Fish Sydney with Fishabout Tours.

Sydney offers outstanding fishing. Within a short drive of the CBD, you’ll find Port Hacking, Georges River, the Botany Bay Recreational Fishing Haven, scenic Sydney Harbour, Broken Bay, the Hawkesbury River, and several freshwater fishing locations.

Over 53 species are available, mainly southern species, but Sydney’s waters also attract tropical fish like mangrove jacks, giant trevally, giant herring, estuary cod, and spangled emperor. Trout and native bass can be found in the hills, and artificial reefs are placed offshore and in estuaries along the coast. Sydney’s generally moderate weather means offshore grounds are accessible most of the year, with deep river and harbour entrances allowing easy offshore access.

Sydney Fishing Spots

Sydney’s estuaries are spectacular, with deepwater bays and flooded valleys like Cowan Waters and Middle Harbour, and mangrove-lined, sandbank-studded rivers like the upper Hawkesbury, Lane Cove, Parramatta, and Georges Rivers. Some of Australia’s best land-based game fishing spots are located between Sydney and Jervis Bay to the south and Forster-Tuncurry to the north, only a few hours’ drive. Northern platforms include iconic locations such as The Ovens, South Avoca, Wybung, Tomaree, Seal Rocks, and Charlotte Head.

Main catches include northern bluefin tuna, with black marlin, Spanish mackerel, and yellowtail kingfish. Other popular rock fishing spots include Sydney’s Royal National Park, Middle Head, and the Kiama Blowholes, all within a day trip. Scenic rock fishing opportunities abound for drummer, luderick, bream, tailor, mulloway, Australian salmon, bonito, and snapper.

For freshwater anglers, the Coxs and Wollondilly Rivers and rivers and dams near Lithgow, Oberon, and Orange offer good trout fishing. Southward, Burrinjuck and Wyangala dams host trout, yellowbelly, and Murray cod. Barrington Tops to the north features small but aggressive trout in streams, and Glenbawn Dam, three hours north of Sydney, offers large yellowbelly. The Hawkesbury is known for big bass. Freshwater quality varies seasonally with rainfall.

Do note: due to pollution, it is unsafe to consume fish from Sydney Harbour. The NSW Government advises eating NO fish caught west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with restricted amounts allowed from east of the bridge.

NSW Government Recommended Monthly Intake of Fish Species Caught East of Sydney Harbour Bridge

*Species *Number of 150g Serves *Amount per Month

Prawns: 4 serves (600g)
Crab: 5 serves (750g)
Bream: 1 serve (150g)
Flounder, Kingfish, Luderick: 12 serves each (1800g)
Sand whiting: 8 serves (1200g)
Sea mullet: 1 serve every 3 months (50g)
Silver biddie: 1 serve (150g)
Silver trevally: 5 serves (750g)
Tailor: 1 serve (150g)
Trumpeter whiting: 12 serves (1800g)
Yellowtail scad: 8 serves (1200g)
Squid: 4 serves (600g)
Dusky flathead: 12 serves (1800g)
Fanbellied leatherjacket: 24 serves (3600g)

How to Fish Sydney

Seasons

In areas like Broken Bay and lower Sydney Harbour, summer brings baitfish that attract pelagic fish. During most weather, kingfish, bonito, salmon, tailor, frigate mackerel, striped and mack tuna can be caught by anglers with small boats.

NSW’s surf beaches are among the best, with Sydney’s northern beaches like Whale, Curl Curl, Narrabeen, and Palm providing excellent fishing. Winter offers tailor, occasional salmon, and silver trevally. Fishing heats up from November through May with species like whiting, bream, flathead, and mulloway.

Offshore, the grounds can be divided into three zones: nearshore up to 30m, mid-depths from 30m to 100m, and beyond 100m to the Continental Shelf. Closer reefs yield fish near river heads and harbour islands. Notable middle grounds include Broken Bay wide, The Whale, Long Reef Wide, and The Peak, where anglers catch kingfish, snapper, mulloway, and more.

Beyond 6-12 km offshore, big game fish roam, including tuna, sharks, and marlin. Here, you’ll find the Peak Wide, Outer Long Reef, and Browns Mountain, which are popular for albacore and striped tuna.

Tides & Weather

Consider tides, currents, and barometric pressure for offshore trips. Best fishing usually happens during the rising tide up to two hours after high tide. High barometric pressure or an approaching front is ideal, especially for bottom fishing. Summer is best for reef and surface fish; winter sees fewer species but offers good deep-water catches like hapuku and blue-eye trevalla.

Bait & Tackle

Sydney’s diverse fishing means varying tackle needs. A 6kg spinning outfit suffices for most fish, but lighter gear may be needed in some areas. Fresh or live bait is recommended, especially in high-traffic spots. Chrome slices work well for salmon, tailor, tuna, and kingfish. Use soft plastics for flathead and bibbed minnows for mulloway.

Sydney tides
Sydney offshore artificial reef
NSW stocked waters
NSW dam levels
NSW fishing regulations