OPEN ALL YEAR Four Seasons of Boating & Fishing on Kangaroo Island It’s hard not to boast about the fishing around Kangaroo Island. Discover more Some say it has the finest eating and game fishing in southern Launch your boat from Kangaroo Island Council ramps at waters. American River, Bay of Shoals (Kingscote), Christmas Cove (Penneshaw) for a fee, or from Baudin Beach or Emu Bay for free. Fishing is a daily ritual of many Kangaroo Islanders, and if See www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/boating for more information anyone knows, a local does. So, dangle a line from a jetty, cast and beach launching locations. off from a beach or charter a deep-sea boat – and enjoy. Kangaroo Island’s mostly moderate weather allows recreational Kangaroo Island fish, and their habitat and breeding grounds, are fishing all year round. protected by Marine Parks and Marine Park Sanctuary Zones. See www.marineparks.sa.gov.au and download the app with Check limits on size, bag, boat and possession for all fish and offline maps, or check the signs at launch points across the shellfish, and season closures, for example for Rock Lobster and island. Recreational fishing is allowed everywhere except Snapper, on the fishing regulations app (www.pir.sa.gov.au). Sanctuary Zones and Restricted Access Areas. That leaves most Tourism Kangaroo Island’s Gateway Visitor Centre jetties, bays, beaches, rocks and waters around Kangaroo Island (www.tourkangarooisland.com.au) will point you towards the best free for your fishing pleasure. fishing spots and hire of boats and fishing gear, or can book you a fishing charter. The most popular fish by far is King George Whiting, sought by three-quarters of all recreational fishers. And the good news is it’s available year round, and right round the island. authentickangarooisland www.tourkangarooisland.com.au Autumn Winter Spring Summer The mild, calm weather of autumn Winter waters can be pounding on In the changeable spring weather, try When the waters warm in summer, makes fishing all the more relaxed Kangaroo Island, but that just adds to fishing inshore at American River and the garfish come alive in sheltered and comfortable. the fishing excitement – and the Nepean Bay for Snook, King George bays. Try your hand at dab-net fishing King George Whiting are biting, rewards are plenty. Whiting, Trevally, Southern Calamari, for these tasty streaks. Squid are widespread, particularly Australian Herring and Salmon Trout. over seagrass meadows, Tommy Eastern Cove, Smith Bay and Boxing Squid, Snook, Red Mullet and crabs Ruff and Snapper are waiting in Bay are brimming with King George Or cast a line from jetties at are also more abundant and sheltered waters off the North Coast Whiting. School Mulloway are Kingscote, Penneshaw, Vivonne Bay widespread in the warmth. And and Flathead lie mainly in sheltered pouring into Snellings Beach. It’s for Southern Calamari, Snook, Tommy Ruff numbers expand in the shallow sandy beaches. Gummy Snapper time at Smith Bay and other Australian Herring, Trevally and some sheltered parts of the North Coast. Shark can be found off sandy North Coast locations. The broken King George Whiting. beaches around the island, and in bottom areas near American River in Trevally and Snapper (after 15 sheltered North Coast bays. particular make for good Snapper If you’re keen to go out in a boat you December) are plentiful on the North Trevally are also widespread along yields. might expect Southern Bluefin Tuna, Coast. Silver Drummer is also the North Coast and on the South Bight Redfish, Snapper, Blue widespread in rocky inshore coasts Coast Red Mullet schools arrive at The prospects are good for large Morwong, Gummy Shark, Silver but is difficult to catch. Sand crabs Wreckers Beach. Yellowtail Kingfish Salmon Trout off exposed South Trevally and King George Whiting. are common in warmer months can be found at a few locations – try Coast beaches like Hanson Bay. In around American River. Cape Willoughby and around artificial D’Estrees Bay, large Snook are Spring is the most productive time for structures in Nepean Bay. plentiful. Black Bream which is abundant in Tuna are active off the North Coast, brackish estuaries of rivers such as west of Snellings Beach, off the Sweep are widespread around rocky Chapman, Cygnet, Middle, South South Coast, and around the Pages reefs and other artificial structures, West and Harriet. Islands. Take your family along to and Nannygai are offshore of North the annual American River Fishing and South Coast rocky reefs. The Snapper season is closed midday Spectacular competition on the 1 November to midday 15 December. Easter weekend, and compare your Try D’Estrees Bay, Cape Dutton and fishing prowess with the locals. Stokes Bay for large Snook. And there’s always Squid over the annual American River Fishing seagrass meadows, Tommy Ruff in Spectacular competition on the sheltered parts of the North Coast Easter weekend, and compare your and Flathead at sheltered shallow fishing prowess with the locals. sandy beaches.