Fishing in Stokes National Park

Stokes National Park sits on the south coast of Western Australia, about 80 kilometres west of Esperance. Its centrepiece is Stokes Inlet, a large estuary where freshwater draining through coastal heath and paperback country meets the Southern Ocean.

The park's fishing is shaped almost entirely by that inlet — its tidal rhythms, its connection to the sea, and the sheltered water it puts between you and the exposed coast. Stokes Inlet is the main draw, and bream are the species most associated with it.

The inlet's mix of shallow flats, channels, and tidal movement gives you options whether you're working lures or bait from the bank or covering more water by canoe or small boat.

The surrounding beaches and rocky headlands at places like Shoal Cape also give access to ocean fishing for those who want to work the surf or fish off the rocks. The park is remote enough that preparation matters.

There is no drinking water at the campgrounds or day-use areas, so self-sufficiency is essential. Camping is available, and some sites require advance booking through Parks and Wildlife Service WA — worth sorting before you leave Esperance.

Fishing here sits inside a national park, which means the conservation context is real.

Check current rules with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions before you go — regulations can apply on top of your standard Western Australian recreational fishing licence, and the park's conditions are the ones that govern what you can do on the water.

The inlet rewards patience and local knowledge more than gear. Come with time to read the water.