Manning River Fishing Spots

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Manning River

3.5/5 - (2 votes)
31°53'28.19" S, 152°39'42.12" E

Manning River is located approximately 340km north of Sydney and it is the only river in the southern hemisphere that has two permanent entrances to river, one at Old Bar and another at Harrington. The Fishing Spots at Manning River whether land based or by boat or kayak are diverse, from mulloway and black fish along the nearly 2km of rockwall, to whiting on sandy flats and bream amongst the weed beds. The Manning River rises on the northeastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, its joined by eleven tributaries and runs for 261km. The upstream reaches produce some great Australian Bass fishing which are great to target in summer on all sorts of lures including surface fishing lures.

Harrington and Taree Fishing Spots

There are some fantastic land based fishing spots at Harrington and throughout the Manning River. Starting at the mouth of the river along the rock wall is Blackfish, Bream, Flathead, Mulloway and Tailor. The beaches around Harrington, Manning Point and Old Bar near the river mouths often have great gutters for targeting Tailor and Mulloway with flathead and bream being by-catches. Tailor and bream provide some great fishing near the Manning River particularly in autumn and winter. Bream move near to river entrances for spawning in surf zones during July and August. Tailor migrate north once water temperatures begin to drop, each year large schools of tailor migrate north to Queensland waters. Mulloway are also a common catch, these predatory fish are best targeted at night time when they are actively hunting. 

Heading upstream towards Taree there is some family friendly parks and jetties to soak bait for Bream and Flathead. 

Luderick or blackfish fishing is also extremely popular in the Manning River. Lurderick will school up around rocky areas near wash, headlands and inshore reefs, with winter being the best time to target these fish. 

A small boat is the best way to enjoy the full experience of the Manning River, the complex tributaries, islands, sand spits, weed beds and structure throughout the river provide some fantastic fishing. The main catches are Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Mulloway and Blackfish. There are numerous shallow flats that are great for pumping yabbies, cast netting prawns is also popular with the locals and crabbing can be great at times depending on rain events. 

The Manning River was declared a Recreational fishing haven in 2002, which makes fishing Taree, Harrington and Old Bar very well worth it, so if you’re in the area take some time to read on and find the best fishing spots in the Manning River.

Where to go fishing near Manning River?

  • Andrews Reserve

    A better spot for a swim, however this is a family friendly fishing spot near Taree...

  • Eddie Bourke Wharf

    A family friendly fishing spot in Taree, use prawns, worms or yabbies to catch Bream and...

  • Farquhar Park

    Fishing anywhere along the camp ground and you can expect Bream, Flathead and Whiting, baits such...

  • Old wall 2

    Either accessed by boat or park and walk over the sand dune, the start of the...

  • Croki Wharf

    Close to the Riverside caravan park, this is a family friendly fishing spot for Bream, Flathead...

  • Harrington Backwater

    This small channel lets water in and out of the Harrington Channel, it can be a...

  • Waterbird

    The jetty here is okay fishing, more family friendly, common catches are Bream, Flathead and Whiting....

  • Manning River Spit

    Accessed by 4wd or boat, the spit can be a great place to catch some large...

  • Navigation marker

    A sunken navigation marker is on the riverbed here and it holds Mulloway, Bream and flathead,...

  • Scotts Creek Hole

    A deep hole here holds smaller mulloway, the run, neap or change of tides is the...

  • Neville Weiley Bridge

    A deep hole here holds smaller Mulloway and some big bream, best targeted with live baits....

  • Bays Hill

    This bend is covered in submerged rocks and can fish well leading up to summer before...

  • Manning River Rocks

    Shallow rocks here hold good bream, the incoming tide is the best time, fish upsteam of...

  • Pacific Highway bridge

    The structure of the bridge pylons has some good flathead, live bait works best.

  • Browns creek rocks

    Rocks always under water have some good bream. There are also rocks along the side of...

  • Dawson River

    The deep hole upstream from the bridge holds some good Flathead. The bridge structure has bream...

  • Harrington Rockwall

    Blackfish school up along the wall during the cooler months.

  • Scotts Creek

    There is a deep channel along this bend that can fish well for big flathead on...

  • Old wall

    This is a popular spot on both the run out and incoming tides. On the runout...

  • Harrington inlet

    The large sand bar at the mouth of Harrington channel has yabbies and some good whiting...

  • Pelican Bay

    Yabbies on the sand flats back downstream towards the island. Pelican bay is packed with oyster...

  • Deep channel

    The deep channel here is rumored to hold some good Mulloway, change of the tide, a...

  • Long island

    The shallow flats have yabbies and produce whiting and bream on the rising tide. The runout...

  • Cattai Creek mouth

    The structure of the bridge produces some good Bream and Flathead. Land based anglers can fish...

  • Harrington Breakwall

    Four wheel drive down the beach from Crowdy Head Rd, this rockwall has changing gutters however...

  • Manning River Bend

    School mulloway spotted on the sounder during a neap tide in this deeper hole, there was...

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Recommended Lures for Manning River

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

Twisty 55g

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Tailor

Twisty 70g

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Tailor

Jewie 150

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Jewfish / Mulloway

Squidgies Pro Critter 55mm

$9.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream
Bream Lure the Strike Pro Pygmy 2

Pygmy 2 – Strike Pro

$12.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream

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: Dusky Flathead, Yellowfin Bream
Berkley Gulp! Shrimp 2"

Gulp Shrimp 2″

Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Dusky Flathead, Yellowfin Bream

Skippy Surface Lure

$13.49
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream, Yellowfin Whiting

Bream Prawn Vibe

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

Squidgies Pro Wriggler – 80mm

$9.99
Suited for some Fish Species.
Good for: Yellowfin Bream

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