Perth Offshore (Rottnest / FAD) Fishing — A Complete Guide
Perth offshore fishing — Rottnest Island, FAD program, Indian Ocean shelf. Yellowfin, samson, dhufish, mahi, snapper, kingfish. Seasonal guide.
Perth's offshore fishing centres on the 18 km transit to Rottnest Island and the wider Indian Ocean shelf beyond. The Rottnest FAD program has built a thriving Perth-based mahi-mahi fishery; samson fish + dhufish on the deep reefs are world-class; pink snapper + queen snapper run hard in winter. The Leeuwin Current brings southern range pelagics in summer.
The geography
- Rottnest Island: ~18 km offshore from Fremantle. Reef + deep water access close in.
- Continental shelf: Drops to deep water 30–50 km offshore. Premium dhufish + samson grounds.
- FADs: Department of Fisheries WA deploys multiple FADs in summer — central to Perth mahi fishery.
- Inshore reefs: Coffs Reef + Five Fathom Bank within 10 km of coast — accessible to small boats.
Top species + when they bite
- Mahi-Mahi — Dec–Apr on FADs. Iconic Perth summer fishery.
- Yellowfin Tuna — Summer; Leeuwin Current pulses.
- Samson Fish — Year-round on deep reefs. Iconic WA species; jigging.
- Dhufish (West Australian Dhufish) — WA endemic. Iconic deep-reef target. Premium eating.
- Pink Snapper — Year-round, autumn–winter peak. Reefs + structure.
- Queen Snapper (Blue Morwong) — Reef fish, year-round.
- Yellowtail Kingfish — Year-round on reef structure.
- Spanish Mackerel — Summer; Leeuwin pulses bring tropical visitors.
Famous spots
- Rottnest Island reefs — 18 km offshore; reef + bottom + pelagics.
- FADs (Rottnest area) — WA Fisheries deploys multiple FADs Dec–Apr. Mahi specialists.
- Five Fathom Bank — Inshore bank 10 km offshore; reef + bottom + bait.
- Coffs Reef — Inshore reef; pink snapper + dhufish in season.
- Direction Bank (deep) — Deep reef 30+ km offshore; dhufish + samson + deep-drop.
- Sisters Rocks — Reef structure; samson + dhufish.
Conditions to watch
Mediterranean climate. Summers (Dec–Mar) are stable + hot; afternoon sea breeze (the Fremantle Doctor) is reliable. Winters (Jun–Aug) are stormy with cold fronts. Leeuwin Current pulses warm-water species south in summer. Indian Ocean swell can be sustained heavy; check forecasts.
Reading BiteCast for Perth Offshore (Rottnest / FAD)
- SST (sea-surface temperature) — Leeuwin Current SST 19–24°C summer; cooler in winter. Watch for Leeuwin pulses pushing tropical species south.
- Altimetry + Eddies — Leeuwin Current eddies hold pelagics; less common than EAC but high-quality when present.
- Subsurface temperature — Critical for samson + deep reef work. 80–150 m thermal structure.
- Chlorophyll — Productivity edges off shelf + Rottnest hold baitfish + pelagics.
Seasonal calendar
| Month | Primary targets | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | Mahi (FADs), yellowfin, samson, dhufish | Mackerel |
| Feb | Mahi, yellowfin, samson, dhufish | Mackerel |
| Mar | Mahi, yellowfin, samson, snapper | Dhufish |
| Apr | Mahi tail-end, samson, dhufish, snapper | Yellowfin tail |
| May | Samson, dhufish, snapper, queen snapper | Bottom fishing |
| Jun | Snapper (peak), samson, dhufish | Bottom fishing |
| Jul | Snapper, samson, dhufish | Bottom fishing |
| Aug | Snapper, samson, dhufish | Salmon (surf) |
| Sep | Snapper, dhufish, samson | Salmon |
| Oct | Snapper, dhufish, samson, kingfish | Salmon |
| Nov | Dhufish, samson, kingfish, mahi early | Snapper |
| Dec | Mahi (FADs start), samson, dhufish, kingfish | Yellowfin |
Launch ramps + amenities
- Fremantle Sailing Club — Sheltered marina + ramp; standard Perth offshore launch.
- Hillarys Boat Harbour — Multi-lane sheltered launch; Northern Beaches access.
- Mindarie Marina — Northern Perth; sheltered.
- Woodman Point — Cockburn Sound launch; sheltered.
- Rockingham (Mangles Bay) — Southern Perth; sheltered.
Compliance + regulations
Dhufish + pink snapper + WA reef species have strict size + bag limits managed by WA Fisheries. Verify current rules. WA marine park zones (Rottnest area + others) have specific no-take sanctuary zones.
Always verify current state recreational fishing rules + marine park zoning before fishing. The above is descriptive reference, not legal advice.
Related
Frequently asked
What's the deal with the WA FAD program?
WA Department of Fisheries deploys multiple FADs each summer (Dec–Apr) off the Perth coast — central to the Perth mahi-mahi fishery. Coordinates published on the Fisheries WA website. Mahi specialists; trolling small skirts past the FAD usually produces. Verify current positions before each trip.
Where do I catch dhufish?
WA endemic species — found from Geraldton to Augusta on deep reefs (60–250 m). Direction Bank, Sisters Rocks, and the deep edges off Rottnest are recognised grounds. Drop bait + slow plastics; size + bag limits apply (verify current rules — dhufish are heavily managed).
Is winter fishing dead in Perth?
No — winter is when the big pink snapper and queen snapper move onto the reefs. Bottom fishing for dhufish + samson is also year-round. Surface pelagics quiet down but inshore + bottom production peaks.
Can I do an overnight trip to Rottnest?
Yes — Rottnest has charter accommodation + the Rottnest Yacht Club + private moorings. Many Perth anglers do weekend offshore trips operating from Rottnest. Check current marine park zones around the island; some areas are no-take sanctuary.