Fishing Bermagui
General fishing in Bermagui is defined by highly productive seasonal migrations of both southern bluefin and yellowfin tuna as water temperatures peak in the warmer months. The local bar conditions at the river entrance require careful navigation, but the shifting tides provide exceptional target windows for estuary sportfish. Anglers should closely monitor the local water currents and temperature breaks to optimize their fishing trips.
Land-based anglers are spoiled for choice with a myriad of accessible options, including the famous Bermagui Breakwall and the ocean-facing rocks around Blue Pool. Estuary shorelines along the river provide fantastic light-tackle sport for dusky flathead and bream, while the nearby Camel Rock Beach is excellent for surf fishing. Paying attention to swell height and wind direction is absolutely critical when selecting a shore-based platform.
Offshore and boat fishing in Bermagui is supported by exceptional infrastructure, starting with the deep-water ramps located near the main harbour. Vessels can safely cross the bar to access productive nearshore reefs like the Four Mile Reef and the Twelve Mile Reef for high-quality table fish. During the peak summer season, game boats run directly to the continental shelf and the wide Bermagui Canyons in search of big marlin.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Bermagui Breakwall: Fishing the breakwall is highly productive during the run-in tide when clean ocean water pushes baitfish directly into the harbour. Anglers should use a medium-heavy 9-foot spin rod to cast metal slices for tailor and Australian salmon during the early morning. A brisk southerly wind can make the wall difficult to fish, so always position yourself carefully to avoid rogue waves.
- Bermagui River Bridge: The pylons beneath the main bridge provide excellent structure for black bream and luderick to shelter from the main tidal current. Drifting lightly weighted baits like fresh nippers or prawns around the top of the high tide yields the absolute best results. A light 2-4kg spin outfit loaded with fluorocarbon leader is essential to fool these wary estuary residents in the clear water.
- Camel Rock Beach: This spectacular surf beach is a prime location for targeting gummy sharks and large Australian salmon straight from the sand. Fish the deeper gutters during the first two hours of the run-up tide, particularly when a light offshore breeze flattens the breakers. A standard 12-foot surf rod paired with a heavy paternoster rig and whole pilchards will easily reach the outer strike zone.
- Cuttagee Lake Mouth: The entrance to Cuttagee Lake is a brilliant light-tackle location when the system is open to the ocean and flushing on an outgoing tide. Wading the shallow sandbars with a 1-3kg outfit allows you to cast surface poppers to aggressive sand whiting and bream. Calm, windless mornings are ideal here, as the lack of surface chop makes it much easier for fish to accurately track your lures.
- Wallaga Lake Causeway: This man-made bottleneck concentrates tidal flow and serves as a major ambush point for dusky flathead, tailor, and estuary perch. Casting paddle-tail soft plastics into the deepest part of the channel during the falling tide is a highly effective technique. A medium 3-6kg rod provides enough backbone to extract larger fish from the submerged timber and rock walls lining the edges.
Offshore
- The Twelve Mile Reef: Situated roughly twelve miles offshore, this expansive reef system is globally renowned for holding massive snapper, morwong, and kingfish. Drifting over the structure with a heavy paternoster rig baited with fresh squid strips is highly productive when the current is manageable. During the summer months, live-baiting around the pinnacles will frequently draw strikes from cruising marlin and yellowfin tuna.
- The Six Mile Reef: This mid-distance reef is a staple for bottom bashers looking to secure a quick feed of table fish without running completely to the shelf. Anchoring and establishing a continuous berley trail is the most effective way to bring large snapper up into the water column. Fish a lightly weighted pilchard on a 5-8kg outfit down the trail, especially during the low-light periods of dawn and dusk.
- Montague Island: The rocky peripheries of this famous island provide shelter from blustery nor-easterly winds and host incredible numbers of yellowtail kingfish. Jigging heavy metal lures or slow-trolling live slimy mackerel along the drop-offs will rapidly trigger aggressive strikes from the resident predators. You must use heavy 15-24kg tackle to stop large kingfish from immediately busting you off in the jagged reef structures below.
- The Continental Shelf: Dropping steeply into the abyss, the Bermagui canyons are the focal point for game fishers chasing trophy marlin and broadbill swordfish. Trolling a spread of large skirted lures along the temperature breaks during the summer months is the standard approach for targeting billfish. When the current slows, deep-dropping heavily weighted electric reel setups will yield incredible captures of blue-eye trevalla and gemfish.
- The Four Mile Reef: As one of the closest and most accessible offshore marks, the Four Mile is perfect for smaller vessels fishing the morning glass-off. Drifting with 5-inch soft plastics over the broken gravel patches is a deadly tactic for catching large sand and tiger flathead. Keep a lookout for diving seabirds in this area, as they often indicate schools of tailor and salmon pushing bait directly to the surface.
Hot Spots
- Bermagui Point: This rocky headland is highly productive for spinning up tailor and Australian salmon on incoming tides.
- Horseshoe Bay: This sheltered pocket of water is perfect for kids to safely catch small trevally and yellowtail from the shoreline.
- Mystery Bay: This rugged series of rock ledges north of Bermagui offers fantastic wash fishing for luderick and drummer.
- Wallaga Lake Mouth: The shallow channel connecting the lake to the sea holds massive flathead and bream on a falling tide.
- Zane Grey Pool: A historic ocean pool wash area that can produce quality bream and drummer during a moderate sea swell.
Local Bait Tips
- Saltwater Nippers: You can pump for saltwater nippers on the exposed sandflats of the Bermagui River during the bottom of the low tide. Keep in mind that while cast nets are completely prohibited in NSW, and enclosed traps are subject to strict regulations (though specifically approved gear like poddy mullet traps are legal), you will need to rely on hand-pumping or standard scoop nets for your bait collection.
- Poddy Mullet: Collecting poddy mullet in the Bermagui estuary can be achieved by using legal, clear plastic poddy mullet traps baited with bread crumbs. Remember that these traps must comply with strict NSW DPI dimensions and must have the owner's name and address clearly attached.
- Squid: Jigging for fresh squid around the illuminated structure of the Bermagui Harbour at night is highly effective. You should cast a small, slow-sinking squid jig and retrieve it with a slow, jerking motion to tempt them.
Boat Ramps
- Bermagui Harbour Boat Ramp:
Bermagui Harbour Boat Ramp: Positioned off Lamont Street (LOT 7063 Lamont St) on the eastern side of Bermagui Harbour, this major facility is managed by Bega Valley Shire Council and serves as the closest port to the continental shelf. It features a grooved reinforced concrete three-lane ramp serviced by two pontoons (one concrete and one fiber-reinforced plastic). The inner harbor is sheltered, but pontoon space is very limited, requiring boaters to perform a ‘trailer boat tango’ to load and unload during busy game fishing periods. Boaters must also cross the hazardous Bermagui River bar to reach open water. Landside facilities include a large sealed launching area, an engine flush/boat wash bay, two fish cleaning tables, rubbish bins, public toilets located 80m away at Bruce Steer Pool, and trailer parking on the grassed area above the ramp.
- Bermagui River Boat Ramp:
Bermagui River Boat Ramp: Managed by Bega Valley Shire Council, this estuarine facility provides direct access to the Bermagui River. It is designed principally for smaller vessels and tinnies engaged in recreational boating and estuary fishing.
- Beauty Point Boat Ramp:
Beauty Point Boat Ramp is located off Flinders Street at Beauty Point along the lower Tamar River, managed by MAST and West Tamar Council. The high-use facility features dual concrete launching lanes equipped with a floating boarding pontoon, providing deep-water all-tide access to the lower Tamar estuary and Bass Strait. Amenities include a large paved trailer carpark, public restrooms, lighting, and nearby marina services.
Bait and Tackle
- Bermagui Bait and Tackle: 126 Lamont St, Bermagui NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 5444
- Bermagui Service Station (After-Hours): 112 Lamont St, Bermagui NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 5222
Basecamp & Accom
- BIG4 Wallaga Lake Holiday Park: 1225 Cobargo-Bermagui Rd, Wallaga Lake NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 4055
- Bermagui Holiday Park: 1 Lamont St, Bermagui NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 4382
- Bermagui Beach Hotel: 10 Lamont St, Bermagui NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 4206
- Wallaga Lake Discovery Parks: 1225 Cobargo-Bermagui Rd, Wallaga Lake NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 4055
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Bermagui, Bermagui Harbour, Bermagui NSW 2546 | Phone: (02) 6493 4506 | VHF: Channel 16
