Can I actually fish at Yardie Creek?

Yes, but only in the permitted areas — the creek mouth, sandbar and adjacent lagoon shoreline allow shore-based fishing, while substantial stretches of the gorge interior and the adjoining Osprey Sanctuary Zone are no-take. Use the Marine Parks WA app to read the zoning before each cast. Penalties for fishing inside a sanctuary zone start at $5,000 and the area is camera-monitored.

Are there mangrove jack in the creek?

Yes, but the population is small and the gorge is mostly sanctuary, so realistic targeting happens at the mouth and adjacent fishable sections rather than inside the gorge proper. Light spin tight to the snags on a moving tide is the technique; live mullet, small soft plastics and surface walkers all work.

Should I cross Yardie Creek to drive to Coral Bay?

Only with high-clearance 4WD experience, low tyre pressures and tide knowledge. The bar is soft, sometimes breaks through to the sea entirely, and claims vehicles every season. The track south through Ningaloo Station to Maud's Landing is unsealed, remote and tide-dependent. If any of that sounds out of your depth, drive the long way around via the Minilya–Exmouth Road.

Are there crocodiles at Yardie Creek?

No. Saltwater crocodile range in WA starts further north around Onslow and into the Pilbara and Kimberley. Yardie Creek is well south of that line. Sharks are the relevant in-water hazard here, particularly through the reef gaps where they tax hooked fish.

Bite Compass

Fish Activity

Yardie Creek (Cape Range NP / Southern Ningaloo)

Thu 23 Apr 2026 · Australia/Perth

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📍 Yardie Creek (Cape Range NP / Southern Ningaloo)

first quarter · 35%

Weather: Cloudy Wind: S 167° · 16 km/h

★★★☆☆

Medium Fish Activity

▸ Why this score?

Wind S 16 km/h — Light

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Water Temp —

Moon Phase first quarter — 35%

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Activity Forecast

Feeding Windows

Best times to fish based on activity score.

Peak

6:30 pm → 8:30 pm

Good

1:30 pm → 2:00 pm

30m

Sunrise

7:40 am

Sunset

7:05 pm

Moonrise

1:41 pm

Moonset

—

Hourly Wind

High Bite Hours Highlighted