Walpole is not under the demersal ban.

Yes you can get out, but it is an interesting piece of water at the rivermouth, the channels change around alot.  Have seen many boats hoon through what they think is  a channel and then hit sandbars that werent there the day before.  Also there is a local radio check in too, ask at the supermarket in town and they will give you the details.

Once into the lagoon, near the jetty wait and line it up if you think you can get out based on weather. The river turns at the mouth and exits almost parrallel to the surf.  Fishing out there is great! There is even a video from fishwrecked there in 2004 catchin a blue groper methinks.

In the inlet the channel near the Franklin and the mouth of the deep are both good spots.  Normally we dont burley, just chuck a few lines out and wait for hits, if nothing within 20 mins, pick a different spot.  Dont be afraid of the shallows kgw, big bream and lizards all likely targets.

Dont bloody overfish it as im going down there again in 2 1/2 weeks, aside from that, good luck.

target the kg's on sp or on some fresh squid ? would i go near the mouth or find a spot in the inlet ?

cheers for the info, the ground out ther doesnt look to bad and dont have to go out fare to get to 40m+ water 1.5nm out. 

im more of a catch and realease type of guy ;) might keep a couple for tea here and there and maybe some to put in the smoke cos smoke fish taste so nice with beer i cant wait =).

be careful going out the rivermouth in a 4.2m tinny. we were down there at the beginning of the year with a 4.3m tinny and there was no way we were going to crash our boat into those waves.

we also slowly crusied through the shallows where the water was yellow from the tannin and Wade spotted a few whopper crabs. easy to jump out of the boat with some welding gloves and catch them - and offered some great laughs as well.

We stayed at Coalmine and launched at their ramp, but if you didn't want to get wet ankles then you're better off launching in town.

Have fun! Can't wait until we get down again early January.

do a search for walpole in the search bar and you will find lots of other walpole posts

if i have to get through surf then i probaly wont go out in the ocean as i will be taking the gf.

Plenty of tarwine on the rocky side of the mouth mate. Spot fish for schools of Kgs on the flats..cockles were best bait for us. If you cant catch a bream there, your arms must be painted on!

yeah cant wait =) hopefully i can catch my first bream on a Soft plastic

any chance of a mulloway at night inside the mouth ?, if thers a lot of rays around is live bait the way to go ?.

Just pick your day if your going to go out the entrance, make sure its not a rising swell because it can make it a nasty return.  Once you are out there it shouldn't be too bad, if you get over near goose island or breakaway then you should find plenty of ground.  Just keep your eye open for the south wester, if you see any hint of it coming, then get out of there.

I don't see why you can't get mulloway in the inlet, mind you, I never heard of any being caught in 14 years of living there.  Mainly on the beaches at blue holes.

As Wade said, plenty of fish.  I'd try around snake island or the false channel this time of year for blackies.  (on the right hand side of the mouth heading out from the boat ramp)

Good luck, make sure you take plenty of pics.  Haven't been down there in ages and always miss it.

Cheers,

Adam

If you plan on going out then if you pick your day as Adam said there isn’t a problem. Just stay close to the rocks as you go out the channel (just spend a few minutes watching the swells coming through on the point).  The breakaway (about 2nm past Saddle Island) is often a good bet for a pinkie or two. There is good ground not far from Saddle Island as well. I have caught plenty of nice fish over the years down there. It is one of my all time favorite spots, offshore if the wind is ok, in the inlet if not and if it’s the right time of the year then  a feed of the elusive marron is on the cards. I will be down there in late January for all of the above.

I noticed in June that DEC declared the Walpole-Nornlaup Inlets as the south west's first marine park.   I couldn't see that any fishing rules have been changed or new ones put in place but I guess as the area becomes more popular that will happen.

"Management of the marine park focuses on research, monitoring, education and interpretation, and public participation programs. Such programs allow managers and scientists to gain a better understanding of the estuarine ecosystem, and to assess and manage the impacts of human activities in the area." 

Strangely, all that above has been carried on for years, without the need for the marine park tag.

just to let crew know...DEC have banned dogs in the marine park area....even locals walking in the morning...big bum fight is on the cards but in the mean time leave the pup at home

they hired a houseboat for a week.

plenty of fish around atm!

he was using SP/HB.

as above pick your days getting out. We went out no problem in a 4.3 hornet. no big rods so just a look but no problem.

enjoy as it is magical down there.