Port Lincoln: The Seafood (and Fishing) Capital of Australia
Port Lincoln is one of the state’s most popular locations for visitors to drop a line with plenty of places and facilities catering to keen anglers. Whiting, snapper, salmon, sweep, snook, trevally, Australian herring (tommy ruff), garfish, squid, and many other species are available year-round, while late summer and autumn are best for tuna and kingfish.
Fishing Calendar
October - May
Bronze whaler sharks
Yellowtail kingfish
November - April
Blue swimmer crabs
November - May
Southern rock lobster
December - May
Bluefin tuna
All year round
Australian herring (tommy ruff)
Flathead*
Garfish*
Gummy and school sharks*
King George whiting*
Nannygai
Salmon*
Samsonfish
Snapper**
Snook*
Squid*
Yellowfin whiting
* Can be caught year-round, but at their prime at specific times of the year. Check with local fishing outlets.
** State-wide closure from 1st November - 15th December.
Jetty (Pier) Fishing
For land-based anglers, jetties are by far the most popular and most accessible spots to try your luck, with the Port Lincoln town jetty and the Port Lincoln Tourist Park jetty two of the more popular locations.
Other jetties can be found a short drive from Port Lincoln at North Shields, Tumby Bay, Coffin Bay and Mt Dutton Bay.
Fishing by Boat
Boaties can launch at marinas at both Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay. Other boat ramps are located at Tumby Bay, North Shields, Port Lincoln, Taylor’s Landing, Port Neill, Coffin Bay and Mt. Dutton Bay. Beach launching is also possible at Louth Bay, Avoid Bay (4WD required) and Farm Beach.
Before you launch it's recommended you check sea and beach conditions and get local tips by chatting with boating equipment and tackle dealers.
Coastguard stations at Louth Bay and Tumby Bay monitor all marine radio frequencies. You may find yourself many hours from emergency help, so it's advisable to let the relevant stations know of your plan as a safety precaution.
Surf, Beach and Rock Fishing
Many beach and rock fishing locations are a short drive from Port Lincoln with local favourite spots within the National Parks. Just remember that you’ll need an entry permit – available at the Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre.
Finally, fishing regulations, size limits, and bag limits vary for different species, so be sure to carry the latest fishing guide.