Huge schools of Western Australian salmon were reported off Yallingup in April 2023, after marine scientist and photographer Matt Kleczkowski captured drone footage of the fish. It was a seasonal wildlife sighting—not confirmation that salmon are at Yallingup now. The migration is associated with autumn, but where schools travel in any particular year depends partly on ocean conditions.
What happened at Yallingup?
PerthNow reported on 8 April 2023 that Kleczkowski had filmed large schools of salmon in Yallingup waters. The footage showed an aggregation close to shore, drawing attention from families visiting the South West coast. The report did not give a measured count or dimensions for the schools, so their size should not be expressed as a specific number.
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The sighting is a snapshot from 2023. It does not establish that salmon are present at Yallingup today.
When and where do Western Australian salmon migrate?
Western Australian salmon spend much of the year near Esperance and Albany, then gather and move west along the coast during the autumn run. A 2022 SharkSmart notice describes the seasonal migration as occurring in March and April. The annual timing and how far north the fish travel can vary with ocean currents and water temperatures.
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The 2023 PerthNow report said the fish were thought to spawn between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. That was an attributed belief in the report, not a spawning event documented in the Yallingup footage. Spawning aggregations and the Leeuwin Current’s role in dispersing eggs and larvae toward coastal nurseries are also described in SharkSmart’s 2022 seasonal notice. In a separate 2025 notice, SharkSmart said the northward extent of the run depends on currents and described that year’s Leeuwin Current as strong; that year-specific condition should not be assumed for other seasons.
Are salmon at Yallingup now?
The available sighting report is dated April 2023, and it cannot confirm current conditions. Salmon movement varies by season, so check recent local reports and official SharkSmart information before planning a visit around the run. The 2023 footage is evidence of what was seen then, not a live wildlife update.
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Is it safe to fish for salmon from the rocks?
Rock fishing carries risks, and DPIRD and SharkSmart advice favors fishing from sandy beaches rather than taking those risks on rocks. Salmon schools close to shore can also attract sharks and other marine animals. Fish waste may draw marine predators toward places used by swimmers and other beachgoers.
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- Choose a sandy beach rather than a rock platform for fishing.
- Bleed caught fish away from the water’s edge.
- Dispose of fish waste, including bait and frames, responsibly and away from the water.
- Follow current official beach and shark-safety advice, and pay attention to local warnings.
PerthNow’s 8 April 2023 report quoted then-DPIRD Acting Shark Response Unit Manager Michael Burke: “It’s safer to feel the sand between your toes when you are fishing for western Australian salmon and avoid the risks that come with rock fishing. However, it’s important to think of other beach users and ‘bleed’ your catch away from the water’s edge and dispose of all fish waste (including bait and frames) responsibly to avoid attracting larger marine predators,” he said.
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The same report said that if a Surf Life Saving WA helicopter circles above a beach and sounds its siren, people should leave the water immediately, check SharkSmart information, and stay out for at least an hour. Because this instruction comes from a 2023 report, check current official guidance for live advice.
What fishing rules apply at Yallingup reef?
DPIRD’s West Coast bioregion rules page describes a protected area around the mouth of Yallingup Brook. It extends through Indian Ocean waters and reef within a 400-metre radius of the brook mouth. The page permits specified methods—pointed instruments, rods, or handlines—for finfish, subject to legal gear and catch rules; other marine life is protected.
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Boundaries and permitted activities can be specific to a zone. Before fishing, consult the current DPIRD West Coast bioregion rules for the exact boundary, eligible species, gear and restrictions. Do not assume that a method permitted for finfish allows taking other marine life.
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DPIRD’s September 2023 science update rated Western Australian salmon stock status as “adequate,” with low sustainability risk and no sustainability concerns in that assessment. The department’s 2023 resource assessment report identifies the annual autumn run as the main period when recreational fishers and commercial beach-seine fishers catch the species. These are dated assessment findings, not a 2026 stock update.
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Sources and dates
- PerthNow, 8 April 2023: Yallingup sighting, migration context and safety advice.
- SharkSmart, 2022 and 2025 notices: seasonal migration and year-specific current conditions.
- DPIRD West Coast bioregion rules: Yallingup reef protected-area boundaries and permitted activities.
- DPIRD, September 2023 science update and 2023 resource assessment report: dated stock assessment and catch-season context.
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