Demersal options are back

Relative normality returns as fishing for demersal species once again becomes an option for WA anglers. It is great to have some of our favourite species like dhufish, bald chin groper, Breaksea cod and our beloved snapper back on the menu. How good is it to have a full range of options again for Perth metro anglers?

SWAN RIVER

Our extended stretch of dry weather has continued and the main target species in the river continue to be widespread. There are plenty of options for all species from East Fremantle all the way to Guildford, with the biggest change I see happening, being that some of the better fishing has tended to be during the of the day as the bream will stage there outside of the low light periods.

The flats will continue to hold good numbers of flathead and yellowfin whiting as well as good numbers of tailor in the deeper water beyond the flats. The best time to fish will be when a tide change coincides with first and last light.

There are still plenty of mulloway being caught. Live baits seem to be the preferred way to target them, with soft plastics a close second. Areas like the E-sheds and Causeway are great places to try.

Plenty of good sized crabs will also be on offer. Areas like the Old Brewery, Canning Bridge, Bicton Baths, the Como Jetty or Applecross Jetty all produce

The rock wall fishing has been very good of late and I expect this will continue. Popular targets will herring, skippy, King George whiting, squid and now snapper. As always, a berley trail is an essential part of any successful rock wall fishing session and while the weather remains warm, fishing first and last light will help to avoid the undesirable species stealing all your baits.

Mulloway and small sharks are a common bycatch at this time if the year.

A few locations to try would be Rous Head, North Mole, South Mole and the Fremantle Sailing mulloway, skippy and the odd small shark. Fresh baits and setting up a berley bag will improve your success.

INSHORE FISHING

Pinky snapper will be on many anglers’ radar after the demersal closure and you would expect that they will be in good numbers around our inshore reefy areas. Mixed in with them will be plenty of skippy, herring and the odd big King George whiting. Areas like Middle Ground are perfect places to fish. Drift until you locate fish and then focus your drifts in that location or even anchor and get a good burley trail going. A key to success is to be at your favorite location during a light change (sunrise, sunset). There is no doubt snapper in particular

Here is an early morning photo captured at Mettams Pools. It really shows the abundance of tailor at such an easy to access spot.

Photo courtesy of @dust off the snorkels low light periods (first light, last light). At these times you do get a reprieve from the abundant toadfish in the system, giving your baits and lures a chance to catch your target species.

Bream will always be a key target species in the Swan and as mentioned they are certainly spread throughout the system at present and this will continue until we get some decent rain. Structure is always the key to catching them whether you are a bait or lure angler (fishing near and around it). It may just be a matter of changing up your lure or bait options until you find what the fish prefer. It will also pay to fish deeper water in the heat

Club. All offer plenty of angling options.

As far as our beaches go, it can be a bit of a free for all at this time of the year. Most, if not all, our beaches will hold good numbers of fish. In particular greenback tailor, tend to bite better during this change.

OFFSHORE FISHING

As mentioned with the demersal closure now