Where do you launch a boat at Karratha?

The Karratha boat ramp on Nickol Bay is the main sealed launch, with parking, giving access to the Nickol River mouth and the inshore creeks. Hearson's Cove on the Burrup is a beach launch for small boats in settled conditions, and Cleaverville to the north-east has a creek ramp. Time launch and retrieval to the tide — the four-to-five-metre range strands boats on the mud at the bottom of a big low.

What can you catch at Hearson's Cove?

Hearson's Cove is a sheltered, family-friendly beach more than a fishing hotspot — it fishes lightly for queenfish and small trevally on the run-in across the flats. The better fishing is in Airport Creek behind the cove, which holds threadfin and mangrove jack, and in the Nickol River and Cleaverville creeks nearby. Wear reef shoes for stonefish and stingrays on the flats.

Is the fishing at Karratha different to Dampier?

Yes — Karratha is the inshore, land-based and small-boat side: Nickol Bay, the town creeks and Hearson's Cove, with threadfin, queenfish, mangrove jack and flathead on the tide. Dampier, 20 minutes west at Hampton Harbour, is the gateway to the Dampier Archipelago and the offshore reef fishery for emperor, coral trout and mackerel. Many anglers base in Karratha and fish both.

Are there crocodiles around Karratha?

Occasionally. Saltwater crocodile sightings are recorded across the Pilbara, including the Karratha creeks and Nickol River, and the resident population is slowly expanding. Numbers are far lower than Broome, but the mangrove creeks and tidal water should be treated as potential croc habitat — don't wade the creek edges and don't clean fish at the water's edge. Check City of Karratha and DBCA alerts before fishing.

Bite Compass

Fish Activity

Karratha (Nickol Bay / Hearson's Cove)

Thu 25 Jun 2026 · Australia/Perth

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📍 Karratha (Nickol Bay / Hearson's Cove)

waxing gibbous · 76%

Weather: Sunny Wind: SE 118° · 16 km/h Water: 20.8 °C

★★★★☆

High Fish Activity

▸ Why this score?

Wind SE 16 km/h — Light

Solunar Major window active

Water Temp 20.8°C

Moon Phase waxing gibbous — 76%

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Activity Forecast

Feeding Windows

Best times to fish based on activity score.

Peak

5:30 pm → 10:30 pm

Good

1:30 pm → 3:00 pm

1h 30m

Good

6:00 am → 8:30 am

2h 30m

Good

1:30 am → 3:00 am

1h 30m

First light

6:24 am

Last light

6:05 pm

Sunrise

6:48 am

Sunset

5:41 pm

Moonrise

2:00 pm

Moonset

2:35 am

High tide

6:00 pm

Low tide

12:00 am

High tide

6:00 am

Low tide

1:00 pm

Hourly Wind

High Bite Hours Highlighted