Dunbogan is between the lower Camden Haven River and the ocean surf beach on the New South Wales’ North Coast.
This great destination gives easy access to the lower river and its tidal lakes, along with fishing off Dunbogan Beach, the river entrance walls, and Diamond Head.
Dunbogan Beach is 9km long, running between Camden Head and Diamond Head.
The northern section is accessible on the Camden Head road and for 2km south along Nursery road.
The northern beach gutters can be viewed from Hamey Lookout on Camden Head.
The southern section of the beach is part of Crowdy Head National Park.
Vehicle access is at Blackbutts, Cheese Tree and Geebung picnic areas and Diamond Head Rest Area, which has a beachfront campground.
Dunbogan Beach has 4WD access. The best gutters are usually at the northern end, with more variable gutters further south.
Big bream and school mulloway are caught off the North Haven wall, mostly by fishing on the river side.
Tailor are usually best on the beach side near the end of the wall.
Further into the river towards the local park, luderick are caught on weed baits in the cooler months.
There is rough bottom in the middle of the river along the walls, try casting to this area.
Watson Taylors Lake and Queens Lake form part of the lower Camden Haven River, and are shallow but productive fishing areas, especially for prawns and crabs.
Gogleys Lagoon has a sandflat behind the Dunbogan rock wall where yabbies (nippers) can be found, with whiting and flathead caught on a rising high tide, best in summer.
There is an opening in the wall from Gogleys with shallow reef nearby close to a red channel marker.
The creek that follows Camden Head road into Gogleys Lagoon has good fishing for flathead and whiting.
Another good spot is around the Laurieton-North Haven bridge that crosses Stingray Creek.
Stingray Creek is good for boat fishing, with bream caught around structure and where the creek enters Queens Lake.
Travelling up to and past Watsons Taylor Lake the river becomes very shallow.
For surf fishos, South Beach on the Dunbogan side has mulloway, tailor, bream and whiting.
Beach worms and pipis can usually be found on the surf beaches and are great bait for bream, whiting and mulloway.
Tailor are a regular catch from the better beach gutters, use pilchard baits or lures.
The Camden Haven River’s tidal lakes are among the best prawn and crab locations on the north coast. During the dark moon, prawns run for sea on the run-out tide. Dip or scoop nets are used to catch them. A light is used to see the prawns and crabs.
Hand-hauled prawn nets are also used for prawning. These are 6m long nets dragged through the water by two people. These nets must be registered with NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Queens Lake has large flathead, try fishing around the sandflat where the creek opens into the lake.
While Dunbogan’s rock walls are probably the best fishing spots in the estuary, fish can be caught from an easy access platform near the sea entrance to Gogleys Creek, adjacent to the Dunbogan Jubilee Community Hall. Gogleys boat ramp and pontoon is nearby, and a reserve with playground, toilets and picnic area.
The sea entrance walls and lower river produce quality fish, but strong currents flow. The best time to fish is at the turn of the tide and around early morning or dusk.
There is good beach and rock fishing at Diamond Head, Point Perpendicular and Bonny Hills, with mainly tailor, mulloway, whiting, flathead and bream.
The north and east side of Diamond Head are among the best ocean rock fishing spots.
The upper Camden Haven River has bass in the freshwater reaches.
Dunbogan tides
Dunbogan Haven coastline on Beachsafe
Crowdy Head National Park
NSW fishing regulations
NSW marine parks
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