Fishing Jervis Bay
General fishing in Jervis Bay is heavily regulated by marine park sanctuary zones, meaning anglers must be highly vigilant about zoning boundaries before wetting a line. The bay's deep basin holds cool, clean water that supports massive baitfish schools and draws in large oceanic predators throughout the year. Peak activity is recorded during the late summer and autumn months as marlin, kingfish, and yellowfin tuna follow the warm current close to the coast.
Land-based anglers are treated to legendary deepwater rock shelves on both the Beecroft and Booderee Peninsulas, most notably the high-impact ledge at The Tubes. Casting baits or squid jigs from the tip and north side of Plantation Point produces snapper and southern calamari. The shore just south of the point is a sanctuary zone, so no fishing there. Wading the calm sandy flats of Hyams Beach or Callala Beach is exceptionally productive for targeting whiting on light tackle.
Offshore and boat fishing operates primarily out of the well-appointed Woollamia Boat Ramp, which offers deepwater launching into Currambene Creek. Small boats and kayaks find great shelter and plenty of flathead inside the bay's extensive seagrass beds and drop-offs. Larger boats steam out to the Sir John Young Banks for pelagics. The ocean cliffs of Point Perpendicular are a sanctuary zone, so no fishing there.
You need a NSW fishing licence (Recreational Fishing Fee) to fish or collect bait. It costs $7 for 3 days, $14 a month or $35 a year. Buy it from Service NSW online or call 1300 369 365.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- The Tubes: This is Australia's most famous land-based game fishing platform, offering the chance to catch marlin and huge kingfish from the rocks. Fishing here peaks in summer when the warm East Australian Current sweeps baitfish directly past the deep-water ledge. Anglers must use specialized heavy game tackle, catch live bait on-site, and utilize ballooning techniques to drift baits offshore.
- Plantation Point: Rocky point inside the bay for snapper and squid. Fish the tip and the north side only. The shore just south of the point, down toward Chinamans and Hyams beaches, is in the Hyams Beach Sanctuary Zone, so no fishing from those rocks. Check the official zoning map or FishSmart for the exact line. Dawn and dusk during a high tide provide the best conditions, bringing fish right into the shallow reef margins. A medium spin outfit is ideal for casting lightly weighted baits, while dedicated squid jigs will quickly secure a feed of calamari.
- Hyams Beach: Renowned for its brilliantly white sand, Hyams Beach also features subtle gutters that are highly productive for sand whiting. Fishing a rising tide on a calm morning allows anglers to sight-cast to schools of feeding fish moving over the flats. Light spin tackle paired with fresh beach worms on small long-shank hooks guarantees a high success rate on this pristine beach.
- Boat Harbour: Located near the Beecroft headland, this structure provides a safe and comfortable platform for catching bream, flathead, and trevally. The run-out tide is highly effective as it funnels food past the rocks, triggering a feeding response from resident fish. Finesse fishing with small soft plastics or lightly weighted peeled prawns on a light spin rod is the optimal approach.
- Moe's Rock: Moe's Rock offers a rugged, oceanic platform facing the South Pacific, making it an excellent spot for drummer and tailor. The best fishing occurs during a moderate swell at high tide, which creates a highly oxygenated wash zone for ambush predators. Sturdy rock fishing gear and abrasion-resistant leaders are mandatory when casting cunjevoi or pilchards into this turbulent water.
Offshore
- Point Perpendicular: Closed to fishing. The ocean side of Point Perpendicular is the Point Perpendicular–Crocodile Head Sanctuary Zone. It runs from the southern tip of Point Perpendicular north along the cliffs to about 35°04.6′S (toward Crocodile Head), and out to the marine park edge, about 1.5 km offshore. No fishing there. Check the official zoning map or the FishSmart app before you fish nearby.
- Jervis Bay FAD: The offshore FAD is a summer hotspot for fast-growing pelagic species like mahi-mahi and small marlin. Early mornings provide the best action before boat traffic spooks the fish holding close to the surface structure. Casting small unweighted pilchards or retrieving metal jigs on a medium-heavy spin rod will result in spectacular aerial fights.
- Middle Ground: This is a large, broken reef system inside the bay that consistently produces quality snapper, morwong, and flathead. Drifting this vast area during the low-light periods of dawn or dusk maximizes your chances of finding actively feeding fish. A standard reef fishing outfit deploying soft plastics or fresh squid baits on a paternoster rig is highly successful here.
- Bowen Island Ledges: Part of the water here is closed. The water within 100 m of Bowen Island, from "the Tumbledown" (35°07′10″S) south-west round to Governor Head, is the Bowen Island Sanctuary Zone, so no fishing there. Nearby water is part of Booderee National Park, which has its own rules (no bait collecting and no spearfishing). Check the official zoning map before you troll or cast here. A run-in tide pushing clean water around the island's points creates visible current lines that hold immense schools of bait. Casting metal slugs into the surface bust-ups on a medium spin outfit provides fast-paced and incredibly fun sportfishing action.
- Currambene Creek Drop-offs: The drop-offs in lower Currambene Creek hold dusky flathead. Part of the creek is closed: the mudflats on the west side, between the red (port) channel markers and the shore, from about 100 m below the Woollamia boat ramp down to the channel from the Lady Denman fish reserve, are the Currambene Creek Mudflats Sanctuary Zone. Upper Currambene Creek (upstream of 150°38.6′E) is a sanctuary zone too. Keep your lures on the channel side of the red markers. Fishing the bottom half of the run-out tide concentrates the flathead along these ledges as they wait for fleeing baitfish. Bouncing heavy jigheads rigged with large soft plastic swimbaits along the sandy drop-offs on a light spin rod is a proven method.
Hot Spots
- Honeymoon Bay: A picturesque, highly sheltered inlet perfect for launching a kayak to chase squid and flathead on light gear.
- Wreck Bay: An exposed oceanic bay offering superb rock fishing for luderick and drummer in the suds.
- Huskisson Wharf: An easily accessible local pier where kids and beginners can reliably catch yellowtail, bream, and trevally.
- Sir John Young Banks: A legendary offshore reef system located east of the bay that delivers world-class marlin and yellowfin tuna fishing.
- Callala Beach Gutters: Low-energy gutters that hold excellent numbers of sand whiting during summer evenings.
Local Bait Tips
- Point Perpendicular: Closed to fishing. The ocean side of Point Perpendicular is the Point Perpendicular-Crocodile Head Sanctuary Zone. It runs from the southern tip of Point Perpendicular north along the cliffs to about 35°04.6'S (toward Crocodile Head), and out to the marine park edge, about 1.5 km offshore. No fishing there. Check the official zoning map or the FishSmart app before you fish nearby.
- Jervis Bay FAD: The offshore FAD is a summer hotspot for fast-growing pelagic species like mahi-mahi and small marlin. Early mornings provide the best action before boat traffic spooks the fish holding close to the surface structure. Casting small unweighted pilchards or retrieving metal jigs on a medium-heavy spin rod will result in spectacular aerial fights.
- Middle Ground: This is a large, broken reef system inside the bay that consistently produces quality snapper, morwong, and flathead. Drifting this vast area during the low-light periods of dawn or dusk maximizes your chances of finding actively feeding fish. A standard reef fishing outfit deploying soft plastics or fresh squid baits on a paternoster rig is highly successful here.
- Bowen Island Ledges: Part of the water here is closed. The water within 100 m of Bowen Island, from "the Tumbledown" (35°07'10"S) south-west round to Governor Head, is the Bowen Island Sanctuary Zone, so no fishing there. Nearby water is part of Booderee National Park, which has its own rules (no bait collecting and no spearfishing). Check the official zoning map before you troll or cast here. A run-in tide pushing clean water around the island's points creates visible current lines that hold immense schools of bait. Casting metal slugs into the surface bust-ups on a medium spin outfit provides fast-paced and incredibly fun sportfishing action.
- Currambene Creek Drop-offs: The drop-offs in lower Currambene Creek hold dusky flathead. Part of the creek is closed: the mudflats on the west side, between the red (port) channel markers and the shore, from about 100 m below the Woollamia boat ramp down to the channel from the Lady Denman fish reserve, are the Currambene Creek Mudflats Sanctuary Zone. Upper Currambene Creek (upstream of 150°38.6'E) is a sanctuary zone too. Keep your lures on the channel side of the red markers. Fishing the bottom half of the run-out tide concentrates the flathead along these ledges as they wait for fleeing baitfish. Bouncing heavy jigheads rigged with large soft plastic swimbaits along the sandy drop-offs on a light spin rod is a proven method.e run-out tid
Boat Ramps
- Woollamia Boat Ramp:
Located on Currambene Creek in the Woollamia Maritime Precinct, Woollamia, this dual-lane concrete boat ramp is managed by Shoalhaven City Council and serves as the primary gateway to the waters of Jervis Bay. The waterfront precinct is extensively equipped with staging and boarding assets, including multiple adjacent floating pontoons (Facility A with power and water, Facilities C & D floating pontoon wharves), a medium-duty concrete wharf with power, water, and blackwater pump-out (Facility B), and a timber wharf (Facility E). While sheltered within the creek, the facility experiences extreme seasonal congestion and user conflicts with commercial, industrial, and private vessel moorings. Landside infrastructure includes a paved queuing/preparation area, a freshwater washdown/rinse bay, a concrete fenced hardstand with power/water points, and extensive trailer parking (areas L-O and R) alongside dedicated car-only parking (P).
Bait and Tackle
- Jervis Bay Tackle: 9 Nowra St, Huskisson NSW 2540 | Phone: No Phone
- Coles Express Nowra (After-Hours): 112 Princes Hwy, Nowra NSW 2541 | Phone: (02) 4421 0333
Basecamp & Accom
- Huskisson Beach Tourist Park: 10 Beach St, Huskisson NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 5142
- Jervis Bay Holiday Park: 785 Woollamia Rd, Woollamia NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 5046
- Haven Chalets: 156 Woollamia Rd, Woollamia NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 5118
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 or VHF Ch 16 | Marine Rescue Jervis Bay: Voyager Park, Currambene Street, Huskisson NSW 2540 | Base phone: 02 4441 5433 | Log on with the MarineRescue app
