You would be surprised by our access to local fishing and diversity of species. Although boat fishing can open up many options, Adelaide has many productive land based fishing spots. Whether you are an Adelaide local, new in town, or here on holiday, our guide explains what species can be caught around Adelaide's popular metro fishing spots.

In this guide we will cover the following types of locations:

• Jetties & piers
• Rivers & estuaries
• Breakwalls
• Other locations

Jetties/Piers:

Largs Bay Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting, Mullet, Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Summary: The Largs Bay Jetty is the northern-most jetty in Adelaide and is situated roughly 16km from the Adelaide CBD. Although it’s one of the shortest jetties in Adelaide it still has plenty of options for those fishing it in summer. Blue Swimmer Crabs are the biggest attraction between the months of October and April. As well as Crabs, Garfish often school up between the months of October to April and are easiest to catch 2 hours either side of dawn and dusk. In the shallows, Yellowfin Whiting are common throughout the summer months at high tide. Similarly, Mullet are prolific in the shallows throughout autumn. Tommies can be caught year round under the jetty lights after dark.

Semaphore Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting, Mullet, Squid (Southern Calamari), Shark, Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Summary: The Semaphore Jetty is 585m long, situated 14km from the CBD. It is one of, if not the most popular jetty in summer time. Blue Swimmer Crabs show up at the beginning of Spring and really fire from December to February. Bag limits can be caught in less than an hour by those who time their session right. Garfish and Tommies are best after dark all year round. Garfish tend to be large in winter, but in less numbers than summer. Squid occasionally frequent near the end of the jetty where there are small patches of broken bottom. Bronze Whaler Sharks can be caught off the end of the jetty between October and March (please seek shark fishing regulations before planning a trip). Yellowfin Whiting are common through the inshore gutters in summer, however they are usually spooked by swimmers; particularly on days of hot weather. Mullet are found in the same inshore gutters as Yellowfin Whiting in autumn.

Grange Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting, Mullet, Blue Swimmer Crabs, Sand Crabs.

Summary: Another Blue Swimmer Crab mecca, the Grange Jetty is a popular summer spot for fishers of all ages and skill levels. Fishing at Grange Jetty is quite similar to Semaphore Jetty, although it can be less crowded at times. An underrated yet tasty crustacean that can be caught at Grange is the Sand Crab. They are targeted using the same methods to catch Blue Swimmers, however their peak season is from April to June. Grange Jetty is one of the better jetties to target Mullet and Yellowfin Whiting in the shallows. Tommies and Garfish are best targeted at night or early in the morning all year-round.

Henley Beach Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting, Mullet, Shark, Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Summary: Of all the Northern Jetties, Henley has the biggest variety of species on offer. Warm summer nights encourage Tommies, Garfish and Bronze Whaler Sharks to bite well, especially when surface berley is introduced to the water. Be sure you’re complying with local shark fishing regulations if you plan to use balloon rigs & wire traces. In the shallow gutters, Yellowfin Whiting school up in summer and Mullet school up year-round. Blue Swimmer Crabs are in full swing from October to April. Occasionally schools of Salmon and School Mulloway pass through.

Glenelg Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Mullet, Squid (Southern Calamari), Blue Swimmer Crabs, Snook.

Summary: Located in the middle of The Bay, the Glenelg Jetty is a pleasant change from the never ending sandy bottom found on the jetties to the north. The last quarter of the jetty has broken bottom (sand, weed and rock mixed together) which attracts an array of species; most notably Squid and Snook. Squid are a year round option provided the water is clear. Squid are simply targeted by casting squid jigs over the weedy bottom at the end of the jetty. Snook are commonly caught by casting small soft plastics or deep diving hard body lures around the jetty lights at night. Garfish and Tommies are also consistently caught by locals after dark. Mullet are around in the shallows between March and June and Blue Swimmer Crabs are plentiful between November and April.

Brighton Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting, King George Whiting, Squid (Southern Calamari), Blue Swimmer Crabs, Snook, Snapper.

Summary: Possibly the best metro jetty of them all. All throughout the year there are great fishing opportunities to be had at Brighton Jetty. Year round, Squid, Snook and Tommies call Brighton Jetty home. The warmer months bring in large numbers of Garfish, Yellowfin Whiting and Blue Swimmer Crabs. After some rough weather in winter it is possible to catch a feed of King George Whiting off the end of the jetty; and, the odd Snapper can also make an appearance. 

Port Noarlunga Jetty
Species: Tommies (Herring), King George Whiting, Mullet, Squid (Southern Calamari), Snapper, Australian Salmon.

Summary: Winter time at Port Noarlunga Jetty is popular for Australian Salmon anglers. Pilchards, heavily weighted soft plastic lures or metal slugs are used to catch Salmon up to 3kg. The biggest Tommies in Adelaide are caught here after dark year-round. Although the warmer months tend to produce better numbers, Mullet and Squid are a year-round proposition. The reefy bottom on the right-hand side of the jetty is the best area for Squid. The right-hand side of the jetty produces the odd King George Whiting in Winter. Snapper occasionally visit during periods of rough weather.

Rivers/Estuaries:

Port River - Click Here for full Fishing Guide

Species: Black Bream, Salmon Trout, Mulloway, Mullet.

Summary: The Port River is nationally regarded as a producer of big Mulloway, with fish exceeding the magical 60lb mark caught yearly. Many are caught on the tide changes with fresh or live bait around the bridges and deep drop-offs. Winter is regarded as the best season to chase big Mulloway in the Port River, although they can be caught year-round. Black Bream are common throughout the system year-round. The warmer months see them frequent the shallower sections of the river on the incoming tide. Hot spots include: Jervois Bridge, Torrens Island Hot Water Outlet, Snowden's Beach and Fisherman's Market Wharf. Salmon Trout and Mullet are abundant throughout the Port in autumn and winter. 

West Lakes - Click Here for full Fishing Guide

Species: Black Bream, Salmon Trout, Australian Salmon, Mulloway, Mullet, Garfish, Squid, King George Whiting.

Summary: Black Bream dominate the fish population in West Lakes and can be found absolutely anywhere throughout the system. Unweighted or lightly weighted baits of prawn, whitebait and pilchard are the easiest and most effective method; however soft plastics, hard body lures and flies account for their fair share as well. Mulloway average sizes of 50-80cm and any fish over the metre mark is considered a prized catch. Despite the previous statement, Mulloway over 50lb are caught occasionally. The southern end of West Lakes off Trimmer Parade offers the most diversity of species. The best time to try is on the rising tide as fresh, oxygen rich saltwater pours into the Lake. Fishing is great all year round although the species will change as the seasons change. In Summer – Garfish, Autumn – Mullet, Winter – Salmon, and Spring – King George Whiting & Salmon are the popular targets as well as Bream and Mulloway.

River Torrens - Freshwater
Species: European Carp, Tandanus Catfish, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Redfin Perch.

Summary: Majority of the River Torrens is riddled with European Carp which can not be returned to the water if caught. Although an Australian pest, they fight hard, are relatively easy to catch and they’re accessible to everyone. They’re commonly targeted around the CBD on baits of sweet corn, scrubworms and bread. The renowned hot spots are: Adelaide University Bridge, behind the Adelaide Zoo, Bonython Park and the Popeye Dock. The average size is large at 6-8lb, however Carp exceeding 20lb and 1m are a possibility. Catfish are caught by Carp anglers in the middle-to-lower reaches of the river. As you head upstream, the river becomes skinnier and flows much faster. It is possible to catch Trout and Redfin on shallow diving lures and soft plastics in the Adelaide Hills. Majority of the land in the Hills is privately owned and permission should be obtained before proceeding to fish.

Patawalonga River
Species: Black Bream, Salmon Trout, Mulloway.

Summary: Around the corner from Glenelg Jetty is a small locked estuary system. The bottom throughout the system is shallow and full of submerged structure which snags lures and rigs, but it is the perfect habitat for Black Bream. For this reason lightly weighted soft plastics and floating hard body lures are commonly used to target them. Prawns, whitebait and pilchards on unweighted rigs (no sinkers) work best for bait fishing. Salmon Trout are usually a main-stay year round and are often caught as by-catch by bream anglers. School Mulloway can be caught during summer on live baits and shallow diving hard bodied lures.

Onkaparinga River - Click Here for full Fishing Guide
Species: Black Bream, Salmon Trout, Mulloway, Mullet.

Summary: Late Winter and Spring encourage Black Bream to spawn in the upper reaches. Unfortunately for anglers there is a closed season on Bream above the South Road Bridge from September 1^st to November 30^th. On the bright side, Bream can be found throughout the system. Lure fishing is becoming increasingly popular with grub-tailed soft plastics the most versatile, and the most consistent producer of Bream and School Mulloway. Bait fishing is still very effective for all species above. Cubes of Pilchards, Bloodworms or half Whitebait work exceptionally well. If you plan to target Mulloway specifically, live bait accounts for majority of captures. Perry’s Bend is one of the most popular and consistent locations to try for all species. Majority of the river is accessible by foot although wearing a pair of gumboots or waders is strongly recommended for the muddy banks of the Onkaparinga River.

Breakwalls:

Outer Harbor
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, King George Whiting, Snapper, Salmon Trout, Snook, Squid, Blue Swimmer Crabs, Mulloway, Flathead.

Summary: If you don’t mind rock hopping, the Outer Harbor Breakwall holds the best variety of species in Adelaide. In Summer - Garfish, Tommies and Squid are commonly caught from the fishing platforms to the end of the wall. These 3 species are generally caught around sunrise and sunset. If chasing Blue Swimmer Crabs is your thing ensure the rope on your nets are over 15m long. You need to throw them out far enough to avoid snagging the rocks. Snapper of all sizes and the occasional Mulloway turn up during the warmer part of the year. From autumn to spring, Salmon Trout and Snook are caught using deep diving hard bodied lures and jerk shad style soft plastics. The sand patches in winter hold schools of small King George Whiting and Flathead.

North Haven
Species: Garfish, Salmon Trout, Black Bream, Mullet, Mulloway, Flathead, Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Summary: A few kilometres south of the Outer Harbor Breakwall is the North Haven Breakwall. Garfish schools are often plentiful on warm summer mornings. Black Bream and the occasional Mulloway are caught year round on soft plastic lures and Pilchards. Blue Swimmer Crabs are in season between October to April. Salmon Trout are in plague proportions in autumn and winter. Deep diving hard bodied lures and chartreuse coloured soft plastics work best. Flathead and Mullet are caught in autumn.

West Beach Boat Ramp
Species: Garfish, Salmon Trout, Black Bream, Mullet, Mulloway.

Summary: The small break wall at the West Beach Boat Ramp turns up a few surprising visitors throughout the warmer months of the year. Inside the wall, big Black Bream are schooled up in good numbers. Stealth, along with fresh bait or a well presented lure and light gear is the key to fooling the 1kg+ sized models. Garfish are common on warm mornings when brought in with the use of surface berley. The odd Mulloway is caught in late summer and autumn on live Salmon Trout or Mullet which are usually easy to catch on the rising tide.

O’Sullivans Beach Boat Ramp
Species: Tommies (Herring), Garfish, Salmon Trout, Salmon, Squid, Black Bream, Mullet.

Summary: O’Sullivans Beach Boat Ramp is consistent for year round fishing. Squid and Tommies are available year round provided the water is clear. Smaller 2.5 sized squid jigs often catch good numbers of Squid. Garfish tend to be scarce but larger in the cooler months. Salmon and Salmon Trout are common in winter. They can be caught by casting small metal slugs and soft plastics along the wall or into the surface feeding schools. In the shallows, Bream and Mullet can be caught on small cubes of Pilchard or Cockles.

Other Locations:

Tennyson Beach
Species: Yellowfin Whiting, Garfish, Blue Swimmer Crabs.

Summary: Calm, early mornings in Summer and early Autumn is the best time to catch a good feed of Garfish from Tennyson Beach. Blue Swimmer Crabs can be raked along the beach in summer, which has become popular and effective over the past few seasons. On the rising tide, particularly in the afternoon, Yellowfin Whiting can be caught in exceptional numbers with baits of frozen or live Bungem, Blood or Seaweed Worms.

Marino Rocks
Species: Squid, Snook, Snapper, Salmon, King George Whiting.

Summary: When the water is clear, Squid are common during low light periods year round. A squid jig or a Tommy suspended under a float is the most efficient and effective Squid catching method here. Snook and Salmon are patchy but possible to catch on metal slugs and long casting hard body lures in winter with Snook up to 80cm and Salmon up to 2.5kg a possibility. When the water is dirty Snapper and King George Whiting move inshore within reach of a long cast from the rocks.

Port Noarlunga Beach
Species: Salmon, Salmon Trout, Mullet.

Summary: In winter, casting metal slugs into the gutters for Salmon is very popular and productive. It’s not uncommon to have a school of 1-3kg Salmon within casting range and the fun can last for hours! Bait fishing with a surf popper attached to your bait rig is also very effective. A feed of Salmon Trout and Mullet are always on the cards for those casting baits of Cockle, Pilchard or Mullet mix just beyond the breakers.

That's just a taste of what you can expect to catch in Adelaide. To see what's biting now, click here for our Fishing Report.