Macleay River Fishing Spots

Macleay River Fishing Spots

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Macleay River

4/5 - (4 votes)
30°52'34.77" S, 153°0'18.62" E

The Macleay River is one of the larger river systems in New South Wales at 298km long it extends from the Uralla in the great dividing range to the river mouth at South West Rocks. Approximately 490km north of Sydney, the Macleay River is a maze of tributaries, sand bars, weed beds and mangrove lined banks plus the added bonus of beaches and headlands, which makes fishing the Macleay River and surrounds well worth the effort.

There are a bunch of great land based fishing spots on the Macleay River, at Arakoon and trial bay. From game fishing off the head lands, to beach and creek fishing anglers can target a wide variety of fish, plus upstream there is Australian Bass.

What fish species are caught in the Macleay River?

  • Bream
  • Australian Bass
  • Flathead
  • Whiting
  • Mangrove Jack
  • Drummer
  • Mulloway
  • Cod
  • Tailor
  • Mud Crabs
  • Yabbies

From the beaches and headlands around South West Rocks anglers can wrestle with Mulloway, Bream, Whiting, Tailor and some game species like Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and Kingfish. The break wall on the Macleay River mouth is a popular spot for Mulloway, Bream, Cobia, Tuna and Tailor.

Macleay River is popular amongst small boat anglers and really opens up the fishing opportunities, heading offshore is also a possibility as the bar can be quite easy to cross at times to fish Trial Bay for Snapper, Cobia and more. This area is also protected from south-easterly swells which contribute to the south west area being a great fishing destination.

Further upstream kayaks and small boats are great to get into the tight structure and lure fish for Australia Bass on the Macleay River. Bass and bream fishing can be exciting particularly in Summer.

Where to go fishing near Macleay River?

  • Shark island

    Sneak up here on high tide and drift out on the run out tide for some...

  • Spencers Creek Flathead

    The deep hole here holds flathead and Bream.

  • Macleay Arm to stuarts

    The sand bars along here all have Yabbies, pump at low tide and fish for Flathead...

  • Macleay Arm

    This is a popular stretch of water for Flathead, Bream and Drummer. Flathead on the sand...

  • Macleay Arm sand bar

    Yabbies on low tide and whiting on the incoming tide, also these small channels and drop...

  • Andersons inlet rockbar

    Submerged rocks here make for good fishing for Bream and Mangrove Jack on lures. Flathead also...

  • Clybucca Jacks

    Heavy structure and deep bends from here upstream make for a good place to cast lures...

  • Clybucca Creek entrance

    Some good structure in this creek, oyster leases and mangroves, Bream, Flathead and the odd Mangrove...

  • Kemps Corner breakwall

    Some big mulloway are caught here at night time, deep hole along here. Bream and Flathead...

  • Lord st bridge

    Bass school up under the bridge in winter, metal vibes jigged vertically will land some.

  • Bass Bend

    Bass school up here in the deeper water during winter, either bait or metal vibes jigged...

  • Nestle Factory

    Some good deep water and structure along the nestle factory, Bass, Bream and Flathead a caught...

  • Major Oakes Bridge

    A deep hole here along with the bridge pylons make this a great spot for fishing...

  • Kinchela Creek Bridge

    This bridge holds some good flathead and the occasional small mulloway mainly at night. 

  • Jerseyville Moorings

    Cast lures at the wharfs and moored boats for some good bream fishing all along this...

  • Suez Road

    A deep hole here holds Mulloway at times, a bit upstream the drop off fishes well...

  • Pelican Island Drift

    Drift along all these small creek mouths on a run out tide for Flathead on soft...

  • Spencers Creek Mouth

    A good deep hole here and rocks off the point to the south, this spot fishes...

  • Shark island rock bar

    Rocks poke out off this point, here anglers can target Bream, Flathead and Mulloway, a runout...

  • Macleay River mouth bream

    Good bream fishing at this wharf. Further downstream the breakwall has Drummer mostly with the occasional...

  • Boringalla Creek inlet

    Good fishing here on the run out tide for Flathead. In a boat or kayak drift...

  • Oyster Corner

    A quiet land based fishing spot, this spot has Bream, Drummer and Flathead, best fished with...

  • Belmore River floodgates

    Bream, Flathead and bass down stream, some great snags to cast out all the way to...

  • S W rocks rd

    These structure protrudes causing a disruption to the flow of the river which attracts fish like...

  • Summer Island Drain

    This drain drops off into some deep water which holds flathead, bream and mulloway. Live baiting...

  • Plummers Lane Bridge

    A deep hole and pylons holds some good fish particularly at night. Bream, Tailor, Cobia and...

  • Croads Lane

    Access to shallower water along the bend here fishes well for Whiting and Flathead, yabbies work...

  • Collins Drain

    This drain has flathead on a runout tide, fish the mouth of it with bait or...

  • Rainbow Beach Road

    A quiet place to soak a bait for Bream and Flathead, access to some very deep...

  • Macleay North breakwall

    Accessed by four wheel drive from Grassy head, drive south or via boat, this breakwall at...

  • Macleay Boat Ramp

    A good family spot to soak bait which can be bought from the boat shed. For...

  • Macleay River Drummer

    A popular spot for Drummer all along this rock wall, a great spot for the family...

  • Macleay River Breakwall 02

    Easy access to fishing here for Flathead, Bream and Drummer, snaggy bottom so be careful.

  • Macleay River Breakwall

    A cement walkway here and big boulders make this a popular spot to fish for Tailor,...

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Recommended Lures for Macleay River

Click here to find the best lures for fishing Macleay River. 5 stars mean this lure has been hand picked for Macleay River.

Twisty 55g

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Longtail Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Tailor

Laser Pro 160

$16.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Spanish Mackerel
Berkley Gulp! Shrimp 2"

Gulp Shrimp 2″

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Black Spotted Rockcod, Mangrove Jack, Yellowfin Bream

Twisty 70g

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Longtail Tuna, Tailor

Squidgies Pro Lobby

$9.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream
Squidgies Pro Range Wriggler - 65mm

Pro Wriggler – 65mm

$8.95
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream
The Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow suspending lure has great constrast and is good for Barramundi

CRYSTAL MINNOW™ SUSPENDING

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Black Spotted Rockcod, Mangrove Jack

Bream Prawn Vibe

$12.95
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream

Zman 9” GrubZ Big Guibz

$10.49
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Black Spotted Rockcod
Bream Lure the Strike Pro Pygmy 2

Pygmy 2 – Strike Pro

$12.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream
Jackall Squirell 79 hank tuned

Jackall DD Squirrel 79SP Silent ‘Hank Tuned’

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Black Spotted Rockcod, Mangrove Jack
Storm Fishing Jig for Snapper

GOMOKU SLIM JIG

$10.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Spanish Mackerel

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