Bonito
This is traditionally the time to start chasing bonito from shore at North Mole, Woodman Point and Trigg. Try casting metal slices or small minnows from rockwalls. Nilsmasters just seem to work better than anything. Last year was a good season so there’s every reason to expect a good year this time round too.
Black Bream
Although bream are traditionally thought to move upstream in summer, while the population past Belmont does increase, you can still find bigger fish around the downstream areas of the Swan. Yacht clubs, especially, really fire up on big fish and less juvenile bream are likely to ruin your baits. Night fishing is an excellent option.
Crabs
Bans on crabbing in certain places across the metro area mean you have to be super careful if you’re crabbing near Cockburn Sound. Mandurah is the best place to try scooping but, before New Year, they tend to be smaller and have less meat so it’s hard work to find good ones. Try deep sections of the Swan instead, but remember to use ropes longer than 20 metres!
Dhufish
Now is the perfect time to look around areas loaded with craypots as the dhuies tend to follow them. While some believe they look for juvenile crays on the move, it’s more likely that they’re just attracted by bait in the pots and come in for a look. Deeper is generally the way to go but don’t discount shallow reefs along the 5 Fathom and 3 Mile areas.
Two Rocks is also traditionally awesome at this time of year, as is Mandurah. 30-50 metres is generally the depth to start looking.
Flathead
Flathead have turned up in good numbers throughout the river this year and December should see them at their peak. Instead of the downstream areas that are choked with weed, try Claremont and even up towards East Perth with lures that avoid getting weeded up. Marabou jigs are an excellent option and you’ll even be in with the chance of a flounder which have started off very well.
Garfish
Winter is more of a garfish season and those that you find now are in smaller schools and usually smaller in size. Fremantle, Rockingham and Warnbro are the most likely places to try if you’re desperate for a gardie.
Herring
Last summer was alive with herring throughout the metro area, Rottnest and even in the Swan River. You could catch them almost any time of the day with the right berley, which is anything that’s oily and smelly. The summer holidays are likely to be full of calm evenings and this is the best time to head down with a couple of hours of daylight saving sun left carrying a small rod, a few drinkies and your favourite herring rig. It’s hard to miss.
Mackerel
We’re waiting for the water around Rotto to hit 22, 23 and 24 degrees and it’s not too likely in December. The water temp has been high so far, but not high enough to expect and spaniards. Shark macks are more likely, and you can try a troll around West End, but watch the sea surface temperature charts for spikes. They hit Jurien first and Perth a few weeks later.
Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish)
December means strong winds as a rule so a trip to the FADs needs to be carefully planned. Fish on them in December will be smallish but usually pretty dumb and quite willing to eat baits and lures. However, get there early because after a few boats start cutting up (totally unnecessarily) around the FAD chain, the mahi mahi usually sound and won’t come back up. Fish as far from the chain as you can and turn your motor off.
Mulloway
This has been an excellent mulloway season already and December is a perfect month to try the Swan from Mosmans to the Narrows. Beaches around Scarborough and Mandurah are worth trying, especially on a new moon, and so is Cockburn Sound.
Pink Snapper
The ban on snapper fishing in Cockburn Sound is still in place right through til January 31st so watch yourself out there. It applies to catch and release fishing too, in case you think you’ve found a loophole. The good news is, snapper numbers are at an all time high for recent years and early morning or late afternoon fishing inshore is going to be very productive. Also, reefs around the 100m mark are going to be thick with 45-55cm fish but watch your sizes.
Salmon
It’s too early yet in Perth but you MIGHT find a couple hanging around in Warnbro if you’re prepared to look.
Samsonfish
The jigging season will be in full swing right through until March and this is when it peaks. Huge schools of massive fish means it’ll be easy to find new and exciting ways of having your back broken. Look for wrecks in 90-120m and even try the Gemini Wreck off Mindarie with live baits.
Skippy
Winter is the best time for skippy and, while you will still find them, the numbers and sizes will be down. My pick for boaties is the reefs off Ocean Reef and Mindarie, just behind the breakers … with a good berley.
Squid
Squidding now is actually quite tough at times but the weed north of Hillarys is always worth a show. Parmelia Bank and Garden Island are generally places that cuttlefish invade, making squidding harder.
Tailor
I always do well over summer on tailor. The beaches will be full of choppers and some big ones too. Small boat fishing along the northern and Fremantle reefs will be very productive. Warnbro and Rockingham, especially near Penguin Island is perhaps the best of all. So far, the last few months have been excellent from shore and it should continue through the holidays.
Tuna
Yellowfin are firing up around Rottnest and schools of striped tuna and bonito will pop up under birds almost anywhere off the coast. Yellowfin, in particular, will be a worthwhile target until early next year.
Whiting
School whiting are a reliable target on any sand patch offshore in 6-15 metres. Shore based anglers will find fat yellowfin after dark in the Swan around East Fremantle and Claremont. The biggest school whiting should now appear in the bays around Rottnest.