Fishing Red Rock and Corindi River
General fishing in Red Rock centres on the lower Corindi River, where DPI rates sand whiting best from November to April. The northern side of the lower river below the Mullet Creek junction is a sanctuary zone, along with all of Saltwater Creek and Mullet Creek. The main channel, the southern side and the river upstream of the zone stay open to line fishing.
Land-based anglers can fish the main channel and southern side of the river, plus Red Rock Beach, which is patrolled in the peak of the summer holidays. Do not fish, pump nippers or dig worms on the northern side or in Saltwater and Mullet creeks. Wear shoes on the banks and keep an eye on the tide.
Offshore and boat fishing starts from Red Rock Reserve Boat Ramp off Ford Street, a single-lane concrete ramp on the Corindi River. The Corindi River entrance is a listed coastal bar, so everyone on board must wear a lifejacket when crossing, and the incoming tide is the safer time. Offshore, the Central sanctuary zone covers a large area to the north-east, and North West Solitary Island has a sanctuary zone on its western side.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Corindi River Main Channel: The main channel of the lower river is open to line fishing, and the sanctuary zone boundary follows it along the northern side. DPI names the Corindi River as a sand whiting hot spot, best from November to April. Fish live nippers or marine worms on a size 1 to 1/0 circle or long shank hook with a running sinker and about a metre of 2 to 5kg trace.
- Lower Corindi River South Side: The southern side of the lower river is outside the sanctuary zone, so line fishing is allowed. DPI says small blades, surface poppers and stickbaits cast around sand flats and shallow weed beds take whiting. Keep the retrieve brisk and consistent, which is DPI's top whiting tip.
- Upper Corindi River: Upstream of the sanctuary zone the river is open to line fishing again. DPI says every estuary from South West Rocks north holds mangrove jack, and they sit tight on snags and rock walls. Fish herring or poddy mullet baits unweighted or under a float right against the structure, focusing on the tide changes and after dark.
- Red Rock Beach: Council lists this quiet ocean beach at Red Rock, patrolled in the peak of the summer holidays with dogs allowed on a lead. DPI says mulloway are taken off the beaches of the Coffs Coast. Spearfishing is only allowed in the last 20m at each end of the beach.
Offshore
- Red Rock Reserve Boat Ramp: This single-lane concrete ramp off Ford Street is run by NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust and listed by Transport for NSW as usable at all times. It has up to 10 car and trailer spaces, and a waste bin is the only listed facility. Jet skis may only use the river to reach the ocean from the lowest ramp, at no more than 4 knots.
- Corindi River Bar: Transport for NSW lists the Corindi River entrance near Red Rock as a coastal bar. Everyone on board must wear a lifejacket at all times when crossing. Cross on the incoming tide when you can, because the outgoing tide is the most dangerous time.
- Off Arrawarra: DPI lists Arrawarra among its Coffs Coast snapper hot spots, with April to October generally the best months. Drift pilchards or fresh tuna strips on a 2/0 to 7/0 non-offset circle hook with a running ball sinker straight to the hook, and use berley to bring fish up. Arrawarra Headland is a special purpose zone with no fishing or collecting, so fish clear of it.
- North West Solitary Island: A sanctuary zone covers the water off the western side of this island, and the marine park has a public mooring here that can be used for up to 12 hours. DPI says Spanish mackerel peak from February to May and are trolled around islands and shoals with fast diving hard-bodies or vibes on a short single-strand wire trace. Fish only outside the sanctuary zone, and never fish from the mooring while it sits inside the zone.
Hot Spots
- Little Beach: This small, unpatrolled council beach off Red Rock headland is open to line fishing for the mulloway DPI says are taken off Coffs Coast beaches.
- Corindi Beach: This unpatrolled beach near Corindi is open to line fishing, but nearby Pipe Clay Lake is a special purpose zone with no fishing or collecting.
- Station Creek: The lower creek near the mouth is open to line fishing, but the creek is a sanctuary zone from about 1.2km upstream of the mouth.
- Mullawarra Beach: Also called Ocean View Beach, this unpatrolled council beach south of Corindi is open to line fishing for mulloway off the sand.
- Mullaway Beach: Council lists this beach as a popular surf break, and it is open to line fishing for the mulloway DPI says are taken off Coffs Coast beaches.
Know the Rules
- FISHING FEE: You must pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee and carry your receipt when you fish, unless you are exempt. It covers hand lining, bait collecting, hand gathering and trapping, and even having fishing gear near the water. It costs $7 for 3 days, $14 for a month, $35 for a year or $85 for 3 years, from Service NSW online or on 1300 369 365.
- MARINE PARK: Red Rock and the Corindi River sit inside the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Sanctuary zones are no-take, so no fishing of any kind, no bait or shellfish collecting and no anchoring on reefs. Line fishing is allowed in the habitat protection and general use zones.
- CORINDI RIVER SANCTUARY ZONE: The lower Corindi River north of the main channel is a sanctuary zone, from the northern bank at the mouth up to the junction with Mullet Creek. It takes in all of Saltwater Creek and Mullet Creek, and no fishing or collecting of any kind is allowed there.
- OTHER ZONES NEARBY: Station Creek is a sanctuary zone from about 1.2km upstream of its mouth. Pipe Clay Lake and Arrawarra Headland are special purpose zones that protect Aboriginal cultural values, with no fishing or collecting.
- PASSING THROUGH A ZONE: You may travel through a sanctuary zone with your gear stowed and your lines unbaited. The zone lines are not marked on the beach, so check the free FishSmart NSW app, which tracks where you are against the zones in real time.
- JET SKIS: Jet skis may only use the Corindi River to reach the ocean from the lowest boat ramp, at no more than 4 knots.
- ESTUARY AND BEACH LIMITS: Yellowfin bream must be at least 25cm, with a bag limit of 10 in total with tarwhine. Sand whiting must be at least 27cm, with a bag limit of 20. Dusky flathead must be 36cm to 70cm, with a bag limit of 5, and luderick and tailor have a bag limit of 10 each, at 27cm and 30cm minimum.
- MULLOWAY, JACKS AND CRABS: Mulloway must be at least 70cm, with a bag limit of 1 and a boat limit of 2 when 2 or more fishers are on board. Mangrove jack have no size limit and a bag limit of 5. Mud crabs must be at least 8.5cm, with a bag limit of 5.
- REEF FISH LIMITS: Snapper must be at least 30cm, with a bag limit of 10. Yellowtail kingfish must be at least 65cm and Spanish mackerel at least 75cm, with a bag limit of 5 for each.
- EVERYTHING ELSE: Any fish not on the DPI list has a bag limit of 20. Eastern blue groper are release only, and DPI has kept the line fishing ban on them for three years from 1 March 2025.
- BAIT LIMITS: The limit is 20 beach worms, 100 saltwater nippers and 100 other worms. Poddy mullet under 15cm have a limit of 20 and are for live bait only. Pipis are for bait only, must not be taken more than 50m from the high tide mark, and count toward 50 in total with cockles and mussels.
- GEAR RULES: Cast nets are banned in NSW, and a nipper pump barrel must be no wider than 85mm. Spearfishing is not allowed in any estuary in the park, or on ocean beaches except the last 20m at each end of the beach.
- GREY NURSE SHARKS: Bait fishing is not allowed within 200m of the grey nurse shark sites at North Solitary and South Solitary islands. Within 500m of those islands, wire traces are for trolling only and must not be used from a still or anchored boat.
- PROTECTED IN THE PARK: Corals, sea anemones, seahorses and pipefish must not be taken from any part of the marine park.
- BEACH RULES: Red Rock Beach is patrolled during the peak of the summer holidays, and dogs are allowed on a lead there and on Little Beach. Corindi Beach, also called Pipeclay Beach, is not patrolled, so take extra care in the surf.
Rules change. Check the state fisheries website or app before you fish.
Local Bait Tips
- Nippers: Pump nippers from sand flats outside the sanctuary zone with a stainless steel nipper pump, which by law must have a barrel no wider than 85mm, and keep to the limit of 100. Never pump on the northern side of the lower river or in Saltwater and Mullet creeks, and keep them alive in a bucket of clean seawater out of the sun.
- Beach Worms: Beach worms are taken by hand picking on Red Rock Beach and other ocean beaches outside sanctuary zones, and gloves are allowed. The limit is 20 whole or part in total, so keep them cool and damp, and take only what you need.
- Pipis: Pipis may only be taken for bait, and you must not take them more than 50m from the high tide mark. Feel for them by hand in the wet sand at the water's edge outside sanctuary zones, and keep to the limit of 50 in total with cockles and mussels.
Bait and Tackle
- Red Rock Store: 1 Lawson Street, Red Rock NSW 2456 | Phone: (02) 6649 1552
Basecamp & Accom
- Reflections Red Rock Holiday Park: 1 Lawson Street, Red Rock NSW 2456 | Phone: (02) 6649 2730
- Reflections Corindi Beach Holiday Park: 93 Pacific Street, Corindi Beach NSW 2456 | Phone: (02) 6649 2803
- The Beach Arrawarra: 46 Arrawarra Beach Road, Arrawarra NSW 2456 | Phone: (02) 6649 2365
Emergency & Safety
- Marine Rescue Woolgoolga: Emergency: 000 | Address: 24 Third Avenue, Arrawarra Headland NSW 2456 | Radio: VHF 16, 27MHz 88 | Phone: (02) 6654 1785
