Fishing Urunga & The Bellinger-Kalang
General fishing in Urunga & The Bellinger-Kalang is defined by the magnificent estuarine reaches that are largely untouched by heavy commercial fishing. Anglers can target a wide variety of species from brackish water bass to saltwater flathead. Peak bite times coincide with the summer moon cycles when the estuary system comes alive.
Land-based anglers are deeply embedded in the local culture with easy access to extensive breakwalls and sandy riverbanks. Stealth is crucial when wading the shallow flats of the Kalang River for whiting and flathead. The southern breakwall at the river mouth is notorious for producing large mulloway for those willing to fish into the night.
Offshore and boat fishing out of Urunga requires navigating a notoriously shallow and shifting river bar. Once safely outside, boaters have immediate access to phenomenal offshore reefs teeming with snapper and pearl perch. Deep sea anglers often utilize live baits to target the seasonal runs of Spanish mackerel and black marlin.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Urunga Breakwall: Urunga Breakwall is the premier location for land-based anglers chasing trophy mulloway and tailor. The first hour of the run-in tide is the safest and most productive window before the current becomes unmanageable. Utilize a heavy surf outfit with a running sinker rig and fresh mullet fillets to target the larger predators.
- Mylestom Beach: Mylestom Beach provides endless kilometres of sandy gutters perfect for catching whiting and bream. Fish the rising tide with an onshore wind using live beach worms pinned to a long shank hook. A light estuary combo is sufficient but a longer rod will help clear the shore break during heavier swells.
- Raleigh Bridge: Raleigh Bridge features deep holes and structural pylons that hold impressive numbers of school jewfish. Hopping heavily weighted soft plastics along the bottom during the slack tide will trigger aggressive reaction bites. Braided line of at least twenty pounds is required to stop fish from wrapping you around the submerged concrete pillars.
- Bellinger Bend: Bellinger Bend offers sprawling weed beds that are ideal for targeting large dusky flathead on a falling tide. Cast shallow diving hardbody lures parallel to the drop-off just as the water begins to drain from the flats. A fast-action spin rod allows for crisp twitches that imitate a wounded baitfish perfectly in the clear water.
- Kalang River Boardwalk: Kalang River Boardwalk allows family-friendly access to calm water where luderick and bream congregate. Float fishing with green weed under a bobby cork during a high tide is the traditional and most effective method here. A long, parabolic rod helps absorb the lunges of angry blackfish trying to dive back into the submerged snags.
Offshore
- The Urunga Bar: The Urunga Bar is a treacherous entrance but serves as the gateway to the immediate inshore snapper grounds. Boaters should cross only on a making tide with minimal swell, immediately deploying skirts for passing pelagics. A medium overhead setup is ideal for trolling just beyond the breaker line where predatory fish ambush bait schools.
- The Bellinger Drop-off: The Bellinger Drop-off is a steep underwater ledge holding immense schools of baitfish during the autumn months. Drifting with live yakkas on a snell rig will almost guarantee action from passing kingfish and cobia. Strong southern currents dictate the use of heavy sinkers to keep the bait suspended just above the reef structure.
- North Beach Reef: North Beach Reef sits in thirty metres of water and provides exceptional bottom fishing for pearl perch. Anchor up during a slight northerly breeze and drop paternoster rigs baited with fresh squid strips. Utilize a braided mainline to detect subtle bites in the deep water and secure a solid hookset.
- Urunga FAD: Urunga FAD attracts large numbers of dolphinfish when the warm East Australian Current pushes close to shore. Casting unweighted pilchards into the surface feeding frenzy is the most thrilling way to fish this structure. A fast retrieve with a medium spin reel ensures you can keep the bait skipping enticingly across the surface.
- South Valla Reef: South Valla Reef is a relatively shallow mark that fishes exceptionally well for snapper after a heavy storm. Berley heavily with cubed pilchards on a run-out tide to bring the fish up through the water column. Drift lightly weighted baits down the trail using a baitrunner reel to allow the fish to run before striking.
Hot Spots
- Urunga Bridge Pylons: The deep shadows cast by the bridge provide perfect ambush points for school mulloway at night.
- Mylestom 4WD Access Track: The gutters formed immediately in front of the beach access track consistently hold large sand whiting.
- Kalang River Entrance Flats: Wading these shallow seagrass beds with surface poppers is highly effective for summer bream.
- Raleigh Flats: Broad sandy flats that become a prime hunting ground for flathead on a falling tide.
- Newry Island Canals: Highly sheltered mangrove edges where mangrove jack can be tempted with weedless plastics.
Local Bait Tips
- Beach Worms: Beach worms can be coaxed from the sand at Mylestom Beach using a stinky fish frame washed in the receding waves. Anglers must hold a valid fishing licence and strictly adhere to the recreational bag limit of twenty worms per person.
- Saltwater Nippers: Saltwater nippers are easily harvested by pumping nippers using a hand-operated suction pump on intertidal flats near the Kalang River mouth. The daily bag limit is one hundred per person and females carrying eggs must be returned to the water immediately.
- Poddy Mullet: Poddy mullet are collected by using ultra-light handlines or rods baited with bread dough under a small float for mullet in the backcreeks. Ensure you check local bag limits of twenty and use them fresh as superior live baits.
Bait and Tackle
- North Beach Recreation Club Kiosk: 1 Beach Rd, Mylestom NSW 2454 | Phone: (02) 6655 4293
- Urunga Service Centre: 123 Giinagay Way, Urunga NSW 2455 | Phone: (02) 6655 6177
Basecamp & Accom
- Urunga Heads Holiday Park: Morgo St, Urunga NSW 2455 | Phone: (02) 6655 6355
- North Beach Holiday Park: 121 Ocean Parade, Mylestom NSW 2454 | Phone: (02) 6655 4250
- Riverside Holiday Resort: 80 Riverside Dr, Urunga NSW 2455 | Phone: (02) 6655 3915
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Marine Rescue Coffs Harbour (Urunga Division): Marina Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 | Radio: VHF Channel 16 | Phone: (02) 6652 3200
