C.Y. O'Connor Beach (North Coogee)

C.Y. O'Connor Beach fills the gap between South Beach and Coogee — a long sandy stretch in North Coogee that most people know as a dog beach rather than a fishing spot. The draw for anglers is the Catherine Point groyne at the northern end, a rock platform that concentrates bait and gives you the casting depth the open sand doesn't. The beach itself is flat and features-light, so the fish follow the structure. The bronze C.Y. O'Connor statue standing in the shallows about 30m offshore is the landmark you'll be casting past. It's a reach-level fishery — the same herring, tailor and whiting that work the Coogee-to-South-Fremantle coast — with the groyne as its one piece of genuine structure.

Fish the Catherine Point groyne at the northern end where the rocks meet sand — cast parallel to the wall rather than straight out, working the seam where turbulent water meets clean. The sandy patches either side hold whiting on light rigs with fresh bait. At dawn and dusk, run metals along the groyne for herring and tailor before the beach fills. The open sand is worth walking at low tide to find any gutter or hole, but the structure is where the odds sit. Early is doubly worth it here — the dog crowd builds through the morning, and a quiet groyne at first light beats a busy one at nine.

Herring around the groyne year-round, tailor along the rocks at dawn and dusk through autumn, and yellowfin, sand and King George whiting over the sandy patches in the warmer months. Southern calamari come off the weed edges near the structure, skippy work the wash, and garfish hold on calm days. Bigger tailor turn up on the rock groynes along this coast when the schools push through. None of it is spot-exclusive — it's the standard Coogee-stretch mix, concentrated by the one groyne.

The groyne is the spot; the sand is mostly for the dogs. Weekends and school holidays pack the beach with off-leash dogs from mid-morning, so fish early or fish the groyne where the sand traffic thins out. Don't climb the rocks when weed coats them — cast from the low sand instead. Bag your bait and frames; the gulls and dogs both take an interest, and cleaning fish on a family dog beach wins no friends.

Park at C.Y. O'Connor Reserve off Cockburn Coast Drive at the southern end, where there's a sealed car park, toilets, beach showers and a drinking fountain set up for dogs as well as people. The whole beach north to the Catherine Point groyne is a dog exercise area — dogs are allowed on or off-leash along its length, which is what defines the place. Sealed paths reach the upper beach for partial mobility access; the groyne rocks and soft sand are not mobility-friendly. The grassed reserve near the car park makes it an easy spot to bring kids, dogs and rods to at once. There's no formal lighting on the groyne, so a head torch is needed for dawn or dusk sessions, and the car park fills on fine weekends.

This is a west-facing, exposed beach that takes SW swell straight on, so the open sand washes out and the groyne's lower rocks get swamped once the swell pushes past about 1.5–2m. The easterly land breeze holds the surface flat until mid-morning; the afternoon Fremantle Doctor then blows onshore and shuts the fishing down by late morning on most summer days. Tide changes push bait against the Catherine Point groyne, and the run-in around dawn is the reliable window. Water clarity is usually good and drops only after winter storms. The groyne gives you a fishable edge in more wind than the bare beach can offer.

The Catherine Point groyne rocks get slippery with weed and wash in any sizeable swell — watch the sets for a few minutes before stepping onto a low rock, and never fish the lower groyne in heavy sea. Fishing is not permitted in the Coogee Maritime Trail, the Port Coogee waterways or inside the Coogee Beach shark barrier just to the south, so know where the lines are before you cast. Off-leash dogs run the beach all day; keep back-casts high and clear, and expect a curious nose in your bait bucket. Bluebottles drift in on summer northerlies, and stingrays cruise the shallows near the statue — shuffle your feet if you wade.

Yes. The Catherine Point groyne at the northern end is the main fishing spot, holding herring, tailor and whiting, with the open sand fishing best around any gutter at low tide. Fishing is not allowed in the Coogee Maritime Trail, the Port Coogee waterways or inside the Coogee Beach shark barrier just to the south, so stay north of those on the groyne and beach.

Yes. The whole beach from the South Fremantle Power Station north to the Catherine Point groyne is a City of Cockburn dog exercise area, where dogs are allowed on or off-leash. It gets busy with dogs from mid-morning, especially on weekends, so anglers do best fishing the groyne early before the crowd builds.

Herring year-round, tailor at dawn and dusk through autumn, and yellowfin, sand and King George whiting over the sandy patches in the warmer months. Southern calamari come off the weed edges and skippy work the wash. It's the same mix as the wider Coogee coast, concentrated by the groyne structure.

Park at C.Y. O'Connor Reserve off Cockburn Coast Drive at the southern end, where there's a sealed car park, toilets, beach showers and a drinking fountain for dogs and people. From there it's a beach walk north to the Catherine Point groyne.

Dawn on a moving tide, before the afternoon sea breeze and the off-leash dog crowd arrive. Tailor and herring fire at first light along the groyne, and the incoming tide pushes bait against the rocks to switch the bite on.