Coode Street Jetty (South Perth)

Coode Street Jetty is a short jetty at the end of Coode Street, next to the South Perth boat ramp and beside Sir James Mitchell Park. It sits on the shallow Perth Water stretch of the lower Swan with the city skyline straight across the river, which is half the reason people fish it. Black bream hold around the pylons year-round, blue swimmer crabs work the sandy margins through summer, and the odd cobbler turns up after dark. This is a family-and-after-work spot rather than a serious session — the restaurant, playground and BBQs on the shore tell you what it's really for.

Work small soft plastics or prawn and bloodworm baits tight to the pylons for bream, best on a moving tide into low light. Keep it light — this is shallow Perth Water and heavy leaders get refused. Blue swimmer crabs come on baited drop nets or a scoop net over the sandy margins beside the boat ramp through summer, once the seasonal closure lifts. Fish the pylon shadows after dark for bream and the odd cobbler, and don't expect a fast bite — this is a patience spot, not a blitz.

Black bream are the headline, holding around the pylons year-round. Blue swimmer crabs are the summer draw off the sand beside the boat ramp. Flathead sit on the sandy margins, and yellowtail grunter — a small estuary trumpeter — are a common bycatch in the shallows. Cobbler turn up at night and are subject to Swan-Canning size and bag limits, so handle them by the line and check current DPIRD rules before keeping any.

Swan and Canning black bream run to a 250 mm minimum with a bag of 6, and only 2 fish over 400 mm are allowed — check current DPIRD rules. Blue swimmer crabbing here is closed 1 September to 30 November each year; when open, the Swan-Canning limit is 5 crabs at a 127 mm minimum carapace width. Swan-Canning cobbler carry a 430 mm minimum and periodic closures, so verify DPIRD before keeping any. The main car park on the right is reserved for boat trailers — keep those bays clear and use the standard parking to the west of the restaurant.

Park to the west of the restaurant or on the left as you drive in; the main car park on the right is reserved for boat-trailer vehicles. Check current City of South Perth signage for any time limits or fees. The walk to the jetty is short, level and sealed, and the spot is among the more wheelchair-friendly options on the river. Public toilets sit on the boat-ramp side of the restaurant building, with open parkland, beaches, picnic tables, BBQs and children's playgrounds through the adjoining Sir James Mitchell Park. It is a genuinely kid-friendly location — the playground and cafe are metres from the water.

This is the shallow Perth Water stretch of the lower Swan — saltwater with subdued tidal movement rather than the strong current of the bridge spots downstream. Tide changes still nudge the bream around the pylons, and the rising tide into dusk is the most reliable window. The jetty faces north across the river, so the afternoon Fremantle Doctor blows onto it, while easterly mornings fish calmest. Water clarity is generally reasonable but colours up for a few days after heavy rain when the upper river runs silt down.

The jetty boards get slippery with heavy dew and after rain — mind your footing near the edge, especially with kids about. The adjacent boat ramp is in active use; keep lines and gear clear of vehicles reversing trailers and of boats launching and retrieving. Cobbler carry sharp dorsal and pectoral spines that deliver a painful sting, so handle any caught by the line rather than gripping them. Blue swimmer crabs will nip hard; use tongs or a net. Boat and SUP traffic passes close on this stretch of Perth Water, so be aware of moving craft when casting.

The mainstays are black bream around the jetty pylons and blue swimmer crabs off the sandy margins in summer. Flathead sit on the sand, yellowtail grunter are a common small-fish bycatch in the shallows, and cobbler turn up at night. Cobbler must be handled carefully and are subject to Swan-Canning limits, so check current DPIRD rules before keeping any.

Yes — blue swimmer crabs are the summer draw off the sand beside the boat ramp, taken on baited drop nets or a scoop net. Crabbing in the Swan and Canning is closed each year from 1 September to 30 November, so the practical season is December through April. When open, the Swan-Canning limit is 5 crabs per person at a 127 mm minimum carapace width — verify current DPIRD rules.

Yes. Park to the west of the restaurant or on the left as you drive in. The main car park on the right is reserved for vehicles with boat trailers, so keep those bays clear if you're not launching. Check the current City of South Perth signage for any time limits or fees.

Yes — it's one of the more family-friendly fishing spots on the Swan. The jetty is short, sealed and wheelchair-accessible, with public toilets, a restaurant, picnic tables, BBQs and children's playgrounds in the adjoining Sir James Mitchell Park. The water is shallow and calm, and the city skyline across the river makes it a pleasant evening spot.

No — land-based saltwater fishing in Western Australia does not require a recreational fishing licence for most species. Bag and size limits set by DPIRD still apply, including specific Swan-Canning rules for bream, crabs and cobbler. A separate licence is required only for freshwater species, which are not a feature of this stretch.