Planning a Exmouth land based trip

 Hi guys, me and my dad are planning on taking the family to exmouth. The problem is we dont know much about exmouh and places to stop on the way to exmouth so i am looking for some help.

We have 7 days to go to exmouth and back as my dad is a fifo so we can't stay too long, we are planning on driving there but want to make one stop on the way as it is too long to go there in one day. Any suggestions/reccomendations will be greatly appreciated.

Also my dad and I are going to be doing a lot of fishing although we are stuck land based, the main reason we are going is to catch bigger fish. We are not too experienced when it comes to bigger fish though and we are seeking advice. Any tips on locations, rigs, baits and species caught would be very helpful. 

We will mostly be targeting Spangled Emperor and queenfish as our gear would most likely not be able to handle GT's. 

Any help is much appreciated, we just hope we won't be too disappointed

Thanks


jighead's picture

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Date Joined: 03/02/12

Night stop

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:31

 We normally stay at the telegraph station hamelin pool near shark bay. Just swag it in the car park near the jetty or they have some other options if not taken. Also can take a bit to suss the place out landbased (exmouth ) so don't go expecting too much and enjoy what comes.

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 thats a lot of travel for

Fri, 2014-11-28 18:51

 thats a lot of travel for maybe 4 days in exy, pursuade the old boy to take a few extra days. my only advice 

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Ye

Fri, 2014-11-28 18:53

Yeah I know, but the problem is, is taking 10 days off the rotation before so we can go to sydney so stuck there.

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you got some dates there bud,

Fri, 2014-11-28 18:55

you got some dates there bud, is exy your only thought or up for a few ideas closer to home

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thnx

Fri, 2014-11-28 18:54

thnx jig head, will look into that now.

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Ye was thinking of shark bay,

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:02

Ye was thinking of shark bay, my dad just really wants to get a big fish, and he thinks exmouth is the best bet. We were also looking at steep point but my mum and sister are coming and my sister doesn't like fishing. Also if we went to steep point my mum would be really paranoid with us fishing there. Any recommendations?

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if your thinking towns then

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:13

if your thinking towns then places like kalbarri are brilliant and provide large shore based fish. i only suggest a place closer to home as you will gain another day and a bit fishing, and less time traveling.

lachieH's picture

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 Lots of big tailor in

Fri, 2014-11-28 21:47

 Lots of big tailor in kalbarri. If I could go anywhere in the world to fish, it would be the abrohlos islands then Oman (which is out of the question here), then kalbarri

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Fishing the swan for bream, it's just an obsession

jighead's picture

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Date Joined: 03/02/12

Hamelin pool

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:10

 Is just somewhere to sleep for the night on the way up. Not fish. Your mum and sister will enjoy steep point as much as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick by the sounds of it.

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Haha

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:14

Oh ok.
Ye they won't enjoy it, even going to exmouth with pristine waters where you can swim and snorkel my sis would only let us go if she got something in return, dunno how she would react if we went to steep point.

mw87's picture

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Date Joined: 20/07/11

 I've done similar trips mate

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:50

 I've done similar trips mate and always stay in Carnarvon on the way there and back. Its about 9hrs travel, but means a short stint to Exy. 

 

Exy can also be hit and miss landbased, especially without previous experience and limited time to search. We've often got better results at Carnarvon, whether it be from the jetty or if you're feeling more adventurous, Quobba.

 

Chat to the guys at Tackle World Exmouth, they gave us some good starting points on my first trips.

 

Edit* My first trip to Exy I thought there would be fish crawling over my lures. We fished HARD for over a week. Caught pretty much sweet FA! haha. Sometimes it turns on, others not.

 

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Cool

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:49

Cool thnx a lot that's really helpful. Do u recon we would b better off staying at carnarvon, this trip is all about the fish.

mw87's picture

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 I've caught nothing on other

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:53

 I've caught nothing on other occasions at Carnarvon as well mate. IMO Exy is amazing, catching fish is a bonus.

mw87's picture

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 I've caught nothing on other

Fri, 2014-11-28 19:53

 I've caught nothing on other occasions at Carnarvon as well mate. IMO Exy is amazing, catching fish is a bonus.

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Ye I've talked to my dad and

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:03

Ye I've talked to my dad and he still wants to go to exmouth, any tips our locations to try?

Carry's picture

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what dates

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:13

what dates are you looking at going im in the process of planning a charter for a day with my young bloke on 10th or 11th jan .let me know if you or your dad wants some more info.

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We feel nothing but a certain difficulty in continuing to stand 

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We are going on the 12th so

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:17

We are going on the 12th so we will get there on the 14th most likely. Missed it by a margin!

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Although any info about

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:17

Although any info about charters and fishing would be great thnx!

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Date Joined: 26/11/12

The first time I went to

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:24

The first time I went to Exmouth a few years back I went for whale sharks and snorkeling, brought along a cheap combo and gave saltwater fishing a try (grew up fishing freshwater for trout) it was amazing--baby GTs, spangled emporer galore, a huge shovelnose, unstoppables, everwhere a fish a cast.  Fishing in WA was officially amazing and I was hooked (and still am).  Last year I went with my old man--a life-long fisher--who flew over from the States, and the trip was specifically for fishing.  We spent 8 days up there struggling to catch anything, as was everyone else we met fishing and in the campgrounds and caravan parks.  I had done heaps of research, made notes, we talked with tackle shop guys up there and they were helpful, but the weather was variable and nothing worked on the fishing front.  It was still a memorable trip with the old man, but a HUGE dissapointment on the fishing front.  I don't know if I'll ever get him back up there.  Would have caught more fish if we'd stayed metro (but wouldn't have woken up floating in a massive tent or helped dig a drainage trench at 2am to drain a campground...)

The first time up I stopped in Jurien and did the rest the next day.  It was a long day as we got in late.

The second time up, stopped in Kalbarri, which is slightly out of the way, and then Coral Bay.  It was less grueling.

On the way back have stopped in Denham, which was neat to see but adds time to the drive, and Dongara, which makes for a short drive the next day. 

Best advice I have is to go for more than fishing, because it may be amazing or it may be super slow. Enjoy the snorkeling, have a look around (the old man was a bit reluctant to snorkel, but the fish weren't biting so we went and he really enjoyed it), see a whale shark if you can. 

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Awesome!

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:31

Thanks, I will show my dad these posts, he is expecting a lot so don't wanna dissapoint him.

Btw everyone's help is greatly appreciated, unbelievable how fast you guys have replied and given me this information!

Nick1712's picture

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Date Joined: 04/04/14

 Just do it mate, it's an

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:33

 Just do it mate, it's an amazing place, we go up for 2-3 days from perth every now and then and it's worth every bit of the drive. 

It can be hard graft and a lot of driving and walking to find fish but worth it when you do, just don't fish mega heavy and you'll do fine. You'll get most things out on normal Tailor/ Salmon gear.

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 i tell ya what its making me

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:36

 i tell ya what its making me want to make the trip. hope you have a ball champ

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Haha

Fri, 2014-11-28 20:46

Thnx a lot guys,hopefully I can get a couple pics of fish to post when I get back.

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personally exmouth was my best land based experience i ever had

Fri, 2014-11-28 21:27

Key things fresh bait metal slices rock crabs soft plastics. 

 

Go to coral bay off the cliffs on low tide catch a few squid near the boat ramp. 

Put them on ice drive to exmouth find some stucture eg shipwreck near the light house get some queenfish and trevally the water has to be clean and just before high tide is ideal flick slices at them then when your arms are sore go to the national park pilgarmoo park the car walk 1km south towards coral bay cast towards the reef and hold on. Big spangled emp, queenies, spanish flag , gts. Plus lots more have fun

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Down the Line

 

Catch the Experience 

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Cool!

Fri, 2014-11-28 21:43

Thnx, that helps a lot, will definitely try that! Looking forward to this!

EL SYD's picture

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Date Joined: 16/08/10

 When you get there, fish the

Sat, 2014-11-29 00:17

 When you get there, fish the west side , Neds camp rock is pretty good , just watch out for waves and tides, look for the weed and cast cast at the sand channels inbetween, this is how I have caught most of my spangled emperor's there.

Piligumana sand point is worth a walk also, bring some soft plastics small ones and just flick them around.

Lighthouse beach has been very faithful to me over many trips

And last tip bring the squid gear and have a ball.

Cheers syd 

dj dvd's picture

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Date Joined: 27/03/12

 Try around the beaches at

Sat, 2014-11-29 01:06

 Try around the beaches at the end of wreck road near the light house.  Bring heavy gear. I brought a 20 pound set up for land based fishing and got stitched up lots of times.  Also burley works for the spangoes etc

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 Born to Fish/Forced to Work. www.eatsleepfishrepeat.com.au/

Posts: 49

Date Joined: 14/12/10

 I have travelled from the UK

Sat, 2014-11-29 04:37

 I have travelled from the UK to Exxy for the fishing twice, and am going back next year. It really is that good. Anywhere for Bundegi round the tip, and all the way into the national park is amazing. Fish poppers, stickbaits and metal slices and I've always caught plenty of queenies, trevally etc. On cut bait I've had loads of spanglies that are not just fun to catch but great to eat too! I've done a couple of posts on my trips so just do a search and have a look!

Kalbarri was good to but Exxy was out of this world! 

bouttime's picture

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Queenies should be around

Sat, 2014-11-29 05:25

Queenies should be around Learmonth jety by then, also plenty of squid. Have a crack in the Marina for Jacks and cod, Up towards the peir you will get Trevs and queenies and what the other guys have said.

Have you thought about hireing a boat for one day and fishing the west side. At least then you would have a chance of Mackies, Wahoo, sails ect. There are a few places up here that hire boats and you dont need anything too big. If I am off I might even be able to get you out on my boat for a fish.

PM me closer to when you arrive and will see what I can do.

Cheers

Posts: 116

Date Joined: 21/02/13

Thnx

Sat, 2014-11-29 13:28

Thnx a lot guys, a lot more feedback then expected. Will be cramming as much fishing as I can in the trip.
Bout time thnx a lot for the offer, I am leaving on the 12 of jan so will pm you close to then.

boggybay's picture

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Date Joined: 08/01/09

Ex

Sun, 2014-11-30 17:35

 If u got a 4wd and good camp gear try Ningaloo Station. Excellent fishing of the Beach at South Lefroy or at Windarabandy,

been going there for 25 Years PM me for moorre info if necessary. Good fishing. Boggy Bay!

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Date Joined: 21/02/13

Thnx

Sun, 2014-11-30 19:42

Thnx buggbay, I will pm u closer to the trip

Posts: 116

Date Joined: 21/02/13

Thnx boggybay*

Sun, 2014-11-30 21:03

Thnx boggybay*