EYRE PENINSULA
Coffin Bay Fishing
Overview
Coffin Bay is one of South Australia's premier fishing destinations — a sheltered bay system surrounded by national park, famous for King George Whiting, snapper and flathead, and equally loved by families for its calm water and easy access.
Quick Info
What Can I Catch?
Best: Spring & Autumn
Best: Spring - Autumn
Best: Autumn - Winter
Flathead lie in ambush on sand and estuary channels and are an accessible, reliable catch across South Australia. They hit lures and baits readily, fight well for their size, and produce sweet, white, almost boneless fillets — a perfect species for beginners and lure anglers alike.
Best: Summer
Best: Winter - Spring
Best: Open season months
Best: Spring - Summer
Best: Summer - Early Autumn
Best: Summer - Early Autumn
Best: Late Winter - Spring
Best: Late Winter - Spring
Best: Late Spring - Late Summer
Best: Summer - Autumn
Best: Summer
Check current snapper closure zones before targeting snapper here.
Where to Fish
Town jetty in the sheltered harbour - King George Whiting, tommy ruff and squid on light gear, best on the tide run.
Sheltered sand flats along the town foreshore - whiting on the incoming tide with light gear.
How to Fish Here — Rigs
The simplest and most natural presentation rig in fishing — a sinker that slides freely on the line so a fish can pick up the bait without feeling any weight. Perfect for finicky biters like whiting, bream and mullet.
A versatile and highly effective rig for King George Whiting and many other species.
Best Baits & Lures
Fishing Environments
Best Seasons
Whiting, squid and flathead fish best from spring through autumn; salmon at the ocean entrance in the cooler months.
Beach and rock fishing around the bay entrance and inside the national park produces whiting, flathead and tommy ruff; the ocean beaches hold salmon and mulloway.
The town jetty is a reliable family spot for tommy ruff, garfish and squid, especially around dawn and dusk.
The bay and the waters outside the entrance hold King George Whiting over sand patches, snapper on deeper ground and flathead in the channels.
The ocean beaches of the national park produce salmon, mulloway and tommy ruff in the gutters.
Family Fishing
Excellent — sheltered water, caravan parks, easy access and a family-friendly town jetty.
Access & Facilities
Sealed road access to the township; 4WD tracks give access to the national park beaches.
Good boat ramps in the township with all-tide access in the main channel.
Boat ramps, fuel, bait and tackle, caravan parks and general stores in town.
Part of the bay system falls within marine park zones — check signage and current zone rules before fishing.
Fishing Rules
Nearby Camping & A4GW Guides
Coffin Bay caravan park and nearby national park camping; see the A4GW Eyre Peninsula guides for more.
See the A4GW Eyre Peninsula travel guides for camping and 4WD access around Coffin Bay National Park.
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