What could be cooler than fishing alongside Australian national monuments such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House? The Harbour City, as Sydney is known, is surrounded by excellent fishing opportunities, and most of them are easily accessible, so you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to get there. However, with so many fishing spots, how do you work out which are the best fishing spots in Sydney? Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
With so many fantastic best fishing spots in Sydney, choosing the right spot is never easy, but you’re also spoiled for choice, so don’t be afraid to try some new spots you discover along the way. In our list of the best fishing spots in Sydney, we tried to find different places that would offer Australian anglers something unique to discover.
6 Best Fishing Spots in Sydney
In this section, we’ll cover some of the best fishing spots in Sydney, with a mix of locations that suit anglers of all types.
1. Manly Dam
Located in the North of Sydney, Manly Dam is an ideal location for freshwater enthusiasts and also those teaching young anglers the basics of fishing. Some of the most popular target fish species include Australian Bass, Silver Perch, Redfin, and Carp. If you fish closer to the dam wall, spinnerbaits can be effective, but baits such as corn or worms will work well all over the dam. There’s a lot of weed close to the shoreline, so try to avoid using any lures that sink a lot, as they’ll get snagged up in weed more often than not.
2. Beulah Street Wharf
With a view to match the fishing, Beulah Street Wharf can be found right in the busy center of Sydney Harbour. Some of the common species caught from the wharf include Flathead, Jewfish, Snapper, Squid, Trevally, Australian Salmon, and Yellowtail Kingfish. One of the best times to fish the areas around Beulah Street Wharf is at night because there’ll be a lot less angling, boat, and foot traffic to worry about, and you’ll have a little more space to yourself.
3. Gordon’s Bay
Located on the coast, Gordon’s Bay is a short bike ride from the famous Bondi Beach. With a lot of sandy shores and rocky outcrops, Gordan’s Bay always provides Sydney anglers with a mixed bag of fish species. There’s some great rock fishing to be had for species such as Trevally, Leather Jacket, Bream, Tailor, Australian Salmon, Yellowtail Kingfish, Rock Cod, and much more. If you’re lucky enough to hook a Blue Groper, be sure to release it immediately, as they’re highly protected.
4. Brighton-Le-Sands
If you’re looking for somewhere with a little more space, then Brighton-Le-Sands, close to Botany Bay, should be your number one Sydney fishing destination. There’s plenty of great fishing action around the mouth of Cooks River, and if you head further south to Ramsgate, the fishing only gets better. Some of the target species include Flathead, Bream, Australian Salmon, Snapper, Tailor, and Trevally. Parking around the area, particularly during peak tourist times in summer, is difficult, so be prepared to park a little further away and walk in on foot.
5. Tom Uglys Bridge
No one’s really sure who Tom is or why his bridge is ugly, but Tom Uglys Bridge, which spans over George’s River between Sylvania and Blakehurst, is a fantastic local hot spot. Angler fish from either side of the bridge, but the northern end of the bridge is where the angling action really heats up. Some of the target species include Bream, Flathead, Mulloway, Tailor, and Whiting. An ebb tide is the best time to fish off the bridge, and if you go during a rising tide, it’s okay, but you need to fish further out to get into the action.
6. Gunnamatta Bay
Located on the southern edge of Sydney, close to the Royal National Park, Gunnamatta Bay is a prime fishing and recreational destination because of its close proximity to Sydney. If you stick close to the Gunnamatta Bay Baths, you’ll run into some decent Flathead and Bream fishing. Move closer to the bay, and you’ll be able to fish for Flounder, Tailor, Australian Salmon, and even the occasional Yellowtail Kingfish. If you don’t have access to a car, don’t worry. There’s a great train network in Sydney that will get you within walking distance of the fishing action.
Other Notable Fishing Spots
While they’re not in our top Sydney fishing spots section, we believe that these fishing spots below certainly deserve an honorable mention!
Botany Bay
Just 10km from the center of the busy Sydney CBD, Botany Bay offers recreational anglers a variety of choices when it comes to what fish they’re targeting and how they’re targeting them. There’s a variety of protected bays and inlets, along with rocky shorelines and artificial structures such as jetties, wharves, and rock walls. If you have access to a boat, you’ll run into Snapper and Yellowtail Kingfish in the deeper water, while closer to shore, you have the usual Flathead, Bream, Australian Salmon, Tailor, Whiting, and Flounder.
Sydney Harbour
How could we do a list of fishing spots in Sydney and not mention the world-famous Sydney Harbour? There are loads of fishing locations around the harbour, but be warned, during the warmer summer months in the peak of tourist season, both the land and the water can get quite crowded. Common target species include Kingfish, Flathead, Australian Salmon, Tailor, and even Snapper.
The hardest part of fishing in Sydney Harbour isn’t getting around, as there are plenty of different locations very close to one another and also plenty of fishing tackle shops. It’s finding somewhere quiet out of the way to fish. If you want to get a prime fishing spot in Sydney Harbour, be sure to arrive early or plan to fish later in the evening.
Middle Harbour
There are plenty of different locations to enjoy some fantastic shore-based fishing around Middle Harbour, and you don’t need a massive financial investment in equipment, either. Bait fishing, spinning, and soft plastics are all effective ways to catch the most popular fishing species, including Flathead, Australian Salmon, Tailor, Yellowtail Kingfish, Bream, Squid, and much more.
It can be a little quieter here during the peak tourist season compared to locations like Botany Bay or Sydney Harbour, so if you’re looking for somewhere close to the heart of Sydney that’s not too busy, Middle Harbour is worth a closer look. Thanks to the deeper water, it’s not uncommon to see large pods of Dolphins and even the occasional Shark.
Fishing Techniques and Tips
When you’re fishing inshore around Sydney, your most productive times are always going to be early morning, starting before sunrise up until around mid-morning, and in the afternoon heading into the evening and night. However, that being said, different species are more active during different times of the day and different seasons.
September through December is probably the most productive period for fishing around Sydney, as the winter fish species are still around, and the summer species are just moving into the fishing grounds. It’s easily the best time for anyone looking for a mixed bag of species.
In the following guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular species to catch around Sydney and when is the best time of day and season to catch them.
- Luderick – Luderick likes to feed on squirt worms, yabbies, and sea cabbage, which are always a popular choice. They make a sizable spawning migration during winter, moving upstream. The best locations to target Luderick are around rocks, and fine sand mixed with weed burley is the most effective way to get a school of them to congregate in your fishing area.
- John Dory – Normally found in deep offshore areas, John Dory will venture into the lower reaches of Sydney Harbor during winter and often linger until the water temperatures start to increase. If there’s been a lot of rainfall, they’ll move further out into deeper water. To catch John Dory, you’ll need some good live bait. They rarely take dead flesh baits and baitfish such as Yakkas, Sweep, and Mado.
- Trevally – Trevally likes to linger as the cool weather ends and the warm weather starts. They like to hang around in deep, cool water, and they’re not afraid of a little current. The lower Harbour area is a good place in winter and spring. Burley is an effective way to get Trevally into a biting frenzy, but make sure your rod and reel are ready for the screaming run they’ll take when you hook one.
- Australian Salmon – When the weather starts warming up around September, the Australian Salmon will start schooling up in much larger numbers. The easiest way to locate large schools of Salmon is by following the seagulls as they feed on the scraps of bait fish the Salmon chew up and leave behind. Dropping a bait down into schools can be effective, or casting silver lures. One of the most abundant and fun fish to catch around Sydney. Unfortunately, they’re eating quality doesn’t live up to the same reputation and leaves a lot to be desired.
- Tailor – While Tailor is predominantly a winter fish, their numbers are still great around October and November, so it is well worth targeting. In winter, Tailor like to hang around in deeper water and aren’t as active on the surface, but as the water warms up, they’ll start feeding closer to the surface and in bigger numbers. Like Salmon, you can catch Tailor on silver lures or live bait.
The Best Fishing Spots in Sydney: A Comprehensive Guide | Conclusion
If you’ve been searching for the best fishing spots in Sydney, then your search is complete! We wanted to put together a comprehensive list of the best fishing locations in Sydney, which would give both local anglers and visitors a unique fishing experience.
Be sure to check local fishing regulations prior to casting a line, including season, size, and bag limits. Take only the fish you need and return any unwanted or undersized fish to the water safely to ensure that future generations of anglers get to enjoy the same, if not better, fishing opportunities as we do. If you have the opportunity, take a new angler fishing and teach them the basics. It can be a highly rewarding experience and could lead to a lot of fond memories for years to come.
The premium fish forecasting application, Fishbox App, will put you in the perfect position to catch some great fish by analyzing local weather and water conditions and input from local anglers. The Fishbox App utilizes accurate weather, tide, and fishing conditions to predict the best time to get out on the water to catch your target species.
Have you got a lot of experience fishing in Sydney and would like to share some advice or information about local hot spots with new anglers? Then drop a comment below! We would love to read your feedback, and we’re sure new anglers in Sydney will appreciate some friendly local advice from experienced Sydney anglers.
