Watermans Bay is a limestone-reef fishery dressed up as a family beach — breakwater, grass, showers, kiosk on one side, productive rocky outcrops with gutters and sand pockets on the other. It sits inside Marmion Marine Park, which protects a chain of inshore limestone reef from Trigg to Burns Rocks. The reef holds bait, the bait holds fish, and the rocks give you the depth and structure you can't get from the beach either side.

Metal slugs and small poppers worked over the reef are the go-to for herring and tailor — cast across the rock edges and work the lures back through the wash. In autumn, spin or tailor-gear the gutters between reef sections for salmon schools. Work squid jigs over the weed at dawn and last light through spring and summer. Sand patches between reefs hold whiting on light baits in the warmer months.

Herring and tailor over the reef (year-round for herring, autumn peak for choppers), Australian salmon in the gutters through autumn, southern calamari (Aug–Feb, spring/summer prime), sand whiting on the sand patches, skippy and snook on the edges.

Watermans Bay itself is open to normal recreational fishing. Wear grippy shoes, watch sets, and don't turn your back on the ocean. Don't park on the kiosk service drive.

Sealed car park at Watermans Bay Reserve immediately behind the rocky outcrops. Sealed paths along the foreshore — partial mobility access onto the upper rocks; productive lower rock sections are not accessible. Public toilets, beach showers, grassed picnic area and a kiosk in season. No formal lighting on the rocks; head torch needed for dawn or dusk sessions. Parking fills on summer weekends.

West-facing rock outcrops fully exposed to incoming SW swell. Fishes well on the upper rocks in most conditions; the productive lower ledges and gutters between reef sections wash out above about 1.5–2m swell. Easterly mornings are calmest. Salmon runs in autumn benefit from cleaner-water easterly weather. Marine park reef structure means clearer water than open beaches; reduces only in days after winter storms.

Marmion Marine Park rules apply — no spear fishing within 1800 m of shore, and three small sanctuary zones nearby (Boyinaboat Reef, Little Island, Lumps Sanctuary) are no-take. Wet limestone is genuinely slippery; grippy footwear is non-negotiable. Big swell sets can wash the lower rocks; never fish low ledges in heavy swell. Bluebottles drift in during summer northerlies. Sharks transit the area but have not historically affected fishing safety.

Yes — Watermans Bay itself is open to normal recreational fishing. Three small sanctuary zones nearby (Boyinaboat Reef, Little Island, Lumps Sanctuary) are no-take and clearly marked. No spear fishing within 1800 m of shore anywhere in the marine park.

August through February at dusk into evening over the weed beds. 2.5–3.0 jigs in pink, orange or natural patterns worked slowly are the standard approach. Calm conditions are best — choppy water makes jigs harder to work.

Yes for the family beach side — breakwater protected swim area, grassed picnic, kiosk, public toilets. The fishing rocks are not kid-friendly without close supervision; the wash zone gets unforgiving without warning.

No spear fishing within 1800 m of shore inside Marmion Marine Park, which includes Watermans Bay. Recreational rod-and-line fishing is open under standard WA rules in non-sanctuary zones.