A vast expanse of shallow fishable estuaries surrounds Tuross.
These are Tuross Lake and Tuross Broadwater, with Coila Lake immediately to the north.
The vast estuary system forms the downstream section of Tuross River.
This area has been described as the gem of NSW’s South Coast.
Commercial fishing was banned locally in the 1980s.
The system is now productive for bream, tailor, salmon, luderick, flathead and whiting, as well as prawns.
The system of flats and channels runs to about 4m deep, with Tuross Head located north of the permanently open sea entrance.
The tidal limit in the Tuross River is at Comerang, 19km from the entrance, 9km upstream from the highway bridge, north of Bodalla.
Coila Lake, immediately north of Tuross, reaches 3m depth and usually has a closed entrance, but prawns and fish thrive.
The Tuross estuary is known for its trophy flathead, usually caught in spring, with fish 90cm and bigger taken. Special rules apply to these big fish.
The bigger sand whiting are usually caught near the river mouth.
The oyster racks are the best place to chase bream.
Upstream around Tuross Bridge and Snake Flat off Bumbo Road bass are caught. but these shallow waters are only suitable for cartopper or yak.
Coila Lake is famous for prawns, but it also has good bream.
The main boat ramp for the Tuross system is at Lavender Bay near the river mouth, with a second at the Tuross Bridge on the Princes Highway, 6km south of the
Tuross Head turnoff.
This second boat ramp is used to access the estuaries to the west of Tuross Bridge.
Coila Lake has two boat ramps, the first at Kyla Sporting Complex and the second at the end of Foam Street.
Tuross tides
Tuross coastline
NSW fishing regulations
NSW marine parks
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