|
Dirk Hartog Island is home to some of the most amazing cliff fishing throughout Australia. For years anglers gazed across from the legendary Steep Point and dreamt what inhabited the 80 odd kilometers of cliffs the stretch the west coast of the island. Now, however, anglers are dreaming about which cliff fishing location to spend the day at on the island and all the fish they can catch. Anglers are returning year after year to experience cliff fishing at The Block, Someone Else's, Urchin Point, Mystery Beach, Aquarium, Charlie's Harbour and Quoin Head. Anglers can chase down Pink Snapper, Baldchin Groper, Spangled Emperor, Dolphin fish, Yellow Tail Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, Yellowfin Tuna and Northern Bluefin Tuna, Shark and Sailfish and numerous other reef species whilst land based game anglers balloon bait or lure cast for a host of species. Standard tackle for cliff fishing at Dirk Hartog might include a 8 foot stick with lots of guts and a heavy duty spinning reel loaded with 50lb braid. Cliff gaffs are a necessity as is a safety rope and good footwear amongst other equipment. Those anglers brave enough to try cliff fishing at Dirk Hartog will be rewarded.
The relatively unexplored depths off the west coast of Dirk Hartog Island are turning up more surprises to the anglers who are willing to put in the time and effort. While the continental shelf lays some 60 m of Cape Inscription various other attractions bring gamefish to the waters of Dirk Hartog. One of the main reasons for the amazing selection of gamefish at Dirk Hartog is the flow of warm water from the north, otherwise known as the Leeuwin Current. This highway of warm blue water can, at times, lick the sands of the west coast and bring with it game fish. Bait is, as always, an important factor. When the bait is present the fish are never far away. Bait balls under attack from tuna, cobia and trevally are a good starting point for any larger piscatorial predator. The edges of Cape Inscription and the Pinnicles have turned up SailFish, Black Marlin, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Northern Bluefin, Dolphin Fish and Mackerel and while still relatively uncharted, the waters of Dirk Hartog are an exciting location to pursue these ocean nomads. Our 48 foot catamaran, Eendracht is available for charter for up to 20 guests. Contact us to book for either a full day of game fishing or an overnight charter.
Sport Fishing: One of the reason Shark Bay, and in particular Dirk Hartog Island, is such a popular fishing destination is the year long sport fishing that is available. Whether you like to throw poppers to menacing Giant Travallies on dusk or jig up the monster Flathead in the protected shallows around the Homestead. Dirk Hartog Island has it all. The east coast is a plethora of sheltered bays with rocky headland and gutters, which to a Tailor hunter is heaven. Full tides, coinciding with sunsets are the recipe for disaster when bait casting or retrieving minor style lures. The deep edge at Cape Inscription is an excellent spot for catching Spanish Mackerel- up to 30kgs on live bait. Catch
and release is common practice and crushed barbs on all trebles
and hooks are becoming regulation. If that doesn't get the avid sport
fishermen excited then the lure of the elusive Bonefish might!
|
