Fishing Sussex Inlet & St Georges Basin
General fishing in Sussex Inlet & St Georges Basin is highly productive year-round, with activity concentrating on shallow weed beds, deep sediment basins, and structured artificial reefs. The incoming tide pushes clean, clear ocean water through the winding inlet channels and floods the expansive basin flats. Wary predators wait in deep channel drop-offs to ambush baitfish, making tide transitions the absolute key to fishing success.
Land-based anglers can explore miles of accessible boardwalks, concrete canal edges, and sandy riverbanks throughout the inlet town. Casting small lures or fresh prawns around the residential pontoons and retaining walls is an exceptionally reliable method for catching quality bream. Wading the shallow, weed-fringed flats at Sanctuary Point on a calm summer morning provides spectacular light-tackle sport for whiting and flathead.
Offshore and boat fishing is a highly popular option, with the sheltered waters of the basin offering safe refuge for small vessels and kayaks in almost any weather. Boaters can utilize the high-capacity launches at Lions Park Boat Ramp or Lakehaven Drive Boat Ramp to explore the deeper center of the basin. Drifting the vast flats while casting soft plastics or trolling deep-diving lures along the drop-offs is a highly effective way to locate trophy fish.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Sussex Inlet Canals: The residential canals offer highly structured environments teeming with bream and flathead sheltering around pontoons and retaining walls. Fishing the run-in tide brings clear water and actively feeding fish right up to the easily accessible concrete edges. Light finesse gear using unweighted fresh prawns or small soft plastics is essential to outsmart these highly pressured fish.
- Sanctuary Point Reserve: This expansive grassy reserve provides excellent shore access to the shallow, weed-fringed flats of St Georges Basin. Dawn and dusk are the most productive times to cast lures here, as flathead and whiting move into the shallows to hunt. Wading out slightly and fan-casting surface poppers or shallow-running hardbodies on a light spin outfit guarantees explosive topwater strikes.
- Basin View Boat Ramp Jetty: The public jetty at Basin View is a brilliant family-friendly spot that consistently produces bream, snapper, and tailor. A high tide occurring during the early morning provides the perfect water depth to draw fish out from the nearby weed beds. Using a light rod with a lightly weighted paternoster rig and fresh bait will keep everyone entertained with constant bites.
- Cudmirrah Beach: Just south of the inlet, Cudmirrah Beach offers excellent surf fishing gutters for those chasing tailor, salmon, and whiting. The optimum fishing window is a rising tide coupled with low light conditions, which encourages fish to feed aggressively in the shore break. A standard surf outfit casting pilchards on ganged hooks or beach worms on a paternoster rig will cover all bases.
- Pelican Point: Located near the mouth of the inlet, Pelican Point features strong tidal flows that attract large flathead and trevally. The run-out tide is exceptional here, as baitfish are sucked from the basin and funneled directly past the point. A medium spin setup casting heavily weighted soft plastics into the current and bouncing them along the bottom is a deadly tactic.
Offshore
- St Georges Basin Artificial Reefs: The DPI-installed artificial reefs within the basin have created incredible micro-habitats that attract massive schools of bream and snapper. Drifting slowly over the GPS coordinates during a gentle breeze allows anglers to thoroughly cover these productive structures. Vertical jigging with small metal blades or hopping soft plastics on light braided line is the most effective way to fish these reefs.
- The Drop-offs: The central basin features dramatic drop-offs transitioning from shallow weed beds into deep, dark holes where giant flathead lurk. Fishing the edges of these drop-offs during the middle of the day pushes you into the deeper, cooler water where the big fish retreat. Trolling deep-diving hardbody lures or vertically jigging heavy soft plastics on a medium spin outfit consistently produces trophy-sized captures.
- Wandandian Creek Mouth: The entrance to Wandandian Creek is a legendary hotspot for targeting large estuary perch and schooling bream. The run-out tide is the best time to fish, as it pulls nutrient-rich water from the creek and concentrates feeding fish at the mouth. Casting small suspending hardbody lures or surface walkers tight against the snaggy edges on finesse tackle provides thrilling sport.
- Sussex Inlet Entrance Bar: The tidal bar where the inlet meets the ocean is a dynamic zone highly frequented by mulloway, tailor, and salmon. Fishing the slack water at the top or bottom of the tide allows boats to safely anchor and present baits naturally. Deploying live baits or large soft plastics on a sturdy boat rod is the best approach to handle the powerful fish that patrol here.
- Sussex Inlet River Channels: The winding, deep channels of the inlet are prime locations for drifting for flathead and flounder. The incoming tide pushes clean ocean water through the system, sparking a vigorous feeding frenzy among the bottom-dwelling predators. Drifting with the current while trailing baits of fresh squid or hopping soft vibes on light tackle is a highly relaxing and productive method.
Hot Spots
- Berrara Creek: A pristine, tannin-stained creek system perfect for kayak anglers casting lures at aggressive bream and flathead.
- Swan Lake: A quiet coastal lake offering fantastic shallow-water wading for anglers targeting whiting on surface lures.
- Erowal Bay: A sheltered bay within the basin featuring extensive weed beds that hold incredible numbers of large squid.
- The Island: The waterways surrounding the main island offer deep holes that consistently produce excellent winter catches of mulloway.
- Wrights Beach Flats: Shallow sandy flats that serve as an excellent summer hunting ground for large, actively feeding sand whiting.
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.
Boat Ramps
- Lions Park Bulahdelah Boat Ramp (Myall River):
Lions Park Bulahdelah Boat Ramp (Myall River): Located in Bulahdelah on the shores of the Myall River, this concrete ramp is managed by the MidCoast Council [8]. The facility was renovated under the state government’s Better Boating Program in the 2001/02 period to improve access [88]. It provides safe, protected launching for recreational vessels and non-motorised craft exploring the Myall River and Myall Lakes systems [8, 89].
Bait and Tackle
- Sussex Inlet Bait & Tackle: 168 Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 1666
- Local Service Station (After-Hours): 175 Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 1222
Basecamp & Accom
- Sussex Inlet Holiday Haven: Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 2333
- Island Point Lodge: 104 Island Point Rd, Saint Georges Basin NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4443 4567
- Swan Lake Tourist Village: 146 Cyrus St, Cudmirrah NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 2122
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Sussex Inlet: 168 Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet NSW 2540 | Phone: (02) 4441 1666
