Fishing Nambucca Heads
General fishing in Nambucca Heads is highly productive thanks to the rich, clean estuarine environment. The shifting channels and extensive sandbars mean fish movements change with the seasons and tides. Peak fishing times are around dawn and dusk when predatory species begin hunting in the shallows.
Land-based anglers revolve around the famous V-Wall, which provides deep-water access without the need for a boat. Anglers can walk the extensive breakwalls or wade the shallow flats of the inner lagoon to target flathead. The shifting sandbars at the river mouth require local knowledge but reward shore-based fishers with exceptional catches.
Offshore and boat fishing out of Nambucca Heads provides access to a vibrant mix of pelagic and reef species. The continental shelf is conveniently close, allowing smaller vessels to target hard-pulling game fish when the weather permits. However, the Nambucca river bar is constantly shifting and requires extreme caution before heading out to the blue water.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- The V-Wall: The V-Wall is an iconic rock wall that produces massive mulloway and aggressive tailor year-round. Fish the change of the tide at night using large soft plastics or fresh mullet fillets to entice a strike. Heavy tackle is absolutely mandatory here as the jagged rocks will quickly destroy light leader lines during a fight.
- Shelly Beach: Shelly Beach offers spectacular shore fishing for bream and whiting in the shallow gutters that form along the sand. The rising tide is the optimal time to cast live beach worms into the turbulent white water. A long surf rod helps keep your mainline above the crashing waves and detects subtle bites in the wind.
- Stuart Island: Stuart Island provides excellent land-based access to the main river channel where large flathead ambush passing baitfish. An outgoing tide accelerates the water flow here, making it perfect for hopping soft plastics along the sandy drop-offs. Use a medium spin outfit with a ten pound fluorocarbon leader to handle the abrasive mouths of large flathead.
- Gumma on Warrell Creek: Gumma on Warrell Creek is a brilliant family-friendly location offering calm waters and diverse estuarine species. Cast unweighted yabbies into the submerged snags on a high tide to extract beautiful yellowfin bream. A light and sensitive graphite rod is ideal for feeling the gentle taps of fish feeding in the structure.
- Swimming Creek Beach: Swimming Creek Beach is a secluded stretch of sand that fishes exceptionally well for tailor during the winter months. An offshore westerly wind flattens the surf, allowing anglers to throw metal slugs long distances into the feeding schools. A high-speed spin reel is necessary to retrieve the lures fast enough to trigger an aggressive reaction bite.
Offshore
- Chopper Rock: Chopper Rock is a highly productive inshore reef system that consistently yields quality snapper and pearl perch. Drifting over the structure on a run-out tide while deploying a steady berley trail will quickly bring the fish around. Lightly weighted pilchards fished on a baitrunner reel will ensure the snapper can swallow the bait without feeling resistance.
- Nambucca FAD: Nambucca FAD is deployed over the warmer months to aggregate massive schools of acrobatic dolphinfish. Trolling small skirted lures past the buoy at first light is the most effective way to locate the active fish. Once the school is raised, casting unweighted bait cubes on medium spin gear will provide endless entertainment.
- Grassy Main Reef: Grassy Main Reef sits in twenty fathoms of water and is a reliable mark for targeting aggressive kingfish. Heavy jigging tackle is required to muscle these powerful fish away from the sharp coral formations below. A falling tide paired with a light southerly wind provides the best drift parameters for working heavy metal jigs.
- Trevands Reef: Trevands Reef is a deeper mark that occasionally produces surprise catches of dogtooth tuna and large cobia. Anchoring is preferred here to precisely drop live slimy mackerel into the strike zone just above the reef. A heavy overhead outfit loaded with eighty pound braid is essential for surviving the brutal initial runs of these predators.
- Continental Shelf Drop-off: The Continental Shelf drop-off requires a longer run but offers world-class sportfishing for marlin and yellowfin tuna. Trolling a spread of large pushers in the deep blue water during a northerly breeze will eventually raise a billfish. Game fishing gear in the twenty-four to thirty-seven kilogram class is standard equipment for this offshore arena.
Hot Spots
- Bellwood Park Flats: These expansive shallow weed beds are an ideal location for families to pump yabbies and target whiting.
- Gordon Park Jetties: The public pontoons offer safe and easy access to deep water where large flathead congregate on an outgoing tide.
- South Beach Gutters: The deep sandy troughs along this stretch are highly reliable for catching tailor during the winter months.
- Warrell Creek Mouth: The merging channel currents create a fantastic ambush zone for flathead and yellowfin bream.
- The Shallows Lagoon: A highly sheltered lagoon perfect for casting ultra-light surface walkers to tempt feeding sand whiting.
Local Bait Tips
- Beach Worms: Beach worms are prolific along South Beach and can be caught using a piece of fish frame to lure them out. Anglers must hold a valid NSW fishing licence and obey the strict bag limit of twenty worms per person.
- Saltwater Nippers: Saltwater nippers can be collected by pumping nippers using a hand-operated suction pump on intertidal flats near Stuart Island during the bottom of the low tide. The legal bag limit is one hundred nippers and all undersized bycatch must be carefully returned to the water.
- Pippies: Pippies are easily twisted from the sand in the wash zone along Nambucca Beach during an incoming tide. The daily bag limit is fifty pippies and they must not be removed from the beach to prevent localized depletion.
Boat Ramps
- Stuart Island Boat Ramp, Nambucca Heads:
Stuart Island Boat Ramp: Located on Stuart Island with access off Riverside Drive in Nambucca Heads, this dual-lane concrete ramp provides waterway access at all times to the Nambucca River. Boarding is supported by a walk-on boarding jetty and pontoon system. Managed by Nambucca Shire Council, the ramp is considered well-suited for its current usage but requires minor dredging near the jetty, closer toilet facilities, and would benefit from nighttime lighting.
- Wellington Drive Boat Ramp, Nambucca Heads:
Wellington Drive Boat Ramp: Located off Wellington Drive in the inner harbour area of Nambucca Heads, this ramp is restricted by poor road access and a complete lack of parking. A sharp drop-off into the inner harbour limits usability, and the ramp is strictly promoted for launching small craft under 4 metres in length.
- Shelly Beach Boat Ramp, Nambucca Heads:
Shelly Beach Boat Ramp: Located off Shelly Beach Road in Nambucca Heads, this ocean launching ramp is essential for enabling deep-water access when river bar conditions are unfavourable. However, returning boats face dangers due to the presence of recreational swimmers, snorkelers, and surfers in the area. The facility suffers from trailer parking difficulties, fish cleaning facilities that promote offal disposal near the swimming area, and a lack of electricity to the tractor shed.
Bait and Tackle
- Nambucca Outdoors and Marine: 48 Bowra St, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 6625
- BCF Nambucca Heads: 20 Bellwood Rd, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 5999
- Nambucca Shell Service Station: 154 Giinagay Way, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 6533
Basecamp & Accom
- White Albatross Caravan Park: 52 Wellington Dr, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 6468
- BIG4 Nambucca on Bellinger: 113 Giinagay Way, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 6284
- Destiny Motor Inn: 200 Giinagay Way, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Phone: (02) 6568 8044
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Nambucca: Wellington Drive, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 | Radio: VHF Channel 16 | Phone: (02) 6569 4446
