Rockingham Jetty sits in the sheltered waters of Mangles Bay at the southern end of Cockburn Sound, which means you can fish it when most of the coast is blown out. The pylons hold bait year-round, and the calm water makes it one of the best spots to bring the kids or fish light tackle without fighting swell. KGW and sand whiting over the cleaner bottom are a real bonus that most metro jetties don't offer.

Drop baits tight to the pylons and fish the shadow lines where herring and skippy school up. At night, the jetty lights draw squid within jig range — work slow and keep the jig close to the weed patches. For KGW, fish a long-shank paternoster on the sandy patches between weed with prawn or bloodworm. Light gear, small hooks, and fresh bait outfish heavy setups here.

Herring (reliable year-round), skippy, squid (best Aug–Feb at night), tailor on dusk, and King George whiting over the sandy bottom in warmer months. Sand whiting through summer. Garfish work the surface in calm corners. Tarwhine and small flathead round out the bread-and-butter mix.

Bring a long-handled net — the drop from the jetty makes hand-lining fish up risky. Keep rigs simple and tangle-free. Don't clean fish on the deck; the gulls will be on it instantly. The jetty fishes shoulder-to-shoulder on calm spring evenings.

Sealed car park immediately adjacent to the jetty entrance with overflow on the foreshore reserve. Sealed step-on access along the full length of the jetty — among the most mobility-friendly spots on this list. Public toilets, cafes, fish-and-chip shops and a tackle outlet all within a short walk. Lighting along the jetty is good for evening sessions but a head torch helps with rigging in the dark. Parking fills on summer weekends and school holidays.

South-facing position inside Mangles Bay shelters the jetty from prevailing westerly weather. Easterly mornings are the calmest. Tide changes lift the bite for squid, tailor and KGW; slack tide is slow. Cockburn Sound's water clarity is generally good; reduces after heavy rain or strong northerlies that stir up the seagrass beds. The bay can fog in on calm winter mornings.

Light hazards by Perth standards. Boards get slippery in heavy dew and after rain. Boat traffic in and out of the boat ramp adjacent to the jetty is constant during the day; keep lines clear. Stingrays cruise the sand around the pylons; watch your feet if you wade. Bluebottles drift in during summer northerlies.

Yes — sealed access, lighting, calm water, public toilets and cafes nearby, and a productive but light-tackle fishery. It's one of the better family fishing spots south of the river.

Yes — the sandy patches between weed beds either side of the jetty hold KGW from September through April. Fish a long-shank paternoster with prawn or bloodworm and keep weights light.

Late afternoon into evening from August through February. The jetty lights concentrate squid after dark, especially on calm nights with a moving tide.

Yes for most weather — Mangles Bay is well-sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. The jetty becomes uncomfortable in strong easterly winds or heavy rain, but it's one of the most reliable bad-weather spots on the metro coast.