Stokes Inlet Fishing in Esperance, Western Australia

• Overview

  Stokes Inlet belongs to Esperance, Western Australia. Tidal water begins 4.7 km from here. This is big water, about 11.00 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Few waters listed in Esperance are bigger. The town to know is Nulsen, 66 km out. For a city, Mandurah is 526 km off. Within a short run: Lake Cobinup 1.7 km away and Lake Shaster after 43 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Stokes Inlet

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Salt or brackish and tidal: fish the flow, rest at slack, and watch the mud on a falling tide. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Oyster and old piling give the only hard structure in sight. Biodiversity records within roughly six miles include black bream, flathead grey mullet and King flathead. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish on the day. On Stokes Inlet a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 12°C to 22°C. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Winter here is cool and quiet, and often the most comfortable time out. October and November fish well as the water warms. The season on Stokes Inlet rarely departs from it. Overcast days spread the fishing across more hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Carp respond to sweetcorn or boilies fished patiently on the bottom near feeding areas. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Lake Cobinup, 1.7 km away. Treat Stokes Inlet as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.