Fishing in Walpole-Nornalup National Park

Walpole-Nornalup National Park sits along Western Australia's southern coast, about four and a half hours south of Perth.

The park holds a mix of tidal inlets, river systems, and rugged Southern Ocean coastline — water that shifts between saltwater, brackish, and freshwater depending on how far you travel from the sea.

The Walpole and Nornalup Inlets are the centre of gravity for fishing in the area. These calm, connected bodies of water reach the Southern Ocean through a narrow channel, which means the fishing changes with the tides and the season.

Black bream are the species most consistently associated with the inlets — locals work the drop-offs along the edges, using soft plastics or fresh bait like prawns and worms. King George whiting, flathead, and tailor also move through.

The Nornalup Inlet in particular has a reputation for bream.

The tidal reaches of the Frankland, Deep, and Walpole rivers fall within the marine park that encompasses the inlets, so the same water that feels like river fishing is still subject to marine park rules.

The lower Frankland is worth attention: black bream and mulloway work the stretch near the river mouth where it meets the inlet system.

The Deep River mouth and the water between it and the small island nearby are also mentioned by locals as productive ground — worth exploring for snags and structure. The Walpole River's tidal section feeds into the same inlet system.

The park is managed by the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Pets are not permitted anywhere in the park due to ongoing 1080 baiting for feral predators — worth knowing before you plan a trip.

For current fishing rules, bag limits, and any marine park conditions that apply to these waters, check directly with the Parks and Wildlife Service before you go. The fishing here rewards patience and local knowledge more than gear.

The inlets are quiet, the rivers are tannin-dark, and the country around them is old-growth karri and tingle forest. It's not a place that announces itself.