Fishing & Whale Watching

Fishing

Kalbarri boasts some of the best, easily accessible, all-year round shore and boat angling between Perth and Exmouth. Deep water adjacent to the shoreline and the cliffs provides an environment where anything is possible.

Tailor and mulloway are the main targets for shore anglers. However, whiting, gardies, dart, samson fish, herring, small threadfin salmon, skipjack, trevally, blacktipped whaler shark, and various reef fish such as snapper, jewfish, groper and cod are all encountered within close proximity to Kalbarri.

Anglers have also been delighted with catches of tuna, spanish mackerel, cobia, dolphin fish and samson fish.

Estuary fishing can yield whiting, mulloway and occasionally chopper tailor and at times both blue swimmer and mangrove crabs frequent the river. Further upstream (accessed by dinghy or 4WD) the reward for patience may come in the form of some good-sized black bream.

More detailed information for shore anglers is available in the form of a Kalbarri Fishing Guide at $3.10 at Kalbarri information centres or tackle shops.

Please remember that most of the reefs and rocky shoreline can be dangerous under rough conditions. Do not take unnecessary risks. Also, the rivermouth can be hazardous under certain conditions. Please check with local Voluntary Marine Rescue if you are unsure.

Whale Watching 

The seasonal migrations of humpback whales bring them close to the Kalbarri shoreline in winter and spring. The best vantage points are to be found high above the water at sites such as Natural Bridge, Eagle Gorge and Red Bluff.  Humpback Whales visit Kalbarri from June until December, gathering in the sheltered waters of the bay. A whale watching cruise in this spectacular region of Western Australia is an absolute must.
While in the waters off Kalbarri, the whales give birth to their calves, mate and then rest before beginning their return journey to the Antarctic. Visitors will have the chance to watch calves at play and late in the season the awesome spectacle of the mating rituals of the adults.