# Fishing in the Kimberley WA | Barramundi, Lake Argyle & Ord River Guide Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/fishing/ Type: ActivityGuide Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A fishing guide to the Kimberley, WA -- barramundi on Lake Argyle, the Ord River, the Pentecost and the Chamberlain, Kununurra charters, the run-off barra season, size and bag limits, and the absolute croc-safety rules that every Kimberley angler must follow. Dry season only. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Barra anglers, serious freshwater fishers, charter guests - Price range: Free self-guided (licence required); charters from ~$150pp half-day - Vibe: Remote, serious, rewarding - Distance: Kununurra corridor -- Lake Argyle 72km south, Ord River in-town ## Featured Properties - The Kimberley Grande Resort: 4/5 (399 reviews) Book direct: https://kimberleygrande.com.au/ The Kimberley Grande Resort — The Kimberley - Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra: 4.4/5 (40 reviews) Book direct: https://www.bestwesternkununurra.com.au/ Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley - Hotel Kununurra: 3.9/5 (561 reviews) Book direct: http://www.hotelkununurra.com.au/ Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley ## FAQ Q: Do you need a fishing licence in the Kimberley, WA? A: Yes. A WA Recreational Fishing Licence is required for anyone 16 years or older fishing in freshwater, tidal or marine waters in Western Australia. Licences are available online via the DPIRD website or from Kununurra tackle shops. Size and bag limits for barramundi and other species apply and are subject to change -- always verify current regulations with DPIRD before fishing, not from a guide that may be out of date. Q: Where is the best barramundi fishing in the Kimberley? A: Lake Argyle and the Ord River below the dam are the most productive and accessible barra fishing in the east Kimberley. Lake Argyle has a strong, well-established barra population in large submerged-timber habitat; the Ord runs year-round from the dam and is accessible by both bank and boat from Kununurra. The Pentecost River near El Questro is productive in its tidal reaches. Guided charters from Kununurra cover all three and are the recommended start for visiting anglers unfamiliar with the water. Q: Are there crocodiles where you fish in the Kimberley? A: Yes -- saltwater (estuarine) crocodiles inhabit virtually all Kimberley waterways, including sections of the freshwater Ord and Lake Argyle. Freshwater crocodiles are common in most inland rivers and gorges. The rules for fishing are absolute: never wade, never crouch or kneel at the water's edge, always stand upright with a full step back from the bank, and never process or clean fish near the water. Crocodile activity peaks at dawn and dusk -- exactly the most productive fishing windows. The rules apply to everyone, every time. Q: When is the best time to fish for barramundi in the Kimberley? A: The run-off season (late March to May, when Wet-season floodwater recedes and concentrates fish) is the most productive time but the least accessible -- roads are unreliable and it's charter-only for most visitors. The June-September Dry season is the most practical and comfortable for visiting anglers, with the early Dry (June-July) often the best combination of fish activity and manageable temperatures. August to September is peak tourist season with charters booking out -- reserve well in advance. Q: Are fishing charters available in Kununurra? A: Yes -- several operators in Kununurra run guided barramundi fishing charters on the Ord River, Lake Argyle, the Pentecost and other accessible waterways. Half-day and full-day formats are standard; multi-day expeditions are also available. Rates start from around $150 per person for a half-day, with full-day and specialised charters higher. Book at least two weeks in advance in July and August when demand is highest, and confirm directly with operators as schedules vary by season. Q: Is fishing in the Kimberley suitable for families with children? A: Guided charter fishing from Kununurra is the most family-appropriate option -- confirm minimum age requirements with operators when booking. Lake Argyle on a tinnie suits families with older children who understand and will follow croc-safety rules absolutely. The croc situation is the critical consideration: children must understand and comply with no-wading and no-bank-edge rules without exception, and young children who cannot consistently follow safety rules should not be brought to the water's edge in the Kimberley. The run-off season is not appropriate for families with children. ## At a Glance - Key species: Barramundi (primary), saratoga, sooty grunter, golden snapper (offshore) - Fishing licence: WA Recreational Fishing Licence required for anyone 16+ in inland, tidal and marine waters - Barramundi size limit: Minimum 38cm (freshwater) / 40cm (saltwater/tidal) at time of writing -- VERIFY with DPIRD before fishing - Bag limit: Check current DPIRD (WA Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development) regulations -- can change - Crocodiles: Saltwater crocs inhabit virtually all Kimberley waterways -- never wade, never lean over the bank, never fish at dusk or dawn, always have an escape route - Best season: June-September for most inland fishing; the "run-off" season (Mar-May) is closed access for the Wet-season surge but produces exceptional fish for those who know it - Key locations: Lake Argyle, Ord River below the dam, Pentecost River, Chamberlain River, Kununurra town waters - Charters: Multiple operators based in Kununurra -- guided half-day to multi-day barra fishing trips ## Featured - 1. Lake Argyle — Vast freshwater impoundment - barra, saratoga, sooty grunter - best self-guided fishing in the region - Why people love it: The largest freshwater impoundment in the region, full of big barramundi and saratoga in submerged-timber habitat -- the best self-guided barra fishing destination in the Kimberley. - Don't miss: Dawn surface fishing over submerged timber lines when barra are actively busting bait -- the most productive window of the day. - Good to know: Do not wade or lean over the tinnie in shallow water -- both saltwater and freshwater crocs are present in the lake. Process fish away from the water's edge. - 2. Ord River (below the dam) — Year-round flow - the town barra fishery - accessible by bank and boat - Why people love it: Year-round flow from the dam means consistent barra fishing in the town corridor even at the end of the Dry -- the most reliable Kimberley barramundi water. - Don't miss: First light below the dam wall when barra are feeding on the surface in the fast water -- surface lures in the current is the technique. - Good to know: Saltwater crocs are in the lower tidal Ord and have been documented in the freshwater upper sections -- never wade, never crouch at the bank edge. Process fish 3+ metres from the water. - 3. Pentecost River — Tidal estuary barra - Gibb River Road crossing - croc-heavy water - Why people love it: Casting for barra in the tidal Pentecost with the Cockburn Ranges lit blood-red behind you is the most beautiful setting for fishing in the entire Kimberley. - Don't miss: Dawn fishing on the tidal Pentecost with the Cockburn Ranges at sunrise -- the combination of the fish and the setting is the best in the region. - Good to know: Saltwater crocs are present in significant numbers -- never fish from the crossing bank, never wade, never lean over a tinnie in shallow water near mangroves. The crossing is not a safe bank-fishing spot under any circumstances. - 4. Chamberlain River & Gorge — El Questro country - boat tour through the gorge - barra in the tidal reaches - Why people love it: The Chamberlain Gorge boat tour in early morning light, with the walls reflected in still water, is one of the most beautiful experiences at El Questro. - Don't miss: The early-morning boat tour through the gorge -- still water, full reflections, and the croc on the warm bank ledge. - Good to know: Independent bank fishing on the Chamberlain is not recommended -- saltwater crocs are present; conduct all fishing from a boat and follow El Questro's current rules and guide instructions. - 5. Kununurra Charters — Best option for first-timers - guides know the water - fish without the guesswork - Why people love it: Kununurra charter guides know exactly where the barra are holding today -- that knowledge shortcut, combined with their croc safety protocols, is worth every dollar of the charter fee. - Don't miss: A full-day charter on Lake Argyle's barramundi water -- the guide finds the fish and shows you the system in one trip. - Good to know: Charter availability fills quickly in July and August -- book at least two weeks ahead and confirm current season schedules directly with operators in Kununurra. - 6. The "Run-Off" Barra Season — Most productive barra fishing of the year - least accessible - for serious anglers only - Why people love it: The run-off is when barramundi are most concentrated and most aggressively feeding -- the most productive window for big barra in the Kimberley, for those with the access and preparation. - Don't miss: A guided run-off charter in late March or April when barra are concentrated in receding floodwater -- the most productive barramundi fishing in the region. - Good to know: Roads are unreliable; self-guided run-off fishing is not recommended for visiting anglers without local knowledge and serious remote recovery capability. Croc densities in shrinking billabongs are at their highest -- apply all safety rules without exception. ## What travellers say - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: