Fishing Shoalhaven River & Greenwell Point
General fishing in Shoalhaven River & Greenwell Point is strongly dominated by tidal flows, heavy oyster lease structures, and seasonal freshwater flushes from the upper reaches. During late spring and summer, warm estuarine currents activate flathead and whiting feeding patterns over the shallow sandbanks. Boaters should exercise extreme caution when navigating the Shoalhaven River bar crossing, as shifting sands and tidal ebbs can generate treacherous breaking waves.
Land-based anglers are highly accommodated with a variety of accessible public wharves, rock walls, and sandy river beaches. Casting live baits off the Greenwell Point Wharf under the cover of darkness is a proven technique for intercepting trophy mulloway. Wading the shallow margins near Comerong Island provides an excellent stealthy approach for targeting flathead and sand whiting on light tackle.
Offshore and boat fishing opportunities are vast, with the deep channels around Greenwell Point offering immediate access to coastal reef systems. Small vessels and kayak fishers can easily explore the mangrove-lined banks, deep holes, and vast fields of oyster leases. Boating access is highly reliable via the Broughton Creek Boat Ramp, making it a critical staging area for river exploration.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Greenwell Point Wharf: This iconic public wharf is a proven producer of quality mulloway, bream, and flathead for shore-based anglers. The optimum time to fish is during the tide changes at night, when large predators move in to hunt under the jetty lights. Heavy estuarine tackle and large live baits or fresh squid heads are necessary to extract big mulloway from the pylons.
- Comerong Island Breakwall: The breakwall flanking the river mouth offers deepwater access where anglers can target salmon, tailor, and the occasional kingfish. Fishing a run-in tide pushes clean ocean water against the rocks, bringing hungry pelagic fish within casting range. A robust rock fishing outfit equipped with metal slugs or ganged pilchards is the most effective way to fish this structured environment.
- Orient Point Jetties: The jetties at Orient Point provide comfortable, family-friendly platforms perfect for catching bream, luderick, and trevally. A high tide occurring early in the morning or late afternoon provides the necessary water depth to bring fish to the structure. Light spinning gear with a lightly weighted paternoster rig and fresh local prawns will ensure a steady stream of bites.
- Shoalhaven Heads Beach: This expansive stretch of sand features deep gutters that are highly productive for targeting surf whiting, dart, and tailor. Fishing the rising tide during dawn or dusk gives anglers the best chance of intercepting cruising schools of fish. Long surf rods casting freshly caught beach worms on small hooks will yield excellent results in the suds.
- Berry's Canal Banks: The banks along the historic Berry's Canal offer excellent access for casting lures to flathead and estuary perch. The most productive fishing happens during a run-out tide when bait is flushed from the shallow margins into the deeper channel. Walking the bank with a light spin rod and hopping small soft plastics along the drop-offs is a deadly technique.
Offshore
- Shoalhaven Artificial Reef: Located just offshore, this purpose-built reef complex provides a haven for snapper, kingfish, and bait schools. Drifting over the structure early in the morning before boat traffic increases yields the most consistent catches. Dropping soft plastics or lightly weighted baits on medium boat tackle will reliably produce quality reef fish.
- The Banks: The Banks is a legendary offshore seamount known for explosive game fishing action involving marlin and yellowfin tuna. Summer and autumn are the peak seasons as the East Australian Current pushes warm, bait-rich water over the pinnacle. Heavy game fishing outfits trolling skirted lures or slow-trolled live baits are the standard methods to tackle these oceanic giants.
- Crookhaven Bight: This sheltered bay offers excellent light-tackle boat fishing for snapper, flathead, and squid just outside the river mouth. Fishing the incoming tide when clean ocean water floods the bay creates the best feeding conditions for resident species. Drifting with a light spin outfit and casting soft plastics ahead of the boat is a highly efficient way to cover ground.
- Shoalhaven River Deep Holes: The deep holes situated in the lower reaches of the river are famous for producing trophy-sized mulloway. Timing your trip to coincide with the slack water of a tide change is critical, as it allows baits to sit naturally in the strike zone. Deploying live poddy mullet or large vibration lures on sturdy baitcasting gear is the preferred tactic for these silver ghosts.
- Broughton Creek Confluence: Where Broughton Creek meets the Shoalhaven River, the converging currents create a feeding hotspot for bream and flathead. The run-out tide is highly effective here, concentrating baitfish into the deeper channels where predators wait. Casting shallow-diving hardbody lures or surface poppers around the weed beds on light tackle provides spectacular visual strikes.
Hot Spots
- Shoalhaven Heads River Mouth: A dynamic environment where shifting sandbanks provide excellent wading opportunities for casting to flathead.
- Tallowa Dam: A pristine freshwater impoundment offering incredible kayak fishing for Australian bass using surface lures.
- Comerong Island Flats: Expansive shallow sand flats that are perfect for sight-casting to cruising whiting during the summer months.
- Greenwell Point Oyster Leases: Highly structured areas where accurate lure casting will extract large, aggressive black bream.
- Crookhaven River Channel: A deep, fast-flowing channel that serves as a transit route for incoming trevally and tailor.
Local Bait Tips
- Pink Nippers: Collect these premium baits by pumping nippers using a hand-operated suction pump on intertidal sand flats during a low tide. Keep them alive in shallow saltwater or on a damp sponge in a cool container to maintain their natural movement.
- Poddy Mullet: Gather these hardy baits by using a legal, clear plastic poddy mullet trap baited with bread crumbs in the shallow estuary margins. Ensure the trap is checked frequently and any undersized or excess fish are immediately returned to the water.
- Beach Worms: Locate these exceptional surf baits on local beaches by dragging a stinky fish frame through the receding waves to entice them to rise. Once the worm extends its head, use your thumb and forefinger with a small pinch of dry sand to extract it cleanly.
Bait and Tackle
- Jim Wild's Oysters: Lot 2/170 Greens Rd, Greenwell Point NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4447 1498
- McCallum's Tackle World Nowra: 1/176 Princes Hwy, South Nowra NSW 2541 | Phone: (02) 4421 2418
- IGA Local Grocer Shoalhaven Heads (After-Hours): Shop 4/121 Shoalhaven Heads Rd, Shoalhaven Heads NSW 2535 | Phone: (02) 4408 3018
Basecamp & Accom
- Greenwell Point Tourist Park: 17 Greens Rd, Greenwell Point NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4447 1373
- Anchor Bay Motel: 82 Greenwell Point Rd, Greenwell Point NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4447 1320
- Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Park: Shoalhaven Heads Rd, Shoalhaven Heads NSW 2535 | Phone: (02) 4448 7324
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Shoalhaven: Crookhaven Heads, Greenwell Point NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4447 1504
