6 minute read
The South Coast’s best fishing hotspots
Photography by Adam Sherez
Batemans Bay is one of the state’s most popular fishing destinations, often touted as an angler’s paradise. The region offers excellent fishing across its vast coastlines, rivers, and offshore waters, which are filled with everything from tailor, kingfish, Australian salmon, luderick and snapper to bream, whiting, leatherjacket, flathead, mulloway, and many more!
NEW TO FISHING?
Here are the different types on offer in Batemans Bay:
Recreational fishing is typically known as shore-based fishing from beaches, rock platforms, jetties, lake shores, creek beds or riverbanks.
Boat fishing includes fishing from small dinghies to large charter boats, allowing anglers to access inshore, offshore, and reef environments. Charter fishing, also known as deep-sea or game fishing, is done in deeper waters offshore and targets larger species like tuna, marlin, and snapper.
Kayak fishing is ideal for anglers who want to access shallow areas suited to rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Spearfishing is quite common in clear coastal waters and can be done freediving or with scuba gear.
Estuary fishing in the tidal mouth of a large river where the tide meets the stream is ideal for anglers looking for species found in nutrient-rich waters like bream, whiting, flathead, and mangrove jack.
Rock fishing is where anglers fish from rocky outcrops into the sea. It is a popular way to fish in Australia but can be very dangerous, so it’s important to always wear a life jacket.
Popular Fishing Spots
Clyde River
The Clyde River is the main river flowing into Batemans Bay and is a great spot for estuary fishing, as well as kayak, boat and shore fishing. Here, you’ll find bream, flathead, whiting, estuary perch, and mulloway. Anglers often use soft plastics, lures and live bait here, or surface lures for whiting.
Batemans Bay Jetty
Located in the heart of Batemans Bay town, this wharf provides easy access for anglers without a boat. Here, you’ll find bream, flathead, trevally, tailor, and whiting. It’s best suited for fishing with bait such as prawns, squid, and pilchards.
Moruya River
The area around the Moruya River offers diverse fishing with sandbars, rock walls and oyster leases that attract bream and flathead all year round. Deeper channels may also hold jewfish. Anglers typically use soft plastics and live bait here.
Tomakin Beach and Tomaga River
The Tomakin Beach and Tomaga River are both popular spots for surf, river and estuary fishing. The seagrass beds and shallow sandbanks here attract bream, flathead and mulloway. The river is ideal for casting light tackle and lures, while the beach is good for bait fishing. Anglers are likely to find whiting and tailor in these waters.
Reef and continental shelf
The outer reefs and continental shelf located in the much deeper waters offshore are home to the region’s famous marlin and kingfish breeding grounds, especially popular with charters during the warmer months (December to March). Fish such as albacore and tuna are more prevalent in these waters in the months leading up to winter (April to June).
Surf Beach
This popular beach to the south of Batemans Bay is a fantastic surf fishing spot, especially in the gutters and at dawn or dusk. Anglers should use long casts and bait like pilchards or beach worms to catch Australian salmon, tailor, bream, and whiting.
Cullendulla Creek
Just north of Batemans Bay, this creek offers calm estuary waters perfect for catching bream, flathead, whiting, and mullet. It’s suitable for shore fishing and kayak fishing. The waters are ideal for using soft plastics and live bait, and even suitable for fly fishing.
Snapper Island
Located offshore near the mouth of the Clyde River, Snapper Island offers fishing for experienced anglers with snapper, kingfish, morwong, and other reef fish in the area. It is best accessed by boat, with bottom fishing and jigging popular here. The island is part of a marine park, so be sure to check local regulations before you set off.
Mosquito Bay
This spot is located south of Batemans Bay and features a small boat ramp, best for boat fishing around reefs and rock fishing for the more experienced. Anglers are likely to find snapper, bream, flathead, and other reef species here.
Fads
Every year, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) places Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) along the NSW coastlines during the warmer months. The FADs are GPS-tracked floating buoys that anchor to the ocean floor and attract fish to increase catches for anglers. They work by casting a shadow into the water, providing structure, and acting as reference points for schooling. Mahi mahi, also known as dolphinfish, is the most common species found around FADs. For more information about FADs and their locations, plus other fishing resources, download the NSW DPI’s FishSmart app.
Charters And Tours
Batemans Bay has a well-established charter fishing scene, offering shared and private services for full and half-day options for reef, deep-sea, and game fishing. Charters provide gear, guides, and access to specific locations and species. Here are four local charter providers to try out this summer:
• barzopenfishingcharters.com.au
Rules And Regulations
Every fishing style is governed by regulations, which vary by each Australian state and territory, to ensure sustainable fishing practices and to protect the country’s unique aquatic ecosystems. When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, you are required by law to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee and carry a receipt showing the payment of the fee. This applies when spear fishing, handlining, hand gathering, trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to waters. For more information, visit dpi.nsw.gov. au. Also, note that a general boat driving licence is a minimum requirement if you’re driving any vessel for recreational purposes at 10 knots (approximately 18.5 km/h) or more on NSW waters. For more information, visit service.nsw.gov.au
