Willie Creek (creek mouth / front flats)

Willie Creek — Wirrjinmirr to the Yawuru — is the mangrove-lined tidal creek 38km by road north of Broome where the town's jack fishers go when Town Beach jetty gets too sociable. It sits at the northern edge of Yawuru country, with the intertidal creek and the Coconut Wells lagoon inside the jointly managed Guniyan Binba Conservation Park, and it is best known as the home of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm. The fishing is snag work for mangrove jack and cod, with barramundi and threadfin a possibility at the right tide. On the incoming tide the sand flats at the front of the creek give up trevally, queenfish and fly-caught permit. The track in, the tides and the resident crocodiles set the terms, and the crocodiles are not negotiable.

Mangrove jack: cast into the deeper snag holes at the start of the run-in and again towards the end of the run-out. Put a live bait or a lightly weighted mullet strip hard against the timber, with just enough sinker to hold it in place, or work a soft plastic or small vibe past the snags. When the current slows at the turn of the low tide, the jack, barramundi and threadfin all get a look-in. Neap tides fish the deeper holes better than big springs, when the creek runs too hard to hold a bait. Flats: fish the incoming tide from dry sand well back from the edge, casting poppers or stickbaits at trevally and queenfish, or bring a fly rod for the permit — and walk off any bank the moment water starts running in behind it, not when the tide turns.

Mangrove jack and estuary cod from the snags are the reliable catch, with trevally, queenfish, bream and flathead from the banks. Barramundi and king threadfin do come out of the creek, but locals rate it a jack creek first, so treat a barra as a bonus. The flats out the front are one of the Broome area's spots for permit on fly. Queenfish and GTs follow the bait up the creek on the flood.

Plan the whole day, drive included, from the tide chart, because the tide also decides which track to the creek is open. Low tide is when to find bait and look at the snags: the rock bars and snag lines that are hidden at high water show you exactly where to cast later. The pearl farm lends out rods with lures during business hours, so the farm has already worked out that visitors cannot resist a cast. Stay back from the water's edge while you work out where the fish are.

Willie Creek is 38km by road north of Broome, up to an hour's drive: Broome Road east to the Cape Leveque Road turn-off, about 14.5km up Cape Leveque Road, 5km along Manari Road, then the last 7.5–8km on Willie Creek Road. The Shire of Broome maintains these unsealed, corrugated and sandy roads, DBCA says a 4WD is required for the Willie Creek precinct, and unregistered vehicles — ATVs and trail bikes included — are not permitted in the Yawuru parks. Because of the tides, the last leg runs on two alternate tracks marked red and blue, and a sign on Manari Road says which is open that day; it can change with tide, rain or bushfire, so follow the signs rather than your GPS. There is no camping: DBCA says the Yawuru parks have no designated camping areas and don't allow fires or firewood collection, and the Shire of Broome bans all free camping, sleeping in vehicles included, with on-the-spot fines. Stay in town and drive out for the tide.

The creek runs on Broome's tides. Spring tides move so much water that the creek runs hard for most of the cycle, and big tides flood sections of the access track, which is why there are two of them. Neap tides give longer, more fishable windows over the deeper holes. The dry season, May to October, is the practical window: easterly weather, firm tracks and clear water on the flats. From November to April the wet brings heat, storms and road closures, and the Shire can close the roads after weather. The creek colours up after rain, and dirty water favours the jacks and barra over the flats fishing.

Saltwater crocodiles live in Willie Creek — the pearl farm bans swimming because of the numerous resident crocodiles, and croc warning signs stand at the creek. Don't wade, and don't stand at the water's edge to land, clean or rinse fish. The incoming tide floods the flats quickly and cuts off sand banks, so walking out to one at low water is how anglers get stranded, or worse, and spring tides have stranded boats on the banks too. Irukandji and box jellyfish are mostly reported around Broome from November to June, though cases have been recorded in every month — with crocs in the creek as well, there is no safe month for water contact. Big tides flood sections of the track and it goes soft in the wet, so carry recovery gear and plenty of water.

Yes. DBCA says a four-wheel drive is required for the Willie Creek precinct, and the Shire-maintained roads in are unsealed, corrugated and sandy. The last leg runs on two alternate tracks, one with red markers and one with blue. A sign on Manari Road shows which one is open that day, and the open track can change with the tide, rain or bushfire. Allow up to an hour from Broome for the 38km, and follow the signs rather than your GPS.

Yes. The Willie Creek Pearl Farm bans swimming because of the numerous resident saltwater crocodiles, and there are croc warning signs at the creek. Fish from the bank well back from the water, don't wade out to sand banks at low tide, and never clean fish at the water's edge.

No. The intertidal creek is inside the jointly managed Yawuru conservation parks, which have no designated camping areas and don't allow fires or firewood collection. The Shire of Broome also bans free camping anywhere in the shire, including sleeping in a vehicle, with on-the-spot fines. Ignore older guides and the odd website still advertising a free camp at the boat ramp — stay in Broome and drive out for the tide.

Mangrove jack and estuary cod from the snags are the main catch, with trevally, queenfish, bream and flathead from the banks. Barramundi and king threadfin are caught too, mostly around the slack at the bottom of the tide. The sand flats out the front are known for trevally and permit on fly on the incoming tide.

For mangrove jack, fish the deeper snag holes at the start of the run-in and towards the end of the run-out. The slower water at the turn of the low tide is also the best chance at barramundi and threadfin. Neap tides are easier than big springs, when the creek runs too hard to fish well. Fish the flats on the incoming tide, and leave any exposed bank well before the water gets behind you.