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Guide

Perth Squid Fishing

Where and how to catch squid around Perth: Cockburn Sound seagrass, Woodman Point, Rockingham jetties and the lower Swan, with jig, wind and timing tips.

Published by SquidFishing.com.au By Rui Tang Published: 9 July 2026 Updated: 9 July 2026

Perth squid fishing means southern calamari in some of Australia’s clearest inshore water. The engine room is Cockburn Sound and its huge Posidonia seagrass meadows - calamari live on that weed - backed up by Rockingham’s sheltered jetties and, in the cooler months, the lower Swan River. Clear water is the theme, and it changes how you fish.

For the method behind the spot choice, start with Eging Australia and the full how to catch squid walkthrough.

Where to fish around Perth

  • Cockburn Sound - the prime ground. Fish Woodman Point, the Ammo Jetty and the seagrass banks and sand holes through the sound. This is where the better calamari live.
  • Rockingham - sheltered and weedy: Palm Beach Jetty, Point Peron, Mangles Bay and the Bell Park foreshore.
  • Lower Swan River - calamari push up into the river in the cooler months. Try Blackwall Reach, Point Walter, Bicton and around Fremantle.
  • Northern marinas - the breakwalls and pens at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Mindarie and Ocean Reef, plus Fremantle’s South Mole, are handy structure, especially at night.

If you need the structure-reading system first, use how to read water for squid fishing.

How Perth water behaves

The defining feature is clarity. Cockburn Sound and the ocean marinas are often gin-clear, which means squid get a long, good look at the jig - so realism and a natural fall matter more than flash. Fish the weed edges, sand holes and channel margins in the seagrass rather than empty open sand. The Swan can carry more colour, especially after rain, which flips you toward brighter jigs.

Best time and the sea breeze

Dawn and dusk into the first part of the night are the best windows. Perth’s summer afternoon sea breeze (the “Fremantle Doctor”) blows most days from the south-west, so fish the calm early morning or the evening after it eases. Autumn through winter is often the most consistent stretch for bigger calamari. See best time to catch squid for the broader timing logic.

Squid jig size and sink rate

A 3.0 covers most Perth sessions. Drop to 2.5 in shallow, calm, very clear water where squid are cautious, and step up to 3.5 for the sound’s deeper edges or when the breeze puts a chop and drift on the water. Because Perth calamari run to a good size, a 3.5 is rarely overkill. Standard to slow-sink jigs suit the seagrass. Run light PE 0.6-0.8 braid with a fluorocarbon leader.

See what size squid jig to use and the squid jig sinking rate guide.

Colours for Perth

  • Clean water (the sound, marinas) - natural prawn, olive, brown or silver.
  • Stained or river water - pink, orange or gold foil, or UV.
  • Night around marina lights - glow, white glow or a dark-backed glow.

For the full decision system, read squid jig colours Australia.

Access and etiquette

Cockburn Sound and Rockingham jetties get busy in summer, and seagrass wrack can pile on the ramps and rails. Give other anglers room, watch your footing at night, and take ink and rubbish home. On higher jetty rails, use a landing net or a squid gaff rather than swinging a good calamari up by the line.

Check current WA rules in the squid fishing regulations guide before keeping a feed.

A light egi rod setup, a 2500 reel, PE 0.6-0.8 braid, a fluorocarbon leader, and a small spread of 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 jigs in natural, visible and glow colours will cover most Perth sessions.

Browse squid jigs Australia, and use the squid jig size calculator if you are unsure on size. RUI ships Australia-wide.

Squid fishing elsewhere in Australia

FAQ

Where can you catch squid in Perth from land?

Cockburn Sound is the engine room - Woodman Point, the Ammo Jetty and the seagrass banks. Add the Rockingham jetties (Palm Beach Jetty, Point Peron, Mangles Bay), the lower Swan River around Blackwall Reach and Point Walter, and the northern marina breakwalls at Hillarys, Mindarie and Ocean Reef.

What is the best time of year for squid in Perth?

Southern calamari are around all year in Cockburn Sound, but autumn and winter tend to be the most consistent for bigger squid. On any day, fish dawn and dusk and work around the afternoon sea breeze.

What colour squid jig works in Perth’s clear water?

Perth water is often gin-clear, so lean natural - prawn, olive, brown or silver. Step up to pink, orange or gold foil when the water is stained or in the river, and use glow around marina lights at night.

Do you get big squid in Perth?

Yes. The Posidonia seagrass in Cockburn Sound and around Rockingham holds quality southern calamari, so a 3.0 to 3.5 jig is rarely too big.