Fishing Sydney in winter

Westerly winds bring clearer water to Sydney Harbour, and calmer seas.

Squall fronts come through, but with generally calm weather in between.

Thanks to Weather Bureau radar and forecasts, it is easy to know when the weather will be right for fishing.

Sydney has some migratory tropical fish that leave when the water cools, including most of the gamefish species.

Winter species caught around Sydney include Australian salmon, silver trevally, john dory, luderick, tailor, bream and hairtail.

In the freshwater bass and estuary perch migrate downstream to the lower river estuaries in winter.

Note that closed seasons exist.

Kingfish and mulloway are caught in winter, but they slow down somewhat and livebait may be needed to tempt them.

Sydney winter fish …

Australian salmon – late winter and spring.
Bream – all year. They tend to swim up rivers in summer and down rivers in winter.
Flathead – flathead are all year.
John Dory – fish deep over bait grounds with livebait.
Garfish – all year.
Hairtail – all year but best in winter.
Luderick – these move upstream in winter.
Mulloway – winter in the lower estuary and beaches.
Pink snapper – autumn but mostly into summer.
Silver trevally – winter for bigger fish.
Tailor – all year, but best late winter and spring.
Squid – all year. Try jetties with night lights, but many locations will produce at dawn and dusk.