The waters of Western Australia provide no shortage of epic fishing locations for the traveling angler.  The offshore game fishing that is found in the deep blue waters off Exmouth or the Dampier Archipelago, the insane tackle-busting species and breath-taking dive sites found at the Rowley Shoals or the barramundi that inhabit the Fitzroy, Ord or Pentecost Rivers all offer experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.  

But off Perth's metropolitan coastline an event happens every summer which is drawing more and more sports fishermen from around the country, and the world, because of the same excitement it offers but at a fraction of the cost and without the accessibility issues that accompany the northern Western Australian experiences.  



Rottnest Island is located around 15 kilometres off the coast of Perth and it's in the deep waters off the back of this Island that samsonfish aggregate each year to spawn as water temperatures begin to increase.  

The fish are often schooled up in numbers you can't believe and to sizes that makes adrenaline run through your veins just at the thought of nailing one, let alone having to put the back breaking effort into winching one in.  All it takes is dropping a knife jig into the thick of it for the fun to start.  

Perth's samsonfish jigging season generally runs from late November through to early February, the middle of that three month period being the time when the fish are at their keenest.  The fish max out at around 50 kilograms but the average you tend to tangle with will be around the 30 kilogram mark which still provides more than enough grunt to ensure a feeling of dislocation between your rod hand and shoulder after a long day of hauling them up through 100 metres of water.



Blue Juice fishing charters is one of the local Western Australian companies servicing anglers chasing sambo action and has been doing so for five years.  During that time the popularity of this high-octane fishing has increased to them having developed relationships with a number of regular international clients and clubs from Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.  Added to this is an increasing number of visitors coming from the east coast of Australia wanting to experience the fun.  

While there was no shortage of fish to be found during the 2008-09 season charter boats recorded having to search harder to find them than in previous years.  Increased numbers of sharks, possibly due to the banning of commercial shark net fishing along the coast, also required boats to move more frequently in order to find schools with fish less likely to be taken by the men in grey coats.   



In 2007-08 there were stories of samsonfish schools almost blacking out sounders they were so thick.  

Still, as the season comes to an end many anglers are now considering the upgrades they will need for the 2009-10 season - bigger biceps, stronger shoulders, more robust reels, rods and tackle.  That's what these fish do best, they test the strength and staying power of whatever and whoever comes their way.  That's why they're called samsonfish.