Fishing in Karlamilyi National Park

Karlamilyi sits in the Pilbara desert of Western Australia, about 250 kilometres northeast of Newman.

At roughly 12,837 square kilometres, it is the largest national park in the state — a vast, arid landscape of sand dunes, spinifex plains, and ancient sandstone country.

Water here is not abundant, but it is present: the Rudall River runs the length of the park, and a handful of salt lakes sit to the east. These are the waters that draw visitors willing to make the journey. The Rudall River is the spine of the park's water.

Rainfall is erratic and falls mainly between December and May, but the river holds permanent pools and waterholes that persist through the dry season. These pools attract waterbirds and wildlife, and they are where anglers focus their time.

Access is slow — tracks to the various pools are sandy and require a capable 4WD. The remoteness is real: groups have gone four or five days without seeing another person. A satellite phone and travelling with at least one other vehicle are strongly advised.

Lake Dora and Lake Blanche are the two salt lakes that fall inside the park boundary, part of a U-shaped group of lakes east of the Rudall River.

Salt lakes in this country are not fishing waters in the conventional sense, but the TripAdvisor record of shore fishing at TeaPike suggests anglers do work the edges of the park's water features.

The blog record of an "Old Fishing Camp" — accessible only when the tide is out — points to the kind of site knowledge that only comes from spending time here. The park is managed by the Western Australian Parks and Wildlife Service.

Check current fishing rules with them before you go; regulations for protected areas can differ from standard state rules, and conditions in a park this remote and this significant to its traditional Martu owners deserve that attention.

Plan for at least ten days if you want to spend meaningful time at multiple water spots. This is not a park you pass through.