WA Salmon Season Guide (March-May)
Western Australian salmon are one of the most anticipated arrivals of the Australian fishing calendar. When they show up, it’s an event. Massive schools, aggressive feeding, and the kind of sport fishing that gets locals talking for weeks afterwards. Understanding when and where they appear, and how to target them, will set you up for some of the best fishing Perth offers.
The 2026 salmon season is already building momentum, and if you’re not prepared, you’ll miss out on one of the most reliable windows for outstanding action.
When Do WA Salmon Arrive?
WA salmon migration is a predictable annual event, triggered by water temperature and day length. They begin their northward movement from southern waters—the South Coast around Esperance and Walpole—and work their way up the coastline through summer and autumn.
By March, consistent schools are established along the Perth coast. They push north ahead of cooler winter water, which means our peak window is March through May. February can be inconsistent—early fish arriving while main schools are still south. But once March hits, you’re looking at reliable catches if you’re in the right place at the right time.
The main body of the migration typically peaks in late March through April. By May, numbers begin to taper, though large fish — the three-to-five kilo specimens — continue to feed aggressively.
Best Salmon Spots Around Perth
Point Peron and Cape Peron
These rocky capes are salmon magnets. The deep water nearby, the structure, and the current systems create perfect hunting grounds. Point Peron in particular sees consistent action during the season. You’re working rocky outcrops, gutters, and the deeper channels between the rocks.
Early morning is best here. Salmon move inshore with the tide and set up to ambush baitfish. Work surface lures and small soft plastics around the structure. The water can be rough, so time your visit for calmer days or smaller swell.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest is a premium salmon destination, but it requires a ferry run and preparation. The reefs around the island hold salmon in significant numbers, particularly the western and northern edges. Parker Point and the reef structures off Narrow Neck are known producers.
The advantage of Rottnest is less fishing pressure and solid fish—salmon there get good feed and grow quickly. You’re looking at a full day trip, but the return is often worth it.
Trigg and Scarborough Reefs
These are closer to Perth and more accessible than Rottnest, but equally productive during the season. Salmon come up onto the shallower reef structures to feed. Early morning light and slack tide are your best windows. Both beaches see good runs of salmon, especially when a fresh south-westerly pushes bait onto the reef.
Check the Trigg Beach and Scarborough Beach forecasts on BiteCompass before heading out — wind direction makes or breaks these spots.
Fremantle Area
The deeper water around Fremantle Harbour and the approaches can hold salmon, particularly where current systems push baitfish concentrations. Less documented than the reefs, but worth exploring when the main marks are crowded.
How to Target WA Salmon
Timing Within the Day
Salmon feed most aggressively in low light—dawn and dusk are your prime windows. They’re active predators chasing baitfish schools, so they’re moving constantly. The first light hour and the last light hour are when most fish are taken.
Overcast days can extend the feeding window. If you get a day with cloud cover and decent swell, you’ve got potentially good fishing from dawn through late morning.
Gear and Technique
Medium weight gear is ideal. Salmon typically run two to eight kilos — they’re not the biggest fish in Perth waters, but they’re fast, they fight dirty, and they’ll test your drag. A 7-foot rod rated 4-8 kg with a smooth drag handles them well.
Surface lures are devastatingly effective. Salmon are aggressive hunters, and they’ll smash topwater offerings. Small soft plastics on light jigheads work equally well. Live bait—mullet or pilchard—is excellent when you can get it, but most recreational fishers rely on lures.
Cast around structure, work your lure with varying retrieves, and be ready for explosive strikes. Salmon don’t tentatively bite—when they commit, you’ll know.
Reading the Conditions
Salmon respond to tide movement. Slack tide into the push of an incoming tide is often productive—the current change triggers feeding. Push hard on the turn, then settle into mid-tide if the fishing holds up.
Swell and current also concentrate baitfish, which concentrates salmon. Look for rips, white water, and turbulent areas—salmon will be nearby hunting.
The Seasonal Window: March to May
By early March, the season is in full swing. Late March and April are peak months—reliable schools, consistent fishing, and good numbers. Fish are still fresh, aggressive, and feeding hard. May is late season, but the fish remaining are often larger and more cautious. The bite still happens, but it requires better timing and technique.
This is not a season to sleep on. If Perth fishing has a guaranteed producing period for salmon, this is it.
WA salmon season is a rare window of reliable action. The fish are there, they’re aggressive, and they’re accessible in strong numbers. Spend March preparing, hit the marks in mid-April, and don’t miss the window.
Check conditions for your local salmon spot on BiteCompass — wind, swell, and tides in one place so you know whether it’s worth the early alarm.