The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Broome

With its beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery,  Broome is a paradise for people who love getting outdoors. And for those who like to get a little more hands-on with their adventures, it’s also known for its fabulous fishing.

Whether it’s land-based or sea fishing, searching rock pools for mud crabs, or casting a line out into the rivers, there are plenty of fantastic spots to choose from. 

Here’s our guide to fishing in Broome.

 

Our top land-based fishing spots in Broome

Town Beach Jetty

Town Beach is a beautiful spot for an idyllic Broome day, and if you love fishing, even more so. The Town Beach Jetty provides easily accessible fishing for anglers of all abilities. 100+ metres long, it reaches out into Roebuck Bay, providing a safe and sturdy base to try your hand. It’s a great spot to cast a line and watch the waves, or for kids who want to have a go too.

It’s known as a good location to reel in trevally and queenfish, with the occasional barramundi being seen too. And even if you don’t catch anything, you can still admire the ocean: you might even be able to see dolphins, stingrays, and sea turtles gliding through the waves.

The best time for fishing here is early in the morning, before sunrise, or in the lower light of the late afternoon.

 

Entrance Point

Entrance Point is right on the southern tip of Broome, around a 10-minute drive from the centre of town. It’s also where you’ll find the Broome Fishing Club, which is an encouraging sign.

Standing on the soft sand beach, you get deeper water access right from the shore. As well as trevally, mackerel, and tuna, the greater depths provide the opportunity to catch larger offshore fish as they come closer in.

In the face of logic, it’s recommended to fish at an outgoing tide. During this time, you might even be able to find mudcrabs hiding in the rockpools as the water makes its way out. But be careful of the rocks, as they can be slippery to walk on.

 

Gantheaume Point

Gantheaume Point isn’t just dinosaur tracks—it’s also a good spot for fishing, and a place where the locals like to go. 

Among the spectacular red rock, you can often catch trevally and queenfish, and there’s even the odd coral trout to be found. However, the change in tide can be dangerous to navigate, so make sure you give yourself enough time to set up, fish, and get back in before the water comes back in.

Move slowly on the slippery rocks, too, as they can be tricky to navigate when carrying all your gear.

 

Cable Beach 

With its beautifully flat, soft sand and views out over the blue Indian Ocean, you won’t find much better beach fishing conditions than at Cable Beach. It’s a good spot for catching whiting, bluefin salmon, and threadfin salmon,  particularly at the incoming tide. The calmer waters also make it great for those newer to the sport.

The northern end is particularly well-suited for fishing and provides easy access to get your 4WD down onto the beach. But be sure to do this only when the tide is out—you don’t want to see your vehicle lost in the waves.

 

Offshore and charter fishing options

Land-based fishing is one thing, but if you get the chance, do yourself a favour and get out into the Indian Ocean. You’ll find the water teeming with fish, and plenty of different species to find depending on where you go.

Here are some of the top Broome fishing charters that can get you out on the water:

• Absolute Ocean Charters is a family-owned and run business. With half and full day charters available, they take you to some of the best reef, river, and ocean spots around town on their 65-foot fishing vessel.
• Karma IV offers something a little different. With Karma IV, you can go on a fishing tour on a 70-foot catamaran. It’s something of a luxury tour, where you can relax and recharge while casting out a line. Discover spots to catch yellowfin, coral trout, and they’ve even been known to reel in a wahoo.
• Broome Billfish Charters is another family-owned and operated fishing charter. They’ve purpose-built their own custom fishing vessel, featuring all the gear you’ll need for a day on the water. Offering private and shared charters, Broome Billfish Charters takes you out further over the waves, where you’ll have the chance to catch sailfish, marlin, mackerel, coral trout, red emperor, and much more.

While these three Broome fishing charters come highly recommended, there are plenty more to choose from. Ask around, or have a chat with our friendly team, to find the one that’s going to suit you. 

 

The best time of year to fish in Broome

Broome has two distinct seasons, the wet season and the dry season. And honestly, both of them are good for fishing.

Barramundi are known to appear in larger quantities in January. Creek fishing gets a bit more competitive in March, and offshore fishing starts to deliver better results in May. However, be aware that the dry season between May and October gets busier around town, so choose your times to fish with care.

In terms of tides, it’s best to choose mid-tide times for fishing. The bigger tides tend to mean more movement in the water, kicking up mud and sand and making it dirtier.

As for the moon, the full moon is known as the best time for fishing, particularly in the evening, when fish’s feeding behaviour increases.

 

What else do you need to know about Broome fishing

Do I need a license to fish in Broome?

For land-based fishing, you don’t need a license to fish in Broome, nor will you need one when going on an organised charter. You’ll only generally need one if you skipper a boat yourself.

Are there crocodiles in Broome fishing spots?

While you can’t rule out the sight of a crocodile off a Broome beach, it’s a rare occasion. But it does still happen, so still keep an eye out.

Can I fish from the beach?

You can fish from most beaches in Broome—there will be signs saying if you can’t.

 

It doesn’t get much better than fishing in Broome

Fishing in Broome is good any time of the year. It all depends on what you want to catch and how you want to go about it.

So when you’re planning your Broome fishing adventure, book a room at The Continental Hotel. Just minutes from Town Beach, we’re perfectly located to help you ease your way into the Broome fishing way of life—and we can even help you book a Broome fishing charter to get out on the ocean.