Dramatic images show huge schools of salmon on WA’s south coast with fishers and sharks in tow

Dramatic aerial images released by Surf Life Saving WA show massive schools of salmon packed tight along the State’s south coast in recent days.

The photos showing dark, writhing patches stretching through the surf as sharks circle and waves crash around them were captured by the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopter.

They reveal the scale of the annual migration now hitting its straps — with entire shorelines turning black as fish push in close.

From above, it’s chaos.

Thick bait balls swirl just metres from the beach, the ocean boiling as salmon surge through the shallows. In some frames, the water is almost completely obscured — a living carpet of fish hemmed in by whitewater.

But it’s what lurks beneath — and behind — that has authorities on edge.

The same images show the telltale signs of predators shadowing the run, with the annual event drawing sharks in close to shore as they feast on the migrating schools.

On the ground, fishers say the action has ramped up sharply in recent days with reports of multiple schools holding along reefs and beaches, including several packs spotted off Margaret River.

Others described early morning scenes where anglers lined the shoreline shoulder-to-shoulder chasing the run, with some remarking it was a wonder boats and fishers weren’t colliding in the frenzy.

But amid the excitement, there are warnings from within the fishing community itself.

One commenter cautioned the rush to the rocks was putting lives at risk — not just for those fishing but also for rescuers who could be called in if things go wrong.

It comes as the salmon run has intensified over the past few days along the south coast, bringing with it a surge in fishers and beachgoers chasing the action.

Plenty of keen fishers have been posting their proud catches on social media.

Authorities have repeatedly warned the spectacle can quickly turn dangerous.

Large swells, slippery rocks and powerful surges — combined with the presence of sharks — create a volatile mix, particularly at popular fishing spots.

The run is expected to continue building in the coming weeks as more schools move west, with peak season still approaching.