Preston Beach Fishing Guide
Preston Beach Fishing Guide: Tailor, Whiting, Crab Season And Rules
Preston Beach fishing from late October to December is mostly about the surf: tailor at dawn and dusk, whiting, herring and skippy on light gear in the gutters, and mulloway after dark. You can fish from the shore without a licence, but WA bag and size limits apply to every angler. Crabbing is a different story: the Perth and South West closure, which covers the Peel-Harvey estuary, runs until 30 November, and DPIRD has consulted on moving the opening to 1 January. Here is what bites, where to stand, the 2026 rules and a two-night plan.
Key Takeaway
The Shire of Waroona describes Preston Beach as famous for its fishing. In late spring and early summer, target tailor at the change of light and whiting, herring and skippy through the day. Shore fishing needs no licence, boat-based demersal fishing is closed in the West Coast bioregion until spring 2027, and crabs are off limits until at least 30 November.
Before You Cast
Three Fish Worth Chasing This Summer
Preston Beach Fishing At A Glance: What Bites From Late October To December
Preston Beach sits on the Yalgorup coast about 124 kilometres south of Perth, according to the Shire of Waroona, squeezed between the Indian Ocean and Lake Preston. For anglers that means open surf, gutters and sand banks rather than jetties or rock walls.
The Shire's visitor page puts it plainly: "Preston Beach is famous for its fishing and played host to major fishing carnivals in the past." Today most visitors fish it simply, with a rod, a bucket and a few hours either side of sunrise or sunset.
Late spring is a good time to come: tailor school along WA beaches through spring and summer, and whiting and herring work the gutters. The table draws on DPIRD fact sheets and Bite Compass's Preston Beach spot guide (reviewed 5 October 2026). Fish move with water temperature, swell and bait, so treat it as a guide, not a promise.
| Species | Best window (late Oct–Dec) | Where and how | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tailor | Dawn and dusk | White water and gutter edges, lures or bait on ganged hooks | Keen anglers, teenagers |
| Whiting (school and yellowfin) | Daytime, calmer days | Small baited hooks in shallow gutters | Families, light rods |
| Australian herring | Day and evening | Berley to hold a school, then small hooks | Kids, first-timers |
| Skippy (silver trevally) | Daytime | Gutter edges with berley | Mixed groups |
| Mulloway | After dark | Deeper gutters, heavier gear, fresh bait | Experienced anglers |
| Australian salmon | Mainly autumn, not now | Beach schools, usually March–May | An autumn trip |
Reading The Beach: Gutters, Sand Banks And Where To Stand
Preston Beach has no fixed fishing platform, so spend the first ten minutes looking, not casting. Climb to a slightly higher point on the dune track and study the water.
Fish usually hold in the darker, deeper strip between the shore break and a lighter, shallower sand bank further out. Where a gutter opens to the sea through a break in the bank, moving water concentrates bait, and tailor and herring patrol it. Banks shift with every swell, so Saturday's best gutter may have moved by Monday. Walk until you find one rather than fishing the first patch of sand you reach.
Tailor At Preston Beach: The Summer Run At Dawn And Dusk
Tailor are a major focus of shore fishing on WA's west coast. DPIRD's tailor fact sheet says most of the recreational catch comes from the coast between Jurien Bay and Bunbury, which puts Preston Beach squarely in tailor country.
The fact sheet also explains the timing. Tailor rest in deeper water by day and move close to shore to feed at dusk and dawn. As they mature they leave the estuaries and school along the beaches in spring and summer, the movement many anglers call the "summer run". That overlaps the late October to December window.
Be rigged up on the sand before sunrise, or arrive an hour before sunset and fish into the dark.
The daily bag limit is 8 per person with a 300 mm minimum, and only 2 fish over 500 mm can be kept. DPIRD notes tailor survive release well when caught on ganged hooks or lures without trebles and handled carefully. Mind your fingers: their teeth are sharp.
Whiting, Herring And Skippy: Easy Fishing For Kids And Light Rods
For families and first-timers, the most reliable fun usually comes from smaller fish in the closer gutters.
Whiting. Whiting feed in the shallow gutters near the shore break, and Bite Compass rates school and yellowfin whiting best from October to April. Use light spinning gear, small hooks and fresh bait. Whiting other than King George have a daily bag limit of 30 per species and no minimum size. King George whiting have their own limit: 12 a day, minimum 280 mm.
Australian herring. DPIRD's herring fact sheet notes that schools can be held with berley made from pollard and fish oils, and that shore anglers take most of the recreational catch. The bag limit is 20 with no minimum size. Herring spawn in late May and early June, well away from this season.
Skippy. Silver trevally often turn up with herring around gutter edges. The bag limit is 8, minimum 250 mm.
With young children, keep sessions to about an hour mid-morning or late afternoon, with an adult on hand to unhook fish. When they lose interest, the foreshore playground and free barbecues are close to the beach car park.
After Dark: Mulloway, Sharks And Why Salmon Can Wait For Autumn
Mulloway are the big after-dark target. Bite Compass describes them as a year-round night fish here, peaking from late summer into autumn, taken on heavier gear with fresh bait in the deeper gutters. The bag limit is 2 per person with a 500 mm minimum.
Night sessions bring sharks into the mix. Since 1 June 2026, sharks and rays have their own combined daily limit of 3. If you release a shark, keep it in the water where you can, cut the trace close to the hook and keep children well back.
Australian salmon get plenty of attention on this coast, but their run is an autumn event: Bite Compass lists March to May at Preston Beach, and Recfishwest links the migration to Easter. If salmon are the goal, come back in autumn.
For night sessions, tell someone at the house which access path you used and when you expect to be back.
WA Bag And Size Limits For Preston Beach Fish (2026)
The DPIRD Recreational Fishing Guide 2026 (June 2026, Edition 2) is the current reference. Limits apply per person per day, so everyone in the group who fishes has their own limit.
| Species | Daily bag limit | Minimum size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tailor | 8 | 300 mm | Only 2 over 500 mm |
| Australian herring | 20 | None | Popular with kids |
| Other whiting (all except King George) | 30 | None | Shallow gutters |
| King George whiting | 12 | 280 mm | Separate, stricter limit |
| Silver trevally (skippy) | 8 | 250 mm | Often with herring |
| Mulloway | 2 | 500 mm | Night fish |
| Australian salmon | 4 | 300 mm | Mainly autumn |
| Sharks and rays | 3 combined | Whaler sharks: maximum 700 mm interdorsal length | Separate limit from 1 June 2026 |
Mixed-species daily limits sit on top of these. Tailor, salmon, skippy, mulloway and King George whiting all count towards a nearshore and estuarine total of 16 fish per person a day, while herring and other whiting count towards an 'all other species' total of 30. The figures were checked on 19 October 2026; confirm them on the DPIRD rules site before you fish.
Do You Need A Fishing Licence At Preston Beach?
For a holiday session on the sand, no. DPIRD's guide says shore fishing needs no licence apart from specific licensed fisheries such as rock lobster, abalone, marron, net fishing and freshwater angling. Rod-and-reel fishing for tailor, whiting and herring is not one of them.
On the water it changes. A Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence is needed for any fishing from a powered boat, including crabbing. Fishing from an unpowered kayak does not need one. Licences come from DPIRD and run for 12 months from issue.
Bag and size limits still apply to unlicensed shore anglers, so the measuring board belongs in the bucket on every trip.
Crab Season 2026: Closed Until 30 November, With A Possible Later Start
Blue swimmer crabs are a big part of summer around Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey estuary, but crabbing is not open in spring. DPIRD sets an annual closure from 1 September to 30 November for coastal waters, rivers and estuaries between the Swan and Canning rivers and Minninup Beach, about 15 kilometres south of Bunbury, including Cockburn Sound. The area is closed to all crab fishing in that period, and it takes in the Peel-Harvey estuary, as a 91.7 The Wave report on 31 August 2026 also noted.
Under the current rules, crabbing reopens on Tuesday 1 December 2026. However, from 13 March to 15 April 2026 DPIRD consulted on extending the closure to 31 December, so the season would open on 1 January and crabs would have the chance of an extra moult. The department said it anticipated any changes would be implemented before the summer 2026–27 crabbing season. When we checked on 19 October 2026, the consultation page listed its report as still to come and the DPIRD rules site still showed the 1 September to 30 November closure, so check the rules site in late November before you pack the drop nets.
Legal gear is your hands, a blunt hand-held wire hook, drop nets no wider than 1.5 m (up to 10 per person or per boat) and rigid hand-held scoop nets within DPIRD's size limits. Crab rakes are prohibited, and you must not catch crabs for anyone else.
Where To Go Crabbing Near Preston Beach Once The Season Opens
Blue swimmer crabs are an estuary target, so crabbing means a drive. The nearest large crabbing water is the Harvey Estuary, the southern arm of the Peel-Harvey system, east of Lake Clifton and Old Coast Road.
On its eastern shore, the Shire of Murray's Herron Point has a boat ramp, fishing, crabbing and shoreline walks, with flushing toilets but no drinking water. The Shire asks that fishing and crabbing there meet current restrictions. Camping there must be booked in advance. Mandurah, at the northern end of the system, is the region's best-known crabbing town and gets busy on summer weekends.
Crabs feed in shallow, weedy water and along sand-bank edges. Early mornings and late afternoons are more comfortable for wading with a scoop net. Wear old sneakers or reef shoes, and take a floating tub, a crab gauge and a cooler with ice for the drive back.
Lake Clifton And Lake Preston: Look, But Do Not Fish
From the deck at Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat you look straight across Lake Preston, and it is natural to wonder about fish. The lakes are not fishing water.
DPIRD's West Coast bioregion rules list Lake Clifton as "Closed to all fishing". It is home to the thrombolites that visitors view from the boardwalk, about 20 minutes' drive from the house. For Lake Preston, the Parks and Wildlife Service lists birdwatching and bushwalking, not fishing. Our Yalgorup National Park walks guide covers the trails and the boardwalk.
Keep the rods for the ocean. Pets are not permitted in Yalgorup National Park, so plan the boardwalk visit without the dog.
Driving On Preston Beach To Fish: Access, Speed And Soft Sand
The Shire of Waroona describes Preston Beach as "one of the few places where there is 4WD access right along the beach". Its Visit Waroona 4WD page says "Access is via the main car park at the end of Preston Beach Road", that only the beach itself is open to vehicles and the dunes are not, and that "The designated speed limit along the beach is 30km/h."
Conditions and access can change, so obey any signs or closures on the day and check with the Waroona Visitor Centre if you are unsure.
You do not need a vehicle to fish well. The house is about a 12-minute walk from Preston Beach, and many anglers simply walk along from the main path until they find a good gutter.
Fishing Safely On An Open Surf Beach
Preston Beach faces the open Indian Ocean. Our Preston Beach swimming guide covers patrols and swimming safety. Anglers should add a few points.
Swell. Bigger sets surge further up the sand than the waves before them. Never turn your back on the sea while wading out to cast, and keep bags above the high-water mark.
Sharks. Check the SharkSmart activity map or app before wading at dawn or dusk, and report sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600. Do not clean fish or throw scraps near swimmers.
Stingrays, snakes and sun. Shuffle your feet when wading, watch for snakes on dune tracks in warm weather, and take water, a hat and sunscreen even on a cool, windy day.
Plan B: Myalup Beach Or Freshwater At Lake Navarino
Strong onshore winds can turn Preston Beach into weed and white water. Change the plan rather than fighting it.
Myalup Beach. About 20 minutes' drive from the house, Myalup is another open beach on the same coastline. It suits a change of scenery and a picnic, though a strong westerly can affect it too.
Lake Navarino (Waroona Dam). Lake Navarino sits behind Waroona Dam in Dwellingup State Forest, about 10 minutes' drive from Waroona via Nanga Road and Scarp Road, and Waroona is about 22 minutes from the house. Explore Parks WA says fishing is permitted with a licence, and DPIRD lists Waroona Dam among popular trout waters. Under DPIRD's freshwater rules, anglers aged 16 and over need a south-west freshwater angling licence. Trout must be at least 300 mm, with a combined daily limit of 4 trout and freshwater cobbler, and redfin perch are a pest that must not be returned. There are no toilets, and dogs must be on a lead.
A day off. If the wind will not drop, play nine holes at Preston Beach Golf Club, two minutes' walk from the house.
Events To Fit Around A Fishing Trip, November To December 2026
The Shire of Waroona's events calendar has a few dates that sit well alongside a fishing weekend. Confirm each with the organiser before you travel.
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 6 November, 5:30–8:30pm | Tom Curtain's Country Boys, Cowgirls & Horses Tour | Waroona Showgrounds |
| Saturday 7 November, 6–9:30pm | Star Tracks Astro Event | Waroona |
| Saturday 21 November | Charla Downs Waroona Rodeo (see our Waroona Rodeo guide) | Waroona (confirm venue with the organiser) |
| Sunday 22 November, 10am–4pm | Waroona Creative Arts Centre Open Day | Waroona Creative Arts Centre |
| Tuesday 1 December | Crab season due to reopen, unless DPIRD confirms a later date | Perth and South West waters |
| Saturday 5 December, 9–11am | International Volunteer Breakfast | Preston Beach |
| Friday 11 December, 5–9pm | Lions Community Christmas Gala (free) | Waroona Memorial Hall & Drakesbrook Place |
Why Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat Suits A Preston Beach Fishing Weekend
Fishing trips are about logistics as much as fish: where the rods go, where sandy gear dries, where the catch gets cleaned and how quickly you reach the beach at first light. Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat handles those well.
The house is about a 12-minute walk from Preston Beach and a 3-minute drive from the Preston Beach General Store for bait and fuel. There is parking for 5 cars, 2 in the garage and 3 on the driveway behind an electric gate, plus room for a boat or caravan.
The undercover outdoor kitchen has a gas barbecue, bench and sink, so the catch can be prepared and cooked outside, and an outdoor shower deals with sand before anyone heads in. The renovated kitchen has a fridge and freezer, and the laundry has a front-loading washing machine for salty clothes.
Between sessions, the covered deck looks across Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park with 180° views, while the wood fireplace, with starter firewood supplied, and reverse-cycle air-conditioning cover cool nights and warm afternoons.
Who This Fishing Stay Suits, And How A Small Group Uses The House
The house sleeps up to 5 in 2 bedrooms with 3 beds and 2 bathrooms. Bedroom 1 has a queen bed and an ensuite; Bedroom 2 has a tri-bunk with a queen below and a king single above, which suits a parent with kids or two mates happy to share.
It works for a family fishing trip, a couple with a teenager keen on dawn tailor, or a small group of friends. Both bedrooms and both bathrooms are on the one main level, which keeps pre-dawn starts simple.
The home is pet friendly and comfortably suits one dog, by approval, and the yard is fully fenced. Our dog-friendly Preston Beach guide covers the beach rules for dogs.
A Two-Night Preston Beach Fishing Weekend
Friday: Arrive And Scout
Check in from 2pm with the self check-in lockbox, then drive 3 minutes to the general store for bait. Walk to the beach an hour before sunset without rods, find the darker gutters and pick your spot for the morning. Dinner on the deck.
Saturday Dawn: Tailor
Walk the 12 minutes to the beach with head torches and be rigged up before first light. Fish the change of light, measure every fish and head back for breakfast once the bite slows.
Saturday Midday: Rest And Explore
Rinse gear under the outdoor shower. Then drive about 20 minutes to the Lake Clifton thrombolites boardwalk, or play nine holes at the golf club two minutes' walk away.
Saturday Afternoon: Family Session
Return with light rods, berley and small hooks for herring, whiting and skippy. Prepare the catch at the outdoor kitchen and cook it on the gas barbecue.
Sunday: One Last Cast
Keen anglers fish dawn again while everyone else sleeps in. Pack up, clean the cooler and check out by 11am.
What To Pack For Fishing At Preston Beach
The general store covers bait and basics. Bring the gear that is hard to replace in a small village.
Plan Your Preston Beach Fishing Stay
Late October to December brings tailor on the move, whiting and herring in the gutters, long evenings and, from December, the return of crab season. Check the latest DPIRD rules, watch the weather and give yourself at least one dawn and one dusk on the sand.
Check dates and live prices for Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat at Preston Beach, or browse every home on the WTP Holiday Homes booking page. For more ideas, read our other Preston Beach guides, including the Preston Beach food guide for nights you would rather not cook the catch.
Sources And Dates Checked
All sources below were checked on 19 October 2026. Fishing rules change, so check again before you fish.
- DPIRD Recreational Fishing Guide 2026 (June 2026, Edition 2): bag and size limits, licences, crab gear.
- DPIRD rules: blue swimmer crab: closure, size and limits.
- DPIRD Your Say: Recreational Blue Swimmer Crab Management Review.
- DPIRD West Coast demersal scalefish information.
- DPIRD statewide finfish limits from 1 June 2026.
- DPIRD West Coast bioregion rules (Lake Clifton).
- DPIRD tailor and Australian herring fact sheets, and the south-west freshwater angling guide (September 2026).
- Shire of Waroona: Explore Preston Beach, events calendar and the Shire's Visit Waroona 4WD and off-road page.
- Explore Parks WA: Lake Navarino and Lake Preston.
- Shire of Murray: Herron Point Campground.
- SharkSmart WA.
- Context: 91.7 The Wave (31 August 2026) and Bite Compass's Preston Beach spot guide (reviewed 5 October 2026).
FAQs About Preston Beach Fishing And Crabbing
What fish can you catch at Preston Beach?
The main surf species are tailor, Australian herring, school and yellowfin whiting, skippy and mulloway, with sharks taken at night. Australian salmon run along this coast mainly in autumn. In late spring and early summer, tailor at dawn and dusk and whiting, herring and skippy through the day are the most realistic targets for visitors.
Do I need a fishing licence to fish from the beach in WA?
No licence is needed for ordinary line fishing from the shore at Preston Beach. You do need a Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence to fish or crab from a powered boat, and separate licences apply to rock lobster, abalone, marron and freshwater angling. Bag and size limits still apply to everyone, including children.
When is the best time of day to fish Preston Beach?
Dawn and dusk are best for tailor, which move close to shore to feed at the change of light. Whiting and herring can be caught through the day, especially on calmer mornings. Mulloway are mainly a night target. Check the wind forecast, because strong onshore breezes can make the beach hard to fish.
When does crab season open near Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey?
Under current DPIRD rules, crabbing between the Swan River and Minninup Beach, including the Peel-Harvey estuary, is closed from 1 September to 30 November, so it would reopen on 1 December 2026. DPIRD has consulted on moving the opening to 1 January, so check the rules site before you go.
What is the bag limit and size limit for blue swimmer crabs?
In the West Coast bioregion outside the Swan and Canning rivers and Cockburn Sound, the daily bag limit is 10 crabs per person, with a boat limit of 20 when two or more licensed fishers are aboard. The minimum size is 127 mm across the shell. Berried females must be released immediately.
Can you fish in Lake Preston or Lake Clifton?
No. DPIRD lists Lake Clifton as closed to all fishing, and the Yalgorup lakes are valued for birdlife and the Lake Clifton thrombolites rather than fishing. Enjoy the lakes from the boardwalk, walk trails and lookouts, and do your fishing on the ocean side of Preston Beach.
Can you drive on Preston Beach to go fishing?
Yes, in a 4WD. The Shire of Waroona describes Preston Beach as one of the few places with 4WD access right along the beach, entered from the main car park at the end of Preston Beach Road. Driving is allowed on the beach only, not the dunes, with a 30 km/h limit. Lower tyre pressures and carry recovery gear.
Is boat fishing for dhufish and snapper allowed in 2026?
No. DPIRD states that recreational fishing for demersal scalefish by boat is closed in the West Coast bioregion until spring 2027, which includes WA dhufish and pink snapper. Land-based anglers are not affected outside existing spawning closures and can keep up to 2 demersal scalefish a day under the West Coast mixed limit.
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Where can I buy bait near Preston Beach?
The Preston Beach General Store, about a 3-minute drive from Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat, sells bait, fuel and liquor and has a cafe. Opening hours in small villages can change with the season, so call ahead or stock up in Mandurah on the drive down if you plan an early start.
How far is Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat from the beach?
The house is about a 12-minute walk from Preston Beach and a 2-minute walk from Preston Beach Golf Club. It sleeps up to 5 guests, has parking for 5 cars plus room for a boat or caravan, and includes an undercover outdoor kitchen with a gas barbecue and sink.
