Shoalwater sits in front of the marine park, with a shallow sandbar extending toward Penguin Island that creates a unique inshore environment. The sandbar holds flathead and whiting in the warmer months, and the reef system beyond provides structure that attracts a wider variety of species than the open sand beaches.

Wade carefully onto the sandbar and fish the edges where sand meets deeper water — flathead sit on these drop-offs waiting to ambush. Soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom are effective for flathead. For whiting, use fresh bait on a light running sinker rig over the sand. The incoming tide brings fish up onto the bar.

Flathead (sand edges on the bar, ambush feeders), whiting (sandy bottom, warmer months), herring, and tailor around the reef structure. Australian salmon push through in autumn.

The marine park has sanctuary zones where fishing is prohibited — know the boundaries before you fish. Check the DBCA maps online. The sandbar is wadeable at low tide but covers quickly on the incoming — don't get caught out. Stingrays like the shallows in summer, so shuffle your feet.