Sydney Land Based
Sydney Fishing Spots
The capital of New South Wales is well known for its picturesque harbour front the Sydney Opera House. Within the vast waterways of the Hawkesbury, Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River is some fantastic fishing. Here is your guide to landing based Sydney fishing spots.
You don’t need a boat to enjoy Sydney fishing spots. Some of the best fishing is done by land based anglers. Its about knowing when to go, what bait to use and how.
What species to expect from Sydney fishing spots
From the pristine clear waters of the Hawkesbury River, down to the beaches of Bondi, there is good fishing throughout Sydney.
Upstream in the fresh and brackish waters of almost all rivers including, Parramatta and Hawkesbury anglers can expect Australia Bass, Estuary Perch, Bream, Flathead and catfish all year round.
The middle reaches of the rivers have Bream, Flathead, school Mulloway, Catfish, Whiting year round, however the best times for these fish are over Summer. Tailor and Trevally also move into the bays and open rivers from Autumn to Winter.
Further downstream on the beaches, bays and headlands of the vast harbour waters, anglers can expect Tailor and Bonito from March to August and Australian Salmon March to June. Mulloway and Kingfish are around October to May and the usual suspects of Luderick, Bream, Flathead and whiting are around.
Pink Snapper can also be caught from the headlands but its not too common, they are best targeted in Winter.
Beach Fishing Sydney
The Sydney beaches provide some great fishing, however time and dedication will reward anglers with better catches. From Palm Beach to Cronulla, anglers can fish the Sydney Beach for Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Mulloway, Tailor and Salmon. Luderick are also great fun to pull off the headlands around Sydney.
Recommended Gear for Sydney Land Based fishing
This is a tricky one, as the perfect rod and reel combination will vary based on target species. While a lightweight bream rod rigged with 6lb line will land a heap of bream on Soft Plastic lures, it’s not going to stop a School Mulloway, Tailor and Australian Salmon.
For the general bait anglers we recommend a reasonable setup. A light to medium rod around 2-6kg 7ft long matched with a 2500-3000 spin reel, rigged 12-20lb braided line will cover most species with ease around Sydney.
Dedicated anglers really need 2 combos. One for Australian Bass, Bream, Flathead and Whiting and another for the larger species like Kingfish, Tailor, Salmon and Mulloway.
A lightweight 7ft rod matched with 2500 reel spooled with 6-8lb braid will work well on the smaller fish like Bream. For tailor and salmon, a 7-8ft rod and larger reel of around 3-4000 spool with 10-15lb braid will make for some exciting fishing.
What type of fish do you catch in Sydney?
Below is a list of what fish are caught around Sydney harbour by land based fishing. This is a rough guide as most fish can be caught all year round, they just move around a bit.
Bream move to the coast line for spawning during winter, they will move out near the surf zone and around coastal bars during this time.
Mulloway also spawn just outside the surf zone from January to April, however you’ll still catch smaller mulloway throughout the harbour and up the rivers.
The best times to fish for certain species in the Sydney Harbour.
- Bream – January to May (throughout the harbour)
- Dusky Flathead – November to April
- Whiting – October to April
- Tailor – March to August
- Australian Salmon – March to June
- Snapper – May to September
- Jewfish / Mulloway – October to May
- Yellowtail Kingfish – November to May
- Luderick – March to September
Where to go fishing near Sydney Land Based?
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Curl Curl Beach
Fish the gutters on an incoming tide, pipis are found along this beach and make great...
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Manly Beach
Popular beach for sun bakers, Manly Beach has some good gutters for Tailor, Bream and Whiting....
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Davidson Park
A good family spot, soak a prawn on a running ball sinker for Flathead and Bream....
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Killarney Point
A great fishing spot in Sydney, access to deeper water, use a paternoster rig with live...
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Flat Rock Beach
This rocky outcrop provides access to deeper water, during the warmer months anglers target Mulloway and...
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Fig Tree Cove
Several access tracks to the rocky shoreline, here anglers target mostly Bream and Flathead. Bait fishing...
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Beverley Blackrock
Fish along this rocky shoreline for Bream and Flathead, small hard body or soft plastic lures...
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Clive Park Pool
Good fishing along here for Bream and Flathead mostly at all tides. Soft plastics, hardbody lures...
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Tunks
A good family friendly spot best fished at high tide as it is very snaggy. Soft...
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Primrose Park
Very snaggy spot so it is best fished at high tide with soft plastics worked close...
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Delecta Ave
Bush track down to the river with deep water access, running ball sinkers or paternoster rigs...
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Spit Bridge
Fish either the north or south side of the Spit Bridge at Sydney. Tailor, Salmon and...
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Parriwi Head
Access to deep water from this ledge, Salmon, Kingfish and Tailor move past this fishing spot...
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Clontarf
Squid around the moored boats along with Bream, Snapper and Mulloway. Good place to live bait...
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Castle Rock Beach
A popular spot for bathers, this fishing spot is family friendly however can get to busy...
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Lane Cove River Track
Use the walking track to access multiple fishing spots along here. Pilchards and strip mullet work...
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Lane Cove River Rocks
A good rock wall stretches a long way, you can walk along here casting soft plastics...
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Riverview
Best fished on near the top of the tide, the rock wall structure has bream and...
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Tambourine Bay
Long casts out towards the moored boats with bait or metal vibes anglers can expect Bream...
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Woodford Bay
Use small hard body lures or soft plastics around the jetties for Bream and Flathead on...
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Northwood Wharf
Squid at night on squid jigs. During dawn and dusk try working soft plastics along the...
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Bridge Street Wharf
Good deep water spot on a run in tide, let your strip bait drift close to...
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Rodd Point
Fish around the rocky point with small soft plastics or hard body lures for Bream and...
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Haberfield Rowers club
Cast hard body lures or soft plastics along the pylons for Bream and the off flathead...
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Leichhardt Park
Fish along Leichhardt park rock wall with small hard body lures for Bream, Flathead and Whiting....
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Iron Cove Bridge
Good bait fishing on a run out tide for Bream, Flathead, Whiting and Flounder.
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King George Park
Cast out to the moored boats with metal vibes for Bream and flathead at low tide.
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Silverwater Bridge
Rubble bottom close to shore, this fishing spot produces Bream and Flathead mostly. Soft plastics work...
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Meadowbank Beach
Good fishing around the railway bridge structure. Fish with heavy jighead soft plastics or metal vibes...
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Ryde Bridge
Both north and south of the bridge can be fished. Metal vibes, soft plastics and bait...
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Kissing Point
The ferry wharf is a good fishing spot at night to target Mulloway. 5-7” soft plastics...
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Breakfast Point
Bream, Flathead, Whiting and Trevally are around here using small hard body lures or small baits...
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Cabarita Ferry Wharf
Fishing beside the wharf here is a good fishing spot for Mulloway close to Sydney. Long...
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Abbotsford Point
A good deep water spot for Trevally, try using a paternoster rig with a heavier sinker...
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Bayview Park Wharf
The wharf is best fished on a run out tide using a running ball sinker with...
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Prince Edward Park
A shallow point that is best fished around the high tide. Shallow diving hard body lures...
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Bedlam Point
Fish light here with a running ball sinker or use small metal vibes for Bream, Flathead...
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Henley Fishing Spot
Be ready for some fast moving tides here. Paternoster rigs with a heavier sinker works best,...
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Blackwattle Bay
Good fishing all along here to the west and south. South you can cast hard body...
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Peacock Point
3-4m above the water line this fishing spot popular spot for Leatherjacket. A run in tide...
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Five Dock Bay
A friendly fishing spot to soak some bait for Bream, Flathead and Whiting. If you want...
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Five Dock Bay Run Out
Good spot on the run out tide for Bream and Flathead, use small soft plastics and...
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Gladesville Bridge
Popular Sydney fishing spot for people chasing Mulloway, night time is best using whole mullet or...
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White Horse Point
Squid fishing at night around the lights. Leatherjacket, Bream, flathead and whiting off the rocks, running...
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Fairlight Pool
Reefy rock with sand patches good fishing for Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Luderick, Leatherjacket and Trevally. Squid...
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North Harbour Rockwall
Great family spot and a good fishing spot to cast small hard body and soft plastic...
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Grotto Point
30min walk out to Grotto point, this fishing spot produces Luderick in the cooler months on...
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Watson Bay
Good fishing spot in Sydney to walk the shore and cast small metal vibes or soft...
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Bottle and Glass Point
Good bait fishing from the rocks but very snaggy, recommend a paternoster rig with a small...
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Clifton Gardens Jetty
A popular land based fishing spots in Sydney, a running ball sinker with prawns, squid and...
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Morella Road Reserve
Access to deep water off the rocks, this is a good spot for Tailor, Salmon, Slimy...
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Bradleys Head
Good fishing spot in Sydney to soak bait for Bream, Whiting and Trevally. Larger bait or...
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Rose Bay
Fishing the rock walls with soft plastics if a good way to get some bream, also...
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Rose Bay Squid
Good spot at night for Squid
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Mrs Macquaries Point
Access to deeper water, a paternoster rig or float works well here. From the bottom anglers...
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Pier 2
Access to some very deep water up to 13m. Some big fish haunt this Sydney fishing...
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Blues Point Reserve
A great land based fishing spot in Sydney for Mulloway, Flathead and even Snapper using a...
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Manns Point
Good spot to target small snapper, Mulloway and Bream. Live bait works best for Mulloway and...
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Clarkes Point
Luderick on cabbage or weed bait close to the rock wall, berley up!
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Little Manly Point
Best fishing on a rising tide for Bream, Trevally and Whiting. Salmon and tailor are also...
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Manly Point
Park at little Manly boat ramp and walk along the rocks towards the point. Best fished...
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Middle Head
Good fishing off the rocky headland for Tailor and Salmon using metal slugs, in summer poppers...
Plus, where, when and how to fish every spot!
Australian Bass Fishing near Sydney
Kingfish from Sydney
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Recommended Lures for Sydney Land Based
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Kevin Keogh
says:Hi guys, any info into fishing Cunningham’s Reach/fig tree bridge area (fish species, bait/lures etc) would be great as I’ve just moved into the area? Thanks
David
says:Is there any information regarding fishing spots in the Sydney area in general, i can’t seem to find any on this site??
Norman
says:Is there any information regarding fishing spots in the Sydney area in general, i can’t seem to find any on this site??
Luke Van Lathum
says:Hey its coming soon!
Luke
says:Hi, any spots of note around Clovelly/Gordon’s Bay, and Narrabeen lagoon?
Kersi
says:Dont see any spots around botany bay and also for beach and rock fishing ? Will the admins be adding spots for those areas ?
Garry Williams
says:Hi Im looking for a good family safe land base good fishing spot. either parramatta river or hawkesbury river.