Fishing World – September 2019

fishingworld.com.au | September 2019 | 67

CLOCK WISE FROM LEF T: 12 kilos of monkey

mia mulloway slides into view boatside. Note

the seagrass – Shark Bay has some of the

biggest seagrass meadows in the world;

Snapper fishing in shallow water can be hot

at times off Monkey Mia; Don’t forget to bring

your crab nets. Shark Bay is home to the

biggest blue swimmer fishery in the country.

FACT BOX

For boat owners headed to the region there are good quality

ramps at both Monkey Mia and Denham (26 kilometres to the

west of Monkey Mia and on the eastern side of the western

gulf). There are different snapper fishing rules in each location

so make sure you look up regulations before you head out. You

will need a Recreational Boat Fishing License when fishing from

a boat anywhere in Western Australia.

Nearby Denham offers a nice alternative to the more

expensive Monkey Mia resort with far more options available

within a range of budgets. If the weather is good the western

gulf of Shark Bay offers more fishing options than Monkey Mia

too and, on the right day, boat access to such iconic fishing

locations as Steep Point and Dirk Hartog Island is also possible.

But be aware that when the wind is up the Shark Bay chop

can be a nightmare for smaller boats and in this sparsely

populated area it is extremely important to be self sufficient

safety-wise. There is also a myriad of shallow sand bars to

negotiate – get stuck on an outgoing tide and you’re staying

there for a while. You don’t want things going wrong in remote

places like this... and it isn’t called Shark Bay for nothing!