Swanbourne is a quieter stretch of surf beach between Cottesloe and City Beach. The gutter system shifts with the swell, but when it's on, this beach holds tailor and herring close to shore without the crowds of Scarborough or Cottesloe. Less foot traffic means less spooked fish.

Same approach as any metro surf beach — walk first, find the gutter, then fish it. Look for darker water, wave breaks, or channels draining between sandbars. Fish low light windows on the tide change. If you can't find structure in the sand, move on.

Herring (reliable in defined gutters), tailor (autumn dawn and dusk), Australian salmon (Mar–Jun), and whiting when the water is clean and the bottom is sandy.

Moderate swell carves the best gutters; strong onshore wind makes it unfishable. Swanbourne's advantage over busier beaches is the lower foot traffic — fish early before the dog walkers arrive. Access is straightforward from the car park, but the beach is long, so be prepared to walk.