Houtman Abrolhos Islands (Wallabi / Easter / Pelsaert Groups)

The Abrolhos sit 60 to 80 kilometres west of Geraldton across three island groups — Wallabi to the north, Easter in the middle and Pelsaert to the south — and have one of the strangest fish lists on the Australian coast. The Leeuwin Current drags tropical species this far south, so dhufish, pink snapper and samson share reef with spangled emperor, coral trout and the occasional Spanish mackerel. There are nearly 400 fish species recorded across the islands, the wreck of the Batavia from 1629 is on Beacon Island, and most of the chain now sits inside the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park gazetted in 2019. This is a charter or private-boat fishery — there is no public ferry and you cannot drive there.

Live-aboard charter is the dominant access mode: 3 to 6 day trips out of Geraldton on a moored barge or motor yacht, fishing the bommies and shoals each day from a tender. Drop baits and jigs on the 30 to 80 metre reef edges for dhufish and pink snapper (only off a licensed charter holding quota tags while the boat-based demersal closure runs to spring 2027), and leave baldchin groper alone — DPIRD's guide says they cannot be taken or landed at the Abrolhos during the closure. Bait of choice is a fresh squid strip or octopus leg. Live-bait drift across the deeper shoals for samson and yellowtail kingfish, particularly around the Pelsaert wrecks and the Easter Group passages. Troll skirts and minnows in the warm-current months for Spanish mackerel and tuna. Squid jig the lagoon weed edges at change of light for southern calamari, which are abundant and a useful bait source for the next morning's snapper drift.

Pink snapper, dhufish, baldchin groper, breaksea cod, samson and yellowtail kingfish are the traditional table mix, with spangled emperor, coral trout, Spanish mackerel and yellowfin tuna possible when the Leeuwin warms the water. While the boat-based demersal closure runs to spring 2027, the demersals come home only off a licensed charter holding quota tags, and baldchin groper not at all.

The Abrolhos cap the demersal mixed bag at 1 fish, tighter than the 2 that applies across the rest of the West Coast — and that is moot from a private boat until spring 2027, because the boat-based demersal closure applies here too. Licensed charters holding quota tags are exempt, so their clients fish to that 1-fish Abrolhos bag. Verify DPIRD rules before each trip and travel with a copy on the boat. Sanctuary zones overlay parts of all three groups; charter skippers know them but private-boat crews need to plot them on the plotter before leaving Geraldton. The Western Rock Lobster fishery operates from rock-lobster camps on many islands during the season — give the working boats and pots room. Keep one fish for the table and release the rest carefully; descender weights save deep-caught snapper from barotrauma.

Charter or private boat only. There is no public ferry and no road. Live-aboard charters depart Geraldton (around 4.5 hours north of Perth) for 3 to 6 night trips and include all meals, bunks and tender fishing. Day-charter and fly-and-fish operators run shorter trips when the weather allows. Private boats need to be capable of the 60 to 80 kilometre offshore crossing in changeable Indian Ocean conditions and a serviceable EPIRB, log-on with marine rescue, and a competent skipper — and every boat must lodge DPIRD's online notification of travel to the Abrolhos before entering the Fish Habitat Protection Area, which is a requirement rather than a courtesy. Camping is not permitted in the national park — DBCA allows day visits only — so overnight access is by live-aboard charter or your own boat. Geraldton has fuel, tackle, supermarkets, an airport and a major port.

The Leeuwin Current runs strongest in autumn and early winter and brings warm water and tropical strays as far south as the Easter Group. Westerly and south-westerly swells dominate; the lagoons inside the island groups stay fishable when the open ocean is unworkable. Summer trade winds blow hard from the south in the afternoons — early starts and lagoon shelter are the working pattern. Visibility on the deeper reef is excellent in winter and drops with run-off after a winter storm. Tides are modest by Pilbara standards but the current through the passages can be strong.

Open Indian Ocean crossing — weather windows close fast and a 60-kilometre run home in a southerly buster is no joke. Sanctuary zones carry serious penalties and zoning is non-trivial; have the current DBCA visitor map on board. Submerged reef at low water around all three groups has wrecked plenty of vessels — the original Batavia in 1629 was the first of many. Sharks tax any slow-cranked demersal on the deeper drops — wind it fast or lose it. Sun, dehydration and limited mobile coverage off the islands are the usual remote-fishing baseline; pack water and a working PLB.

No. The Abrolhos are 60 to 80 kilometres offshore from Geraldton with no road, no bridge and no public ferry. Access is by chartered vessel, private boat or fly-in fly-out scenic flight. Most fishing visitors take a 3 to 6 day live-aboard charter out of Geraldton.

Yes for private boats — the Abrolhos sit at the northern edge of the West Coast Bioregion and the boat-based demersal closure applies, continuously, until spring 2027. Licensed charter boats outside the Perth metro zone are exempt, so a charter holding West Coast demersal quota tags can still land demersals for clients, though DPIRD's guide also says baldchin groper cannot be taken or landed at the Abrolhos while the closure runs. Abrolhos-specific limits are tighter than the rest of the coast — for charter clients now, and for everyone once the closure lifts: a mixed demersal daily bag of 1, against 2 for the rest of the West Coast. Baldchin groper are separately closed 1 October to 31 December inside the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area, and that closure catches land-based and charter fishers too. Confirm the current rules with DPIRD and your charter skipper before each trip.

April to July is the traditional window — settled weather, warm Leeuwin water still pushing south, and reliable charter availability. Summer is also fishable for pelagics like Spanish mackerel and tuna but the trade winds are harder. On a private boat, do not plan an April-to-July trip around a demersal feed: the boat-based demersal closure is continuous until spring 2027, not a seasonal window, so those months sit squarely inside it. Licensed charters are exempt, and an operator holding West Coast demersal quota tags can still land demersals for clients, so ask whether the boat carries tags before booking a demersal trip.

Yes. Multiple sanctuary and special-purpose zones overlay the three island groups under the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park and the Fish Habitat Protection Area. Charter skippers know them; private boats need a current DBCA visitor map and a plotter with the zones loaded. Penalties for fishing in sanctuary are significant.