Batemans Bay and the Clyde fishing spots
The Clyde River runs from bass and estuary perch water near Nelligen down to mulloway, bream, flathead and luderick around Batemans Bay. The bay's islands and inshore reefs are known snapper ground, the beaches give salmon, tailor and whiting, and the shelf holds summer striped marlin and winter tuna. All of it is inside Batemans Marine Park.
Updated
5 spots here: 3 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 6 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our NSW South Coast species list for New South Wales. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.
Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.
Spots at a glance
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Clyde River (Big Island) | River | Boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 2. Snapper Island & the inner bay reefs | Island | Boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
| 3. Caseys Beach & Observation Head | Beach | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park |
| 4. Malua Bay | Beach | Land-based | Ocean coast | Batemans Marine Park |
| 5. Tomaga River (Mossy Point) | Estuary | Land-based, boat and kayak | Bay, estuary or river | Batemans Marine Park; no-take zone nearby |
1. Clyde River (Big Island)
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat and kayak. Boat or kayak from the Nelligen or Batemans Bay bridge ramps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: dusky flathead, mulloway, estuary perch and Australian bass. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick and silver trevally.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered river; westerlies funnel down the valley.
- Note
- Coordinate is Big Island in the lower Clyde. Rock bars, oyster racks and deep bends hold bream, flathead and mulloway; bass and estuary perch further up (catch and release May to August).
- Safety
- Oyster leases and shallow bars. The upper river Shallow Crossing zone is closed to fishing from 1 May to 30 November.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection water. Buckenbowra River, Pelican Inlet and Waterfall Creek sanctuary zones are nearby (the closest about 1.3 km away): check the map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -35.68180, 150.13450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Big Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Snapper Island & the inner bay reefs
- Type
- Island · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat and kayak. Short run from the Hanging Rock or bridge ramps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: snapper, sand and tiger flathead and Australian salmon. Also in season: tailor, yellowtail kingfish, southern calamari and silver trevally.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered from southerlies; easterly swell rolls into the bay.
- Note
- Coordinate is Snapper Island in the bay. Float lightly weighted baits or plastics over the inshore reefs for snapper, drift the sand for flathead, and troll around the islands for salmon and kingfish.
- Safety
- The bar at the Clyde mouth can break in big swell. Boat traffic in the main channel.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone. The Tollgate Islands sanctuary zone lies about 2.6 km east: check the map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -35.73180, 150.21790 · Open in Google Maps (position: Snapper Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Caseys Beach & Observation Head
- Type
- Beach · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Roadside parking right behind the beach and headland at Batehaven.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead and Australian salmon. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor and rock blackfish.
- Best tide
- Rising tide.
- Best wind
- Southerlies and westerlies are fishable here; north-easters blow on. Faces NE.
- Note
- Easy beach-and-rocks spot on the bay's southern shore: worms for whiting and bream, plastics for flathead, and drummer off the Observation Head rocks.
- Safety
- Exposed to east swell on bigger days. Lifejacket on the headland rocks.
- Zone
- Batemans Marine Park; no sanctuary zone within about 3 km. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -35.73180, 150.20120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Caseys Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. Malua Bay
- Type
- Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Malua Bay beach reserve car park; Mosquito Bay ramp nearby.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: Australian salmon and sand whiting. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin bream, rock blackfish and luderick.
- Best tide
- Rising tide.
- Best wind
- Westerlies. Faces E.
- Note
- Surf beach with rocky ends: salmon and tailor in the gutters, bream and whiting on worms, and drummer and luderick off the rocks at either end.
- Safety
- Rips; patrolled in season. Lifejacket on the rocks.
- Zone
- Habitat protection zone. The Burrewarra sanctuary zone begins about 2 km south around Guerilla Bay. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -35.79840, 150.23450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Malua Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
5. Tomaga River (Mossy Point)
- Type
- Estuary · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based, boat and kayak. Mossy Point and Tomakin ramps and foreshore; kayaks can launch at either.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream and luderick.
- Best tide
- Run-in tide at the mouth; the flow near the entrance is strong.
- Best wind
- Sheltered estuary.
- Note
- Coordinate is Mossy Point near the river mouth. Recreational fishing haven: drift plastics for dusky flathead, nippers and worms on the flats for whiting and bream, and mulloway in the deeper holes toward the mouth.
- Safety
- Strong tide near the mouth; shallow above the oyster leases.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Recreational fishing haven (habitat protection zone). Candlagan Creek, just west of Mossy Point, is a sanctuary zone about 1 km away: do not fish it. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
- Map
- -35.83180, 150.18450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mossy Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
6 public boat ramps are listed for Batemans Bay and the Clyde, with positions from Maritime NSW Boat Ramps. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.
| Ramp | Notes | Position |
|---|---|---|
| West Bridge Boat Ramp (Wharf Street) | 2 lanes, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Upper Clyde at Nelligen. | -35.64892, 150.14231 Google Maps |
| South Bridge, Batemans Bay | 2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon or jetty nearby, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Clyde River by the Batemans Bay bridge. | -35.70260, 150.17692 Google Maps |
| Hanging Rock Boat Ramp, Batemans Bay | 3 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Main Batemans Bay launch for the bay, islands and offshore. | -35.71848, 150.19662 Google Maps |
| Mosquito Bay, Malua Bay | 2 lanes, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Ocean ramp at Mosquito Bay; swell dependent. | -35.78140, 150.23241 Google Maps |
| Mossy Point, Tomago River | 2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon or jetty nearby, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Tomaga River near the mouth. | -35.83867, 150.18353 Google Maps |
| Tomakin, Tomago River | 1 lane, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: shallow at times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Tomaga River; can be shallow. | -35.83124, 150.18769 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Batemans Bay and the Clyde in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting, Australian salmon, mulloway and 4 more. Of the 29 species our NSW South Coast list has for this part of the coast, 8 peak in October 2026 and 14 more are in season.
Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting, Australian salmon, mulloway, sand and tiger flathead, snapper, Australian bass and estuary perch.
Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick, rock blackfish, silver trevally, yellowtail kingfish, southern calamari, tarwhine, leatherjacket, eastern sea garfish, blue swimmer crab, Australian bonito, yellowfin tuna and school and eastern king prawns.
Out of season in October: mahi mahi (best Dec–Apr); marlin (best Jan–Apr).
Seen now and then, so not rated: mud crab, mangrove jack, mackerel tuna, Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: New South Wales' own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.
Can you fish here? Rules and safety
NSW Recreational Fishing Fee needed to fish NSW saltwater (incl. spearfishing, hand gathering, bait collecting, prawning): $7 3 days, $14 1 month, $35 1 year, $85 3 years (Oct 2026). Exempt: under 18, Aboriginal people, Pensioner Concession Card and DVA TPI/EDA Gold Card holders (other cases, e.g. some DVA payments or a charter or guide with an exemption certificate, are on the exemptions page). Interstate licences are not an exemption. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: New South Wales' limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Rules at Batemans Bay and the Clyde
- Batemans Marine Park: no fishing in sanctuary zones (including Cullendulla Creek, Tollgate Islands, North Head, Burrewarra, Candlagan Creek and Broulee Island); only listed species may be taken in habitat protection zones.
- North Head habitat protection zone (restricted): shore-based line fishing only.
- Shallow Crossing (upper Clyde River): no fishing from 1 May to 30 November.
- Australian bass and estuary perch: catch and release only from May to August.
Marine parks and no-take zones
The zone notes here name Batemans Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Clyde River (Big Island), Snapper Island & the inner bay reefs and Tomaga River (Mossy Point): each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Batemans Bay and the Clyde
- Batemans Bay has a coastal bar watched by a TfNSW webcam: lifejackets on when crossing.
- Eurobodalla is not a declared rock-fishing area, but lifejackets are strongly advised on ocean rock platforms.
- Shelf trips: carry an EPIRB (required more than 2 nautical miles offshore in NSW).
New South Wales: official links
Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: NSW coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.
Boating: New South Wales boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Boats <=4.8m: always on open waters and bars (L100+); enclosed waters when alone or at night. >4.8m: all wear L100+ crossing bars. Under-12s: always on <=4.8m; open areas <=8m underway.
Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Marine Rescue NSW. Log On when you head out and Log Off when you return. Call your Marine Rescue NSW base on VHF Channel 16 or use the free Marine Rescue NSW app. If you don't Log Off, volunteers start searching.
Marine parks and closed areas: NSW marine parks (Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay, Batemans, Lord Howe Island), NSW aquatic reserves, Intertidal protected areas (Sydney) and Australian Marine Parks (Temperate East network, Lord Howe).
- Rock fishing lifejacket law: Lifejacket required by law when rock fishing in declared areas (Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016): Ballina, Central Coast, Kiama, Lake Macquarie, Northern Beaches, Port Stephens, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Sutherland, Wollongong. $100 fine. More.
New South Wales' official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.
Nearby fishing areas
- Moruya and Tuross Head (about 28 km south)
- Narooma and Wagonga Inlet (about 54 km south)
- Ulladulla and St Georges Basin (about 62 km north-east)
- Bermagui and Wallaga Lake (about 77 km south)
Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in New South Wales · all fishing spot guides.
Sources and checked dates
- Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Maritime NSW Boat Ramps (Transport for NSW), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
- Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
- Research sources: dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Go Fishing Batemans Bay (Nov 2025): Clyde River species, reefs, offshore seasons, zoning map notes); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Batemans Marine Park extent); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Official zoning map); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Zone rules, recreational fishing havens, restricted habitat protection zones); batemansbaypost.com.au (Bridge, breakwall and Little Island catches (local report)); visitnsw.com (Tomaga River haven, species, tides and launch points); nsw.gov.au (Batemans Bay coastal bar webcam and lifejacket rule); spatial.industry.nsw.gov.au (Zone polygons used to check every spot); opendata.transport.nsw.gov.au (Boat ramp locations and facilities).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.