Augusta and Hardy Inlet
Western Australia · Estuary and offshore
Where the Blackwood River meets the Southern Ocean. The inlet is a classic bream fishery and Flinders Bay is one of the closest shots at southern bluefin tuna anywhere in the state.
Fishing Augusta and Hardy Inlet
Augusta and Hardy Inlet is one of the Western Australia spots people come back to, and it fishes as an estuary and offshore. The species most people target here are Black Bream, King George Whiting, Samson Fish and Southern Bluefin Tuna, and the mix shifts through the year with water temperature and bait movement.
Tide does most of the work here: moving water pushes bait onto the edges and switches the fish on, while slack water usually means a slow hour or two on the bank.
On seasonality, bream year-round; tuna mar–jul — get your trips inside that period and you remove most of the guesswork.
Getting there: Ramps at Augusta and Molloy Island; offshore access via Flinders Bay.
The single thing that changes results most at Augusta and Hardy Inlet is the detail locals take for granted — troll skirts along the shelf out of Flinders Bay from autumn. Everything else is refinement on top of that.
Local tips
- ▸Troll skirts along the shelf out of Flinders Bay from autumn.
- ▸Bream stack in the upper Blackwood snags after winter rain.
Check current closures, marine park zoning and licence requirements with the relevant state fisheries authority. Conditions on tidal and offshore water change quickly — always check the forecast and tell someone your plans.
Licences and rules
Western Australia sets its own licence requirements, size and bag limits and closed seasons, and they change through the year. Confirm the current position with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Fisheries before you fish Augusta and Hardy Inlet.
Species guides for Augusta and Hardy Inlet
- King George Whiting — Australia's premier southern table fish — a seagrass specialist that rewards light gear, fresh bait and a well-placed berley trail.
- Samson Fish — A brutal deep-water amberjack that grows huge off Western Australia and fights like a freight train.
- Southern Bluefin Tuna — The blue-water prize of southern Australia — long-range, seasonal and worth every early start.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Augusta and Hardy Inlet?
Augusta and Hardy Inlet holds Black Bream, King George Whiting, Samson Fish, Southern Bluefin Tuna. Where the Blackwood River meets the Southern Ocean. The inlet is a classic bream fishery and Flinders Bay is one of the closest shots at southern bluefin tuna anywhere in the state.
When is the best time to fish Augusta and Hardy Inlet?
Bream year-round; tuna Mar–Jul. As a rule, the hours either side of a tide change and the dawn and dusk bite windows produce the most fish here.
How do you access Augusta and Hardy Inlet?
Ramps at Augusta and Molloy Island; offshore access via Flinders Bay.
Do you need a fishing licence at Augusta and Hardy Inlet?
A Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence is required for boat-based fishing. Separate licences cover rock lobster, abalone, marron, net fishing and freshwater angling. Confirm current rules with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Fisheries before you fish.
Nearby waters to Augusta and Hardy Inlet
Closest locations in the directory if Augusta and Hardy Inlet is blown out or crowded.
- Busselton Jetty, Western Australia77 km away · also holds king george whiting
- Bunbury and the Leschenault, Western Australia118 km away · also holds black bream
- Walpole and Nornalup Inlet, Western Australia162 km away · also holds black bream
- Peel–Harvey Estuary, Western Australia195 km away · also holds black bream
- Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey Estuary, Western Australia205 km away · also holds black bream
- Rottnest Island, Western Australia259 km away · also holds samson fish
What swims here
Species profiles for the fish Augusta and Hardy Inlet is known for.
- BreamLight soft plastics — best tide changes at dawn and dusk
- Southern Bluefin TunaTrolled skirts and divers — best early morning around shelf lines and bait schools
- King George WhitingLight paternoster rigs with squid — best slack water either side of the tide change
- Samson FishKnife jigs — best dawn on a tide change
Plan this session
- Fish Finder spot mapDepth contours and structure scoring centred on Augusta and Hardy Inlet (1–60 m).
- Bite times calculatorTide and moon windows for Western Australia so you fish Augusta and Hardy Inlet on moving water.
- Catch logLog sessions at Augusta and Hardy Inlet and build your own pattern over a season.
- Guided chartersLocal skippers who run Western Australia trips if you'd rather learn the water with a guide.
Where to fish for Augusta and Hardy Inlet right now
The Local Knowledge Fish Finder scores real Australian spots against live tide, moon phase, wind, water temperature and season, then ranks the best places to start today — with marine charts and depth contours built in.
- ▸ Ranked pins for Augusta and Hardy Inlet near you
- ▸ Depth contours and seamarks on the chart
- ▸ Live tide, moon, wind and water temp
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