Definitely get a map. There are a lot of reefs around there that you could quite easily hit, or be cleaned up by a big wave.

The three mile goes the whole way up, so lots of places. Some people try near the centaur marker which is a lot safer if you dont have a chart plotter with you (but still check a map before you go). You can go out through a break in the reef right out the front of Hillaries, but you'd want to get your bearings right.

Do you have a chart?

With the swell up it not hard to find yourself in wrong spot through there.

guys i dont have a chart. where can i buy them from?

is go down to the south cardinal marker,[inside the reef] swing out and came back down the outer reef,[return the same way] on a calm day you can follow someone out thru the passage out of hillarys and make a waypoint to get in and out. a few people have come to grief on this passage, called the hole in the wall.have a good look at the map, you may get one at the hillarys marine complex or theres a joint in freo[ some tackle stores, ring around

Hi Harich25,

As stated before there is a passage straight out from Hillarys and you will see it breaking either side this weekend but depending on the size of your boat might not be such a good idea to head out through there in a smaller boat until your a little more familiar with the area. As Uncle said taking a drive south along the inside of the reef you are able to find safe passage around the Southern cardinal marker out from Trigg. There is plenty of good reef out behind there for chasing Snapper, Dhuie or other reef dwellers or stay inside the reef to target smaller species such as Herring, Skippy etc. To the north of the Marina there are some small Islands that all fish well for these smaller species with a bit of berly and anywhere there is some weed is good for chasing some squid.

You will find a map clearly shows the reef system and can be picked up from most tackle and boat shops. Take care anywhere out near 3 mile reef and out side it as there is a bit of swell around this week.

If you have an iphone or an android phone, you can download the navionics app which has the full Navionics charts for the whole of australia for about the cost of a printed chart. Means you may be able to use your device as a chartplotter while out there as well as using it to study the area. Of course, beware all the usual precautions with using such technology (such as that it can wet, can be unreliable, may have your location off, may die due to battery, etc) and make sure you have full safety gear incl a working radio. Always good heading out with someone who knows the area too.

On the plus side, there are lots of areas to fish of Hillarys, many are protected from the swells as they're inside the reef, and the reef gap passages can be easier than other places such as Mindarie (which can break across on a big swell). The southern area/cardinal marker is easy to navigate without charts on board once you get an idea of the area, and there are several reefs around that area. Squid are easy to find close to the marina too.

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Allboats Kingsley should have the charts you need and they can show you the way out. If you want to go to the true 3 mile reef best to launch from Ocean reef. less reef to dodge on the way out. Also watch the area before you anchor. have pulled many capsized vessel from the area after they have anchored in the wrong spot. best area to anchor is in the 15 to 20 mtr mark. Well clear of the reef. berley up and a good chnace for skippy and snapper, have also got some nice YTK at times.

Just go to the boat shop next to the ramp , easy!

From memory (its been a while since I went into ocean reef marina), and someone could confirm, I think ocean reef marina has transits to line up and keep you on track out through the reef???