Fishing Near Hillarys: Shore Spots, Marine Park Rules And Spring Catches
Hillarys sits on the shore of Marmion Marine Park, with a busy boat harbour, long sandy beaches and reef close in. It is a lovely place to wet a line this spring, but the rules have changed a lot since many visitors last fished Perth. Boat-based demersal fishing is closed until spring 2027, parts of the marine park are no-take, and the harbour has its own restrictions. This guide covers what is open, where to go and how to plan a relaxed fishing stay without getting caught out.
Key Takeaway
Since 16 December 2025, recreational fishing for demersal scalefish such as pink snapper and WA dhufish from a boat has been closed in the West Coast Bioregion, and it is due to reopen in spring 2027. Land-based anglers can still fish for demersals within the rules, and nearshore species such as herring, whiting, tailor, skippy and squid remain open. Around Hillarys, that makes the beaches, the outer rock walls and a careful read of the marine park zones the heart of a good fishing trip.
Before You Cast A Line
Three quick checks keep a Hillarys fishing day relaxed and legal.
1Species rules: Look up size and bag limits on the official WA recreational fishing rules site.
2The zone: No fishing in Marmion's sanctuary zones, and the boat harbour has its own restrictions.
3Conditions: Wind, swell and tide decide whether a rock wall or beach is safe and worth fishing.
Plan Around Three Easy Sessions
A fishing stay works best when nobody tries to fish all day.
1Early morning: A dawn beach or rock wall session, then breakfast back at the house.
2Middle of the day: Swim, snorkel or eat at the harbour while the fish go quiet.
3Evening: A short dusk session, then the catch on the barbecue.
Why Hillarys Works As A Spring Fishing Base
Marmion Marine Park runs offshore from Perth's northern suburbs between Trigg Island and Burns Beach, and takes in Mettams Pool, Hillarys Boat Harbour and Ocean Reef Boat Harbour. Fisheries information for the park lists western rock lobster, abalone, dhufish, pink snapper, tailor, whiting, mulloway and Australian herring among its species.
Marmion was declared on 13 March 1987 as Western Australia's first marine park. The official visitor guide says at least 136 species of fish live there, alongside seagrass meadows, reefs and small islands used by Australian sea lions and seabirds. You are fishing in a protected place, and the rules reflect that.
The timing is good. The WA school break runs from Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026, and Term 4 starts on Monday 12 October, so the weeks after that are usually quieter on the beaches and rock walls. Mornings are mild, the days are getting longer, and the Parks and Wildlife Service says whale watching charters leave Hillarys during the September to November peak of the humpback migration.
Everything is close together. The harbour, beaches, bait and tackle, cafes and boat ramps are all in or next to the suburb, so you can fish at dawn and still be back for breakfast.
Hillarys puts beaches, reef, a boat harbour and a marine park close together. The trick is knowing which rules apply where.
The Big Change: Boat-Based Demersal Fishing Is Closed Until Spring 2027
If you last fished Perth a few years ago, this is the rule that matters most. Under the statewide demersal reforms announced in December 2025, boat-based recreational demersal fishing in the West Coast Bioregion, from Kalbarri to Augusta, did not reopen on 16 December 2025. The WA Government says it will reopen in spring 2027 as a recreational-only fishery, and Recfishwest describes the closure as running until September 2027.
Demersal scalefish are the bottom-dwelling reef fish many Perth anglers chase, including pink snapper, WA dhufish and baldchin groper. The official rules say any demersal scalefish caught from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion during the closure must be returned to the water as soon as possible.
The closure does not cover everyone. The WA rules site says it does not apply to land-based recreational fishers (including drone fishing) or land-based spearfishers, who can keep fishing for demersal scalefish year round outside existing spawning closures. Land-based spearfishers may not take WA dhufish.
Shore anglers still face the West Coast limits: a mixed daily bag of 2 demersal scalefish, and a 500 mm minimum size for pink snapper between Lancelin and Black Point. In practice, most visitors fishing the Hillarys shoreline will be catching nearshore species.
Still being worked outDPIRD says changes to recreational arrangements for the West Coast are being considered by the West Coast Demersal Ministerial Advisory Committee before the fishery reopens. Check DPIRD before any trip in 2027.
What You Can Target Around Hillarys This Spring
The fish most families and casual anglers catch from Perth's beaches and rock walls are still open, and DPIRD says recreational fishing for other species continues during the demersal closure. These limits come from the official WA recreational fishing rules site in October 2026. Measure every fish you keep and check again before you fish, because limits can change.
Australian herring
No minimum size. Daily bag limit of 20, within a mixed bag of 30 for "all other species of finfish".
Whiting (not King George)
Includes yellowfin and school whiting. No minimum size and a daily bag limit of 30.
King George whiting
Minimum size 280 mm. Daily bag limit of 12, within the nearshore and estuarine mixed bag of 16.
Tailor
Minimum size 300 mm. Daily bag limit of 8, with only 2 over 500 mm.
Silver trevally (skippy)
Minimum size 250 mm. Daily bag limit of 8, within the nearshore mixed bag of 16.
Squid
No minimum size. Daily bag limit of 15 squid, cuttlefish and octopus combined, and a boat limit of 30.
A few more are worth knowing. Western Australian salmon have a 300 mm minimum and a daily bag of 4. Mulloway have a 500 mm minimum and a bag of 2. Garfish have no minimum size and a bag of 30. Yellowtail kingfish have a 600 mm minimum and fall within the large pelagic mixed bag of 3. The daily bag is what you may take or bring onto land between midnight and midnight.
Understand Marmion Marine Park's Zones Before You Fish
Most of the water off Hillarys is in the park's general use zone, where line fishing is allowed. The exceptions matter, because some well-known spots near the harbour are protected.
The official visitor guide describes three sanctuary zones, the Waterman Recreation Area and a large general use zone. Sanctuary zones are "look but don't take" areas: fishing is not permitted, though boating, swimming, diving and snorkelling are. The guide names Little Island and Boyinaboat Reef as sanctuary zones, and the Parks and Wildlife Service says North Lump is in one too. Sanctuary zones are marked by yellow buoys standing more than a metre above the water, and it is an offence to moor to them.
The Waterman Recreation Area surrounds the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, south of Hillarys within the park. All reef life there is protected, including abalone, shellfish, crabs, rock lobster and octopus, but line fishing from the shore is allowed.
Across the whole park, spearfishing with compressed air is banned, and freediving spearfishing is only allowed at least 1800 m from shore and outside sanctuary zones. Sea urchins and all molluscs are protected, except mussels, abalone in season, squid, cuttlefish and octopus.
Use the current zoning mapThe printed visitor guide is dated February 2016, and the Parks and Wildlife Service says the State Government is working on a proposal to extend the marine park. Check the latest DBCA and DPIRD maps rather than an old brochure.
Hillarys Boat Harbour: Where You Can And Cannot Fish
Hillarys Boat Harbour is the obvious first stop. The Parks and Wildlife Service says the marina has shops, food outlets, fishing and diving supplies and public boat launching areas, so it is the easy place to pick up bait or a squid jig.
Fishing inside the harbour is more restricted than many visitors expect. The Department of Transport's North Metro boating guide, dated June 2025, lists things prohibited at Hillarys Boat Harbour without permission from harbour management. They include placing fishing nets, pots, lines or floats within the harbour or entrance channel, and cleaning fish or dumping offal into the harbour. Swimming and diving are also prohibited in the harbour and entrance, except in the designated area on the eastern shoreline.
Local fishing guides say fishing from the boardwalks and jetties is not allowed and point anglers to the outer rock walls instead, naming skippy, bream, tailor and King George whiting as common catches and early morning and night as the best times. One calls the harbour a firm favourite for kids learning to fish and says the water off the south rock wall is very clear.
Read the signs on the day, stay off the jetties and boardwalks, keep your line out of the marina and entrance channel, and only fish where it is clearly allowed. If in doubt, ask at the harbour or choose another spot.
Use the marina for bait, coffee and charters. Fish the outer walls and the beaches, and keep lines out of the harbour itself.
Beach Fishing From Hillarys To Mullaloo And Trigg
North of the harbour, the park map shows the coast running past Whitford Beach and Pinnaroo Point to Mullaloo Beach. These open sandy stretches suit relaxed beach fishing for whiting, herring and at times tailor, especially early in the morning before the wind picks up.
Trigg, at the southern end of the park, is also easy to add. Fishing guides list it for whiting and Australian salmon in the early morning, and suggest casting into the sandy patches between the reefs around high tide so you lose fewer rigs. That advice suits most of this coastline. Trigg is a popular surf beach, so go early and keep well clear of surfers and swimmers.
One rule catches people out. The WA rules site says wire traces are illegal in all nearshore waters within 800 m of the shore from Tim's Thicket Beach to Two Rocks, and in the Swan-Canning Estuary. Hillarys is well inside that stretch, so leave wire traces at home when you fish for tailor.
If the family dog is coming, check the City of Joondalup's current dog rules for each beach. The Parks and Wildlife Service lists Marmion Marine Park as a no-dogs park, and the park guide asks visitors to stay clear of the islands and rocks to protect sea lions and seabirds.
Share the beachSwimmers, surfers and kite surfers use this coast too. Fish away from them and move on if the beach gets busy.
Squid Fishing: The Easy Win For Visitors
Squid are one of the most rewarding things to target around Hillarys. You do not need heavy gear, there is no minimum size, and they are excellent cooked fresh. The daily bag limit is 15 squid, cuttlefish and octopus combined, with a boat limit of 30.
Most squid anglers work clear water over weed and seagrass, and the park guide says ten species of seagrass grow in Marmion's shallows. Casting a jig from the shore is the simplest option. Squid jigging from a powered boat needs a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence.
Never clean squid or fish in Hillarys Boat Harbour. Take the catch back to the house and prepare it there.
Fishing From A Boat: Licences, Ramps And Speed Limits
DPIRD says a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) is required for any fishing from a powered boat, including line fishing, squid jigging, crabbing, spearfishing, catching octopus and fishing while diving or snorkelling. You need it even if you release everything, and also if a powered boat carries you or your gear to a land-based spot such as an island.
You do not need one in a boat without a motor, on a licensed fishing tour or charter boat, or when fishing with an RFBL holder, as long as everyone's combined catch stays within the holder's limits. To take a full boat limit, two or more RFBL holders must be on board.
The City of Joondalup lists two nearby launch ramps, Hillarys Boat Harbour on Northside Drive and Ocean Reef Boat Harbour on Boat Harbour Quays, both with ample car and trailer parking. Launching fees apply.
A 5 knot limit applies inside Hillarys Boat Harbour. The Department of Transport also marks a boating prohibited area on the seaward side next to the southern breakwater, around Boyinaboat Reef, which the Parks and Wildlife Service says is about 100 m from the harbour. The DoT guide notes construction works at Ocean Reef Boat Harbour, so check current notices to mariners before launching there.
Remember the closure on the waterAny pink snapper, dhufish or other demersal scalefish caught from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion must be released as soon as possible until the fishery reopens.
Fishing Charters From Hillarys
The Parks and Wildlife Service says private dive and fishing charters operate from Hillarys for most of the year. A charter is the easiest way to fish offshore without bringing a boat, and people fishing from a licensed charter boat do not need their own RFBL.
Charters have changed too: demersal charter fishing in the Perth metropolitan area closed from 16 December 2025. DPIRD suggests mahi-mahi, whiting, yellowtail kingfish and rock lobster as alternatives during the closure, so ask operators which of these they now target, how long trips run and what is included.
If part of the group would rather watch than fish, whale watching charters also run from Hillarys through the spring migration.
Rock Lobster: Licences, Pots And The 15 October Time Change
Western rock lobster is a classic Perth catch. DPIRD's 2026 rock lobster guide, published in December 2025, says the recreational season is open all year, but you need a current licence to fish for any rock lobster.
1Size and bag: Minimum carapace length 76 mm, daily bag limit 8, and a boat limit of 24 when three or more licensed fishers are on board.
2Pots: Maximum 2 pots per licence holder, up to 6 with three or more licensed fishers. Pots must be set and pulled by the licence holder.
3Night ban: From 15 October to 31 March, no pulling pots or diving for lobster from 7.30 pm to 4.30 am. From 1 April to 14 October the ban runs from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am.
4Diving: Divers may only take lobster by hand, hand-held snare or blunt crook.
5Tails and females: Clip the tail within 5 minutes of capture, and return berried females immediately.
In Marmion, rock lobster may only be taken in the general use zone, not in sanctuary zones or the Waterman Recreation Area. Pots cannot be set inside Hillarys Boat Harbour or its entrance channel.
Crabs And Abalone: What Is Not On Right Now
Blue swimmer crabs do not suit an October or November trip. The WA rules site says coastal waters, rivers and estuaries between the Swan and Canning Rivers and Minninup Beach, about 15 km south of Bunbury, are closed to all crab fishing from 1 September to 30 November, including Cockburn Sound. Outside the special areas, the West Coast daily bag is 10 crabs with a 127 mm minimum carapace width.
Abalone is a summer-only fishery near Perth. The Western Zone, from Busselton Jetty to the Greenough River mouth, opens only from 7.00 am to 8.00 am on a few set Saturdays between December and February. Last season's dates were 13 December 2025, 10 January, 7 February and 21 February 2026. You need a licence, and in Marmion abalone may only be taken in the general use zone. Check DPIRD for the 2026-27 dates once published.
Fishing With Kids And Staying Safe
Hillarys suits young anglers because sessions can be short and rewards come quickly. Herring and small whiting have no minimum size, bite readily and are good eating. Keep sessions to an hour or two in the calmer early morning, and have a plan for when interest fades, such as a playground or a snack at the harbour.
Teach children to handle fish well. The park guide asks anglers to return undersize and unwanted fish quickly, using wet hands or a wet cloth and avoiding hot, dry surfaces, and to take all line and rubbish home because it can kill seabirds, sea lions and dolphins. It is illegal to feed or entice dolphins, sea lions and other wildlife, and you must stay at least 10 m from sea lions.
Most accidents on this coast happen on wet rocks and in rough water. Check the forecast and swell, avoid rock walls when waves wash over them, wear shoes with good grip and never turn your back on the sea. Children should always be with an adult on rock walls. The park guide notes that many sites should only be used with low swell and light offshore winds.
On a boat, follow the Department of Transport's safety equipment and lifejacket rules, and the Parks and Wildlife Service suggests carrying a personal locator beacon. The DoT guide lists Marine Rescue Whitfords for this area. For injured marine wildlife, the park guide lists the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055, and illegal fishing can be reported to FishWatch on 1800 815 507.
Why Sant's Beach Retreat Suits A Hillarys Fishing Weekend
Once fishing is part of the plan, Sant's Beach Retreat in Hillarys makes a practical base. The WTP listing describes a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home for up to 10 guests, which suits two or three families or a multi-generational group sharing one trip.
The house is set up for cooking what you bring home. The listing describes a full kitchen, an eight-seat indoor dining table, covered outdoor dining, and an outdoor entertainment area with lounge seating, a BBQ and an outdoor fireplace. Fresh herring, whiting or squid can go straight from the beach to the barbecue.
It also suits the way a fishing trip runs, with people coming and going at different times. The listing shows several living areas, a movie theatre room, a private fenced pool and a backyard play space with an in-ground trampoline, climbing frame and slide. Anyone who skips the dawn session can sleep in or swim.
The layout includes a ground-floor queen bedroom with an ensuite and more bedrooms upstairs, including a twin single room. One recent review mentions stairs, with three bedrooms and the main living areas on the middle level, so check the layout if anyone has limited mobility.
About this stay
Where Sant's Beach Retreat fits a Hillarys fishing weekend
Sant's Beach Retreat gives a fishing group room to spread out, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and space for up to 10 guests. Early anglers can slip out for a dawn session while everyone else sleeps in or swims in the private fenced pool.
When the catch comes home, the full kitchen, covered outdoor dining, BBQ and outdoor fireplace make it easy to cook fresh herring, whiting or squid and eat together, with the fire pit and theatre room ready for the evening.
This kind of stay suits families with children new to fishing, keen adult anglers who want dawn and dusk sessions, and multi-generational groups. Grandparents can enjoy a relaxed morning on the beach, parents can take older children squidding, and younger ones can split their time between a short session, the pool and the play space.
Fishing groups rarely move as one. Set up a gear corner near the outdoor area so rods, buckets and wet shoes stay outside. The early anglers can head out quietly while the rest of the group gets breakfast ready for their return.
In the evening, the fire pit and outdoor fireplace make a natural gathering point after a dusk session. The balcony, which the listing describes as having a coastal outlook, is a good spot to check the water before planning the next morning, and the workspace with fast Wi-Fi helps with checking forecasts and rules.
Groups who planned an offshore snapper trip should adjust their expectations. This is a season for nearshore species, squid, charters that target other fish, or whale watching.
A Relaxed Three-Day Hillarys Fishing Itinerary
Day One: Settle In And Scout
Arrive and visit Hillarys Boat Harbour in the afternoon. Buy bait and a squid jig, look at the outer walls and the signs, and check the next morning's wind and swell before bed.
Day Two: Dawn Beach Session And A Family Afternoon
Head to a beach between Hillarys and Mullaloo at first light for whiting and herring. Come back for breakfast, then spend the middle of the day at the pool, at Mettams Pool, which the park guide describes as a sheltered lagoon under 2 m deep, or riding the 14 km Marmion to Burns Beach section of the Ride the Sunset Coast path. Finish with a short squid session at dusk and cook the catch.
Day Three: Rock Walls Or A Charter
If it is calm, try the harbour's outer rock walls early for skippy, tailor and whiting. If the group wants to get offshore, book a charter or whale watching trip from Hillarys. Keep the last afternoon free for packing and a long lunch.
If the weather turns, skip the rocks and swap in a harbour lunch, a movie in the theatre room and a later beach walk.
What To Pack And Check Before You Go
Bring light rods for beach and rock wall fishing, small hooks, sinkers, floats, squid jigs and spare rigs, but no wire traces. Add a fish measure marked in millimetres, a bucket, a cooler with ice bricks, a knife and bags for rubbish and old line, plus grippy shoes, hats, sunscreen and a wind layer for early mornings.
1Species rules: Check current size and bag limits on the official WA rules site.
2Demersal closure: Boat-based demersal fishing is closed in the West Coast Bioregion until spring 2027.
3Marine park zones: Check the current Marmion zoning map and stay out of sanctuary zones when fishing.
4Licences: An RFBL for powered-boat fishing, and a rock lobster licence for lobster.
5Harbour rules: Keep lines and pots out of Hillarys Boat Harbour and its entrance, and never clean fish there.
6Conditions: Check wind, swell and tide, and avoid rock walls in rough seas.
Plan Your Hillarys Fishing Stay
Spring is a good time for a fishing weekend in Hillarys: quieter beaches after the school holidays, longer evenings and a marine park full of life. Go in with the right expectations about the demersal closure and the zones, and you can enjoy dawn sessions, squid at dusk and fresh fish on the barbecue.
Can you still catch pink snapper and dhufish in Perth?
Not from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion right now. Boat-based recreational demersal fishing has been closed since 16 December 2025 and is due to reopen in spring 2027. The closure does not apply to land-based fishers, who can still fish for demersal scalefish within the rules, though land-based spearfishers may not take WA dhufish.
Can you fish in Marmion Marine Park?
Yes, in most of it. Line fishing is allowed in the general use zone. Fishing is not allowed in sanctuary zones such as Little Island and Boyinaboat Reef, and only shore-based line fishing is allowed in the Waterman Recreation Area. Check the current zoning map before you fish.
Can you fish inside Hillarys Boat Harbour?
It is restricted. The Department of Transport's boating guide says placing fishing lines, nets, pots or floats in the harbour or entrance channel is prohibited without permission from harbour management, and local guides say fishing from the boardwalks and jetties is not allowed. Anglers usually fish the outer rock walls instead. Follow the signs on the day.
What fish can you catch from the beach near Hillarys?
Shore anglers along this coast mainly catch whiting, Australian herring, tailor and skippy, with Australian salmon also caught at beaches such as Trigg. Squid can be caught with jigs. Check the size and bag limits before keeping any fish.
Do I need a fishing licence to fish from the shore in Perth?
The licence sections on the WA rules site list licences for powered-boat fishing and netting, not for ordinary line fishing from the shore. You do need a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence to fish from a powered boat, and separate licences for rock lobster and abalone. Check DPIRD for the full current rules.
Are wire traces allowed when fishing for tailor at Hillarys?
No. Wire traces are illegal in all nearshore waters within 800 m of the shore from Tim's Thicket Beach to Two Rocks, which includes Hillarys, and in the Swan-Canning Estuary.
When is rock lobster season near Perth?
DPIRD's 2026 guide says the recreational western rock lobster season is open all year. You need a licence, and from 15 October to 31 March the night ban runs from 7.30 pm to 4.30 am. Rock lobster cannot be taken from Marmion's sanctuary zones or the Waterman Recreation Area.
Can you go crabbing near Perth in October?
Not in the main crabbing waters. Coastal waters, rivers and estuaries between the Swan and Canning Rivers and Minninup Beach are closed to all crab fishing from 1 September to 30 November.
Is Hillarys good for fishing with kids?
Yes. Short sessions for herring, small whiting and squid suit children well, and the harbour, beaches and Mettams Pool are close together. Fish in calm conditions and keep an adult with children on any rock wall.
How many guests can Sant's Beach Retreat accommodate?
The current WTP listing shows five bedrooms and three bathrooms for up to 10 guests. Check the live listing for the latest bedding, layout and house rules before booking.
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