Tide times at Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay)

About Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay)

Dirk Hartog Island is the 80-kilometre-long sandstone slab at the western entrance to Shark Bay, separated from Steep Point by the South Passage and best known as the site of the first recorded European landing on Australian soil — Dirk Hartog left a pewter plate at Cape Inscription in 1616 and Willem de Vlamingh replaced it with his own in 1697.

Tide character this week

Today's tides at Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay) sit in the spring band — peak-to-trough range about 0.6 m (moon 88% illuminated).

Across the next 7 days at Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay), the average peak-to-trough tide range is about 0.69 m. The biggest swing this week falls on Sunday (~0.82 m).

Best tide state to fish Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay)

Two coasts means a plan B nearly every day. The Shark Bay side is sheltered through south-westerly wind and big swells and fishes calmly when the western corners are unworkable. The western coast takes the full Indian Ocean swell and the south-westerly seabreeze drives the ballooning fishery off the southern points. Easterly mornings are calmest and best for the western ledges. Tidal range is moderate. The Leeuwin Current pushes warm water past in summer, bringing pelagics inshore. Water clarity is excellent. Cyclone season runs November to April with serious storm potential.

What anglers target here

Anglers fishing Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana — Outer Shark Bay) typically time sessions around the tide for spanish mackerel, giant trevally, spangled emperor, pink snapper, and samson fish.