Fishing at Lake Coogee, Cockburn, Western Australia

• Overview

  Lake Coogee is a Cockburn water, in Western Australia. It sits in open low country. At about 54 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 3.7 km on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cockburn list. Coogee lies 2 km from the water. Perth sits 22 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Coogee

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Nearby survey and observation records mention South Australian roughy, jack mackerel, King flathead and crimson-backed sillago. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. Anyone new to Lake Coogee should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 24°C, the coldest about 13°C. Winter is simply the pleasant end of an unbroken season. Winter here is cool and quiet, and often the most comfortable time out. March through May and September through November are the strong stretches. The season on Lake Coogee follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can launch from a ramp around 1.3 km away. Parking sits 750 m out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A pier 1.1 km from here gives a platform over deeper water. There is a toilet block some 1.1 km out. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Manning Lake is 4.7 km distant. The position on Lake Coogee is worth confirming on the day.