Rottnest is Perth's offshore-but-not-really fishing playground — a 90-minute ferry with rod tubes across your shoulder and quokka selfie pressure behind you. The island offers clear-water reef, sheltered bays, sand-patched flats and rock ledges all within pedalling distance. Herring schools hold in Thomson Bay for family sessions; Geordie Bay mixes skippy, tailor and silver bream; King George whiting sit in surprisingly shallow water if you know where to sit; and the autumn salmon run turns the south side into a spinning man's paradise.

Start with herring, skippy and tarwhine using small baits or light jigs around the Thomson Bay jetties and Geordie Bay ledges. A berley cage to get bait deeper brings King George whiting, skippy and silver bream into play — the shallow Rotto bays can produce surprisingly big King George. Walk or pedal to Ricey Beach, Cathedral Rocks, Radar Reef or Little Armstrong Bay for tailor, squid and reef species. Salmon in autumn off the south-side beaches with metal slugs.

King George whiting (shallow bays with berley), herring (Thomson Bay / Geordie Bay), skippy and silver bream (reef edges), tailor (cooler months into the ledges), squid (Aug–Feb around the weed), autumn salmon schools, and pinkie snapper from deeper rock ledges in the cooler months.

Five Marine Sanctuary Zones are no-take: Kingston (Thomson Bay shipwrecks), Parker Point, Salmon Bay, Green Island, Armstrong Bay, and the West End Demersal zone. Fish outside them — check the Rottnest Island Authority sanctuary map before you cast. Daylight fishing is prohibited at The Basin, Little Parakeet Bay and Pinky Beach — evening only. No spear fishing, no nets. West Coast demersal closures apply to pink snapper and dhufish — verify current dates with DPIRD. Bring more water than you think.