies from Perth city. The town is part of The Great Southern Treasures.

Considered a small coastal town, Bremer Bay is a small fishing community of 211 people, although these days it is mainly sustained by tourism. In the summer months the population can swell to over 10,000. It is home to incredible beaches and stunning wildlife, including migrating southern right whales, humpback and killer whales. The pristine waters in and around Bremer provide a food source for a range of fish species and depending on how you like to fish we will give you an idea of where to fish whilst in Bremer. Bremer Bay is not limited to fishing though. There is a range of activities to be enjoyed here and are not limited to swimming, surfing, snorkelling, walking and beach combing. Or you may prefer to four wheel drive, camp or go whale watching.

Is Bremer Bay good for fishing?

There is no doubt that fishing is great in Bremer Bay. With numerous places to visit and types of fish you can catch, fishing here, is second to none. There are a number of methods for fishing, the most common is by boat followed by beach and shore via the estuary and river.

Bremer Bay Boat Harbour

Bremer Boat Fishing

Offshore fishing is a popular past time in this coastal town. The town has a dedicated launch ramp located at the Bremer Bay Boat Harbour on Fishery Beach. It is located in a sheltered cove that is popular for swimming, boating and fishing. Catches include dhufish, skippy, red snapper, breaksea cod, pink snapper, queen snapper and king george whiting. Deep sea fishing catches also include southern bluefin tuna, bonito, salmon and yellowtail kingfish.

Bremer Beach Fishing

Keep in mind that the Bremer Marine Park is located close to this region and fishing is not allowed in this area. Beach fishing is suitable for those with a surf rod and reel with a variety of lures and baits as a good option. Using a lighter rod for targeting herring or whiting will ensure a good catch.

At times the southern ocean conditions can make for a difficult cast but the best part is there are a number of beaches located throughout the Bremer area. Finding sheltered places is a good idea during these times to allow a good cast and catch.

East of Bremer you can find Trigelow Beach, House Beach and Peppermint Beach which only have 4WD access. East to south east of bremer is Main Beach which can be accessed by 4WD or you can park and walk. Back Beach is a great 4WD drive or you can also park and walk.

Beach Fishing Spots

Bremer Bay Boat Harbour

You can easily access Bremer Bay Boat Harbour by car via a sealed road, followed by a short walk from the car park to the beach. Wheelchair access is also available. The jetty is a popular fishing spot, with catches including herring, skippy, whiting, squid (especially in the evenings), and seasonal blue swimmer crabs.

Short Beach

To reach Short Beach, drive out of Bremer Bay along Wellstead Road. Turn onto Point Henry Road, then follow Short Beach Road to the car park. From there, it’s a brief walk to the beach. Anglers often catch salmon, herring, and skippy here.

Banky Beach

Banky Beach stretches 350 metres, nestled between two headlands rising 40 metres high. Behind the beach, steep, active dune-capped scarps reach 20–30 metres. You can drive to the top of the bluff, but expect a challenging climb down to the beach. Known for its strong permanent rips, Banky Beach is considered highly hazardous.

Dillon Bay

Dillon Bay faces south-southeast, curving around for 6.7 kilometres within the main bay. It offers excellent fishing opportunities for Australian salmon, herring, skippy, and whiting. Nearby beaches like Native Dog and Blossoms Beach are also accessible by car, followed by a short walk. Be cautious at Native Dog Beach due to its dangerous currents. Even though surfers venture out the back, swimming here is not recommended.

Little Boat Harbour

Located on the north side of Point Henry, Little Boat Harbour features a 100-metre-long beach facing northwest into the bay. The point’s natural protection results in gentle waves. You can drive to the eastern end of the beach, which is commonly used to launch small fishing boats. Thanks to the sea wrack meadows, squid can often be caught here using jigs from a kayak.

Rock Fishing Safety

Rock fishing along this coast is dangerous. For your safety, you can borrow free life jackets from Bremer Bay Hardware, located at 144 Wellstead Road. When rock fishing, use a sturdy rod and reel with heavy line and tackle to handle challenging conditions.

Fosters Beach

Fosters Beach is one of the most dynamic beaches on the south coast, stretching 6.5 kilometres and directly facing powerful southwest waves that average over 2 metres. Access requires a high-clearance 4WD due to challenging terrain. The Minarup Road 4WD track leads to the beach’s western end, where you’ll find a solitary fishing shack. Here, anglers catch seasonal salmon, herring, shark, skippy, and silver bream. Blue groper can also be caught from the rocks using crab as bait.

Reef Beach

Reef Beach features a rugged rock platform with cliffs plunging into deep waters, ideal for catching salmon, pink snapper, and mulloway at night. Spanning 8.4 kilometres, this exposed, high-energy beach also faces the southwest. Access is possible via the eastern Warramurrup Road or the rough western Reef Beach Road, which ends at a small fishing camp and informal camping area.

Explore these breathtaking Bremer Bay beaches with caution and enjoy the diverse fishing experiences they offer.

Estuary, River Fishing & Inlet Fishing

There are a number of accessible estuaries throughout Bremer Bay. Fishing is accessible in places with tracks usually available to the edges. Checking Google maps can also be a great help if you have good phone reception. For estuary fishing, a lighter rod and reel with smaller lures and baits is more suitable.

Wellstead Estuary is located near Bremer Bay Caravan Park and is not always open to the southern ocean due to a sandbank across the mouth. The estuary is shallow at 1m deep in most places but fishing with lures, poppers and bait can reveal bream and herring. When the sandbar breaks there is good fishing for Mulloway. Other frequented fishing spots include Gordon Inlet which is best fished on using a kayak or rooftop boat where you may catch a bream. Beaufort/Pallinup Estuary where you can fish upstream for black bream using bait or soft plastics.

Salmon Fishing

Salmon fishing in the open ocean

Why not try salmon fishing? Seasonally, most beaches along the shores of Bremer Bay are great places to fish during March to May. Our beach and boat fishing guide above will tell you where best to go.

Cleaning your fish:

It is not recommended to dispose of fish offal in any rubbish bins around town but there are two fish cleaning stations located at the marina and in town.

Using Fresh Bait: Bait commonly used include mulies, herring, whitebait, and pilchards. You can buy fresh bait from Beaches kiosk (pilchards, coral prawns or squid)- or the General Store on Mary Street.

Sustainable Recreational Fishing

A man catching a Marlin during a fishing trip

A good guide to sustainable fishing means doing the right thing. Good advice includes only take your fair share – size and possession limits are there to protect fishing stocks. Always use approved fishing methods, remove your waste, measure your catch, release fish properly. Check for fishing equipment regulations and if you require a license by using the fish.wa.gov.au website.

Killer Whales in the Bremer Canyon?

Bremer Bay Killer Whales

Naturaliste Charters take tours from December to April out to the Bremer Canyon located 70 kilometres off the Bremer Coast. The orca are thought to breed here during the season so sighting calves here is quite common. The family pods feed and socialise throughout the canyon ‘hotspot’, surfing waves and hunting their meals. Bremer Canyon is rich in micro nutrients so is also a feeding ground to many different pelagic species and birds.

More Articles For You

Naturaliste Charters Killer Whale Expedition Highlights: January 20-26

Naturaliste Charters Killer Whale Expedition Highlights: January 20-26

Weekly Orca Highlights: 20–26 January 2025Our Weekly Highlights from January 20 to 26 This week at the Bremer Canyon delivered an incredible mix of...

Read more
Naturaliste Charters Killer Whale Expedition Highlights: January 13-19

Naturaliste Charters Killer Whale Expedition Highlights: January 13-19

Highlights from Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition: 13 – 19 January 202513 January 2025 Today was a spectacular day with the Bremer orca, showcasing a...

Read more
Things To Do In Albany

Things To Do In Albany

Looking for things to do in the stunning town of Albany, then you have come to right place! Albany is located approximately 408kms south of Perth or 482kms...

Read more