Fishing Camden Haven & Laurieton
General fishing in Camden Haven & Laurieton is supported by the rich, highly productive brackish lakes of Queens Lake and Watson Taylor Lake. Strong seasonal runs of school prawns during the summer months draw both human foragers and massive schools of predatory fish into the system. High tidal movements generally produce the best results along the main channel margins.
Land-based anglers are highly active along the easily accessible breakwalls and numerous jetties that line the riverfront. Wading the shallow, clean sand flats of North Haven on an incoming tide is excellent for catching sand whiting. During the winter, the rocky edges of the breakwalls are heavily targeted by luderick fishers using green weed.
Offshore and boat fishing out of Laurieton delivers excellent results around productive reef systems like Crowdy Head and Diamond Head. The river bar crossing at Laurieton is a notable hazard and should never be attempted on an outgoing tide against an easterly swell. Once outside, the offshore waters offer fantastic bottom fishing for snapper and deep sea sport for marlin.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- The Laurieton Breakwalls: The Laurieton Breakwalls are the premier locations for targeting luderick, bream, and the occasional mulloway. The last two hours of the run-in tide provide the perfect water depth to float green weed along the rocky edges. A long, soft-action rod is essential to keep the delicate weed baits intact and absorb the lunges of the fish.
- Stingray Creek Bridge: Stingray Creek Bridge is highly productive when the lake is open to the sea, drawing in massive schools of baitfish. The two-hour window during the tide change is the most effective time to drop soft plastics into the deep channel. A medium spin outfit is perfect for battling the large flathead that congregate here to ambush passing prey.
- Dunbogan Beach: Dunbogan Beach offers miles of pristine sand where anglers can target quality tailor and bream in the surf gutters. An early morning start with an offshore westerly wind provides the calmest and most productive casting conditions. A standard twelve-foot beach rod paired with a paternoster rig will keep your pilchard baits secure in the moving water.
- North Haven Riverfront: North Haven Riverfront features numerous jetties and sandy banks that are absolutely perfect for family fishing sessions. Target the incoming tide with live yabbies or fresh prawns to catch a mixed bag of whiting and bream. A light estuary combo and a small sinker will ensure your bait looks as natural as possible in the clear water.
- Grants Beach: Grants Beach works exceptionally well in a southerly swell, forming deep holes right against the breakwall structure. Casting large metal slices into the turbulent white water is a proven method for hooking aggressive tailor and salmon. Braided line allows for maximum casting distance and provides the sensitivity needed to feel a strike in the surf.
Offshore
- The Laurieton FAD: The Laurieton FAD is a summer hotspot for boaters looking to tangle with acrobatic dolphinfish and the occasional wahoo. Trolling small diving lures past the buoy at first light is the most effective way to locate the active predators. Once the fish are raised, casting unweighted pilchards on medium spin gear will provide chaotic and thrilling surface action.
- Crowdy Head Reef: Crowdy Head Reef sits a short run to the south and provides incredible bottom fishing for snapper and pearl perch. Anchoring up and establishing a steady berley trail on a run-out tide will draw the fish up from the reef. Float lightly weighted squid strips down the trail using a baitrunner reel for the most natural bait presentation.
- Diamond Head Drop-off: Diamond Head Drop-off features steep underwater ledges that hold impressive numbers of yellowtail kingfish. Drifting live slimy mackerel down deep on a slack tide is the most reliable way to secure a brutal strike. Heavy jigging tackle and locked drags are absolutely mandatory to stop these fish from burying you in the reef.
- Camden Haven Artificial Reef: Camden Haven Artificial Reef provides a reliable structure for targeting a variety of reef fish during the winter months. Drifting slowly over the modules while vertically dropping soft plastics will entice strikes from large snapper. A sensitive graphite rod paired with braided line will ensure you can feel every subtle bite in the deep water.
- The Continental Shelf Drop-off: The Continental Shelf out from Laurieton is a legendary arena for chasing black and striped marlin. Trolling a staggered spread of large skirted lures during a northerly breeze will eventually raise a billfish from the depths. Specialized game fishing tackle in the twenty-four kilogram class is required to battle these incredible oceanic predators.
Hot Spots
- Gogleys Lagoon Flats: This shallow estuarine lake is a highly productive area to wade for flathead on a falling tide.
- Queens Lake Drop-off: Deep drop-offs bordering the lake weed beds hold excellent numbers of target species on a tide change.
- Watson Taylor Lake Entrance: The narrow channel funnelling water into the lake is a prime ambush point for large yellowfin bream.
- Pilot Beach Wash: The protected waters near the breakwall offer fantastic light-tackle fishing for sand whiting and dart.
- Dunbogan River Snags: Submerged timber lining the narrow Dunbogan channel serves as prime habitat for estuary bream.
Local Bait Tips
- Prawns: Prawns can be scooped from the shallow sandy bottoms of Queens Lake during the dark moon phase on a run-out tide. You must use a registered dip net and carry a waterproof torch to spot their glowing red eyes in the shallows.
- Green Weed: Green weed is easily harvested from the coastal rocks around the Laurieton breakwall during the bottom of the low tide. Anglers must only collect what is needed for a single session to ensure the sustainability of this vital food source.
- Saltwater Nippers: Saltwater nippers are easily collected by pumping nippers using a hand-operated suction pump on intertidal flats near the mouth of the Camden Haven River. The legal bag limit is one hundred nippers and berried females must be returned immediately.
Boat Ramps
- Bruce Porter Reserve Wharf and Boat Ramp, Laurieton:
Bruce Porter Reserve Wharf and Boat Ramp: Positioned on the Camden Haven River at the corner of Tunis and Short Street in Laurieton, this facility features a two-lane concrete boat ramp with solar lighting. Staging is supported by a central staging pontoon and a small boarding jetty. The surrounding reserve includes undercover picnic tables and toilet amenities.
- Apex Park Boat Ramp (Laurieton), Laurieton:
Apex Park Boat Ramp (Laurieton): Located at 7 Reid Street beside the Dunbogan Bridge in Laurieton, this facility features a single-lane concrete boat ramp. Because the water is quite shallow, the ramp is only suitable for launching a kayak or a small vessel. The tranquil lakeside location includes undercover picnic tables, BBQs, a fish cleaning station, toilets, a formal car park, and a small community garden.
- Dunbogan Old Ferry Ramp, Dunbogan:
Dunbogan Old Ferry Ramp: Situated on Bay Street off The Boulevarde in Dunbogan, this is a simple boat ramp providing access to the Camden Haven River.
- Dunbogan Reserve, Gogleys boat ramp, Dunbogan:
Dunbogan Reserve, Gogleys boat ramp: Positioned on Camden Head Road in Dunbogan, this boat ramp is located at the junction of the Camden Haven River and the inlet to Gogleys Lagoon.
Bait and Tackle
- North Haven Bait and Tackle: 147 Ocean Dr, North Haven NSW 2443 | Phone: (02) 6559 9005
- Dunbogan Boatshed: 42 Camden Head Rd, Dunbogan NSW 2443 | Phone: (02) 6559 9526
- Laurieton Coles Express: 66 Bold St, Laurieton NSW 2443 | Phone: (02) 6559 9133
Basecamp & Accom
- Brigadoon Holiday Park: 94 Ocean Dr, North Haven NSW 2443 | Phone: (02) 6559 9174
- Diamond Head Campground: Diamond Head Rd, Crowdy Bay National Park NSW 2443 | Phone: 1300 072 757
- Haven Caravan Park: 1 Jersey Rd, Laurieton NSW 2443 | Phone: (02) 6559 9334
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Camden Haven: Laurie Street, Laurieton NSW 2443 | Radio: VHF Channel 16 | Phone: (02) 6559 4077
