Fishing at Ningaloo: Exmouth Gulf Game Fishing, Marine Park Rules and the Best Spots to Fish

The Exmouth Gulf is one of Western Australia's premier game fishing destinations. The Gulf's deep, productive water supports populations of black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin, sailfish, Spanish mackerel, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi (dolphinfish) and wahoo that keep serious anglers returning year after year. The combination of deep water in relatively close proximity to Exmouth, together with the Gulf's semi-enclosed nature generating good current patterns, produces game fishing that's among the most accessible in the state for the size of fish on offer.

Game fishing charters depart from the Exmouth marina on half-day and full-day formats, with specialist operators running dedicated blue-water and light-tackle game fishing programmes throughout the season. Operators including Ningaloo Blue Dive & Tours, Absolute Fishing Charters and others run fully equipped game fishing vessels with live bait, trolling rigs and heavy-tackle setups for billfish, alongside lighter-tackle options for pelagic species. Most charter boats are set up for both trolling and jigging, adapting to the conditions and target species on the day.

The experience suits serious anglers who want a focused, knowledgeable skipper and a properly equipped vessel. A half-day is a viable introduction; experienced anglers after billfish should book a full day and discuss target species and current conditions with the skipper before departure. All game fishing in the Gulf must comply with marine park zone requirements — charter operators know the current zone boundaries and will brief passengers accordingly.

Tantabiddi boat ramp, inside Cape Range National Park on the western side of the peninsula, is one of the primary launch points for recreational anglers who want to fish the outer reef areas of Ningaloo. The ramp gives access to the deeper reef sections to the north and south where fishing is permitted, as well as the passage between the reef and the Gulf side. From Tantabiddi, small-to-medium boats can access reef fish species including coral trout, emperor, snapper and trevally in designated fishing areas.

The critical logistics point is the marine park zone boundary. Tantabiddi sits close to sanctuary zone edges, and anglers launching here must know exactly where they can and cannot fish. Download the current DBCA zone map to your GPS before launching, and cross-reference it each trip — zone boundaries can be updated. National park entry fees also apply for the Tantabiddi access road.

It suits self-sufficient anglers with their own trailered boats who know the Ningaloo zone rules. The conditions at the ramp and the reef can be rougher on windy days than the Gulf-side ramps, so check the forecast before committing to a Tantabiddi launch. For anglers who want guided access to the outer reef rather than self-launching, Exmouth charter operators can also take reef fishing clients to permitted outer reef areas.

Bundegi, on the sheltered eastern (Gulf) side of the Cape Range Peninsula, is the calmer and more protected boat launch compared with Tantabiddi. The Gulf-side location means the ramp is generally usable in conditions that would make the reef-side launch impractical, which makes Bundegi the reliable fallback when a westerly swell is running. From Bundegi, anglers can run north or south into the Gulf for game fish and reef species, or fish relatively close to the ramp for mixed species in the sheltered water.

Beach fishing from Bundegi's foreshore is also popular, targeting species like bream, whiting, queenfish and trevally in the calm Gulf water. The beach itself is gently sloping and accessible, which makes it a more family-friendly shore fishing option than the rougher western beach sites. A basic pontoon provides some infrastructure, and the short drive from Exmouth makes it an easy morning or evening session option.

Bundegi suits a broad fishing range — from shore anglers after a calm, accessible option close to town, to boat anglers wanting a reliable launch for Gulf fishing. The zone rules still apply on the Gulf side: download the current DBCA zone map before launching, and note that parts of the Gulf also fall within marine park management areas. The northern reaches of the Gulf outside the marine park boundary offer unrestricted fishing, but the boundary runs through the Gulf — check before you motor.

Learmonth Jetty, about 35 kilometres south of Exmouth near the RAAF Base Learmonth, is one of the most productive land-based fishing spots in the Ningaloo area. The jetty extends into the Gulf, providing access to deeper water than most shore positions, and the range of species caught here is exceptional for a land-based option: coral trout, barramundi (in the estuary sections), mangrove jack, trevally, queenfish, fingermark, and at night, sharks and rays. Evening and night fishing from the jetty is particularly productive, with bait-fishers targeting mixed reef species once the heat of the Pilbara day drops.

The jetty itself is straightforward infrastructure — no fees, no permits beyond the standard fishing licence, and enough length to allow casting and bottom fishing in decent depth. It's one of the most accessible fishing options in the area for anglers without a boat, families with children, and visitors who want reliable land-based action without the logistics of a charter or a boat launch.

Access to the jetty should be confirmed locally before visiting, as it is close to a Defence establishment at Learmonth and access conditions can vary. The road south from Exmouth is mostly sealed. Bring bait (blueies, prawns) or lures for the trevally and queenfish, and a bottom rig for the bigger reef species in depth. Night fishing here is popular with local anglers for a reason.

Spanish mackerel are the light-tackle highlight of Ningaloo fishing, and the Exmouth Gulf and adjacent outer passages produce them in numbers from around April through to September. Mackerel fishing here is a fast, visual sport — they strike hard on trolled lures and live bait, run fast on light gear, and are excellent table fish. The peak mackerel season aligns with the cooler months when conditions in the Gulf are often at their best for small-boat anglers: calm mornings, good visibility, and the mackerel staging in the current lines.

Beyond mackerel, the light-tackle sportfishing scene at Exmouth extends to mahi-mahi (dolphinfish), wahoo, tuna and trevally, all available on appropriate trolling and casting gear. For anglers who want the sportfishing experience without the expense of a heavy-tackle blue-water charter, a half-day mackerel run from Bundegi or a charter focused on light-tackle pelagics delivers excellent action at a lower price point than a full billfish day.

Several Exmouth charter operators run light-tackle and mackerel-specific programmes in season, often as half-day options. Self-launching anglers can target mackerel independently from Bundegi or Tantabiddi (confirming zone rules) on a suitably rigged trailer boat with trolling gear. For table-fish quality, Spanish mackerel at Ningaloo is hard to beat — fresh-caught mackerel on a barbecue the evening after a half-day charter is one of the practical pleasures of fishing this part of WA.

Coral Bay provides the southern access point for Ningaloo fishing, with a small boat ramp and shore fishing options in the designated fishing areas around the township. The key is knowing the zone boundaries — the reef adjacent to Coral Bay is largely sanctuary zone, but there are designated recreational fishing areas identified on the DBCA zone map where reef species can be legally targeted. Local anglers here fish for coral trout, emperor, snapper and trevally in the permitted sections of the reef and the inner lagoon edges.

Fishing from shore at Coral Bay is possible from the beach and some rock-edge points in permitted areas, targeting mixed species including whiting, bream and smaller reef fish. The access is straightforward and the distance from Exmouth makes Coral Bay a natural option for visitors based in the township rather than in Exmouth itself. The combination of snorkelling, reef wildlife and some fishing in the same day is a common Coral Bay approach.

The zone complexity is even more critical here than at Exmouth, because the sanctuary zone boundaries run very close to the township foreshore. The DBCA Ningaloo Reef Marine Park zone map app (or a GPS-loaded zone layer) is essential before any fishing in or around Coral Bay. Talk to the local information centre or a local charter operator for an updated briefing on the current rules — the rules and boundaries are occasionally adjusted, and local knowledge is the best source of current detail.