Fishing South West Rocks & Macleay River
General fishing in South West Rocks & Macleay River delivers action across a diverse range of marine environments from brackish creeks to deep blue ocean trenches. Local oceanographic conditions create fantastic nutrient upwellings that sustain massive bait schools throughout the year. Anglers can expect highly productive sessions by planning around the strong seasonal tidal movements.
Land-based anglers are incredibly well catered for with extensive breakwalls and headlands that offer deep water access. Wading the shallow sandbanks of Back Creek during the summer is highly popular for catching whiting on light surface lures. Rock fishers targeting drummer along the Trial Bay ledges must always put safety first and wear appropriate lifejackets.
Offshore and boat fishing out of South West Rocks is world-class, offering immediate access to deep-water reefs and seasonal pelagic currents. Navigation requires careful planning as the Macleay River bar crossing is famously dangerous under heavy swell conditions. Once outside, anglers can target massive kingfish at Fish Rock using only artificial lures as bait-fishing is strictly banned.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- The Macleay River Breakwalls: The Macleay River Breakwalls are internationally recognized for producing massive mulloway, especially during the autumn mullet run. Fish the slack water at the top of the tide using large live baits or ten-inch soft plastics. Heavy rock fishing gear and a long gaff are absolute necessities to secure your catch on these slippery boulders.
- Jerseyville Bridge: Jerseyville Bridge offers exceptional night fishing where the artificial lights attract massive schools of baitfish into the shadows. Casting soft plastics or vibes into the light lines on a run-out tide is highly effective for school mulloway. A medium-heavy spin setup with a strong braided mainline is required to muscle fish away from the bridge pylons.
- Trial Bay Gaol Ledges: Trial Bay Gaol ledges provide thrilling rock fishing for pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and longtail tuna. Early mornings with an offshore wind create calm surface conditions perfect for spinning large metal lures. Anglers must wear spiked rock boots and a lifejacket to safely navigate these exposed and dangerous coastal fringes.
- Back Creek: Back Creek is a sheltered and family-friendly waterway perfect for wading the shallow sand flats on a high tide. Target the patchy weed beds with surface poppers during the summer months to catch aggressive sand whiting. A light, fast-action rod paired with six-pound monofilament will allow for long casts with ultra-light lures.
- Kinchella Creek: Kinchella Creek features steep muddy banks and submerged timber that hold healthy populations of Australian bass and yellowfin bream. Trolling small hardbody lures along the edges on a rising tide is a fantastic way to cover ground. Use a short and stiff baitcaster rod to accurately cast into the dense structure without snagging the overhanging branches.
Offshore
- The Gaol Grounds: The Gaol Grounds is an iconic near-shore sportfishing arena famous for its incredible runs of black marlin. Trolling skipping garfish or small skirted lures during the warm summer months is the proven method for success. A medium overhead game outfit is perfect for these juvenile marlin that often congregate within a few hundred metres of the rocks.
- Fish Rock: Fish Rock is a submerged cavern system that attracts monumental schools of bait and massive yellowtail kingfish. Anglers must target these hard-fighting predators using artificial lures as bait-fishing is strictly prohibited within two hundred metres of the island. Heavy jigging tackle and locked drags are essential to stop the kingfish from instantly busting off on the jagged reef.
- Grassy Head Reef: Grassy Head Reef offers spectacular bottom fishing for large winter snapper and pearl perch in forty metres of water. Establish a consistent berley trail on a falling tide to draw the fish up from the deep structures. Lightly weighted pilchards floated down the trail on twenty-pound fluorocarbon leader will fool the wariest of big red snapper.
- South West Rocks FADs: The South West Rocks FADs are deployed in deep water to aggregate pelagic wanderers like mahi mahi and wahoo. Arrive at dawn and troll small diving minnows past the buoys to entice the most aggressive fish in the school. A medium spin outfit is ideal for pitching live baits into the feeding frenzy once the fish have been located.
- The Continental Shelf Drop-off: The Continental Shelf drop-off requires a longer steam but holds formidable predators including blue marlin and yellowfin tuna. Trolling a staggered spread of large resin-head lures in the deep blue water is the traditional approach. Heavy game chairs and specialized tackle in the thirty-seven kilogram class are necessary to conquer these oceanic giants.
Hot Spots
- Spencers Creek Flats: This shallow tributary is an incredibly productive area to target dusky flathead on lightly weighted soft plastics.
- Macleay Arm Oyster Racks: Wading these extensive commercial leases with surface lures provides thrilling visual strikes from aggressive yellowfin bream.
- Bare Bluff Rock Ledge: This dangerous but rewarding coastal rock platform is famous for producing monumental snapper and drummer.
- Golden Hole Revetment: The deep water meeting the rocky structure here creates a perfect holding ground for large mulloway.
- Shark Island Channels: These deeper river bends are highly reliable for casting vibes to target winter school mulloway.
Local Bait Tips
- Live Herring: Live herring can be collected by using multi-hook Sabiki bait-jigs to target live herring around bridge pylons and pontoons in the Macleay River. Ensure you have a specialized bait bucket with an aerator to keep them alive and adhere to the local baitfish bag limits.
- Beach Worms: Beach worms are plentiful along Killick Beach and can be lured from the sand using a smelly fish head. Anglers must possess a valid recreational fishing licence and observe the strict bag limit of twenty worms per person.
- Saltwater Nippers: Saltwater nippers are easily collected by pumping nippers using a hand-operated suction pump on intertidal flats near Back Creek. The legal bag limit is one hundred nippers and berried females must be returned immediately.
Boat Ramps
- Matty’s Flat Boat Ramp, South West Rocks:
Matty’s Flat Boat Ramp: Situated along New Entrance Road in South West Rocks, this multi-lane concrete ramp allows deep-water access to excellent fishing spots in the MacLeay River. Boarding and staging are supported by a staging pontoon, a holding beach, and a public jetty. The facility has plenty of parking space for boat trailers, and is located near the Boatshed Café, which features balconies overlooking the river.
- Back Creek Boat Ramp, South West Rocks:
Back Creek Boat Ramp: Nestled on the banks of Back Creek in South West Rocks, this small concrete and sand ramp is equipped with a floating staging pontoon to assist boaters.
Bait and Tackle
- Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle: 20 Gregory St, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Phone: (02) 6566 6726
- Compleat Angler Kempsey: 120 Smith St, Kempsey NSW 2440 | Phone: (02) 6562 2366
- South West Rocks Coles Express: 2 Gregory St, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Phone: (02) 6566 5313
Basecamp & Accom
- Trial Bay Gaol Campground: 1 Phillip Dr, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Phone: (02) 6566 6168
- BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Holiday Park: 40 Plummers Ln, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Phone: (02) 6566 6142
- Horseshoe Bay Holiday Park: Livingstone St, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Phone: (02) 6566 6370
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Trial Bay: 1 Phillip Drive, South West Rocks NSW 2431 | Radio: VHF Channel 16 | Phone: (02) 6566 5886
