Botany Bay and Port Hacking fishing spots

Botany Bay has been a recreational fishing haven since 2002, with the Georges and Woronora rivers feeding sand flats, seagrass and deep channels for bream, flathead, whiting, mulloway, trevally and squid. Port Hacking to the south is clearer and steeper-sided, with kingfish, snapper and squid near the entrance, and the Kurnell and Cronulla coast adds ocean rock ledges and the surf beaches of Bate Bay.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here: 7 fished from land and 2 reached only by boat or kayak, plus 6 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our NSW Mid Coast to Sydney 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

9 spots: Botany Bay and Port Hacking
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Botany Bay (open bay drifts)	Bay	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Towra Point Aquatic Reserve; no-take zone nearby
2. Yarra Bay artificial reef	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Lady Robinsons Beach (Brighton-le-Sands)	Beach	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Georges River (Como to Oatley)	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Cape Solander	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Bate Bay beaches (Wanda to North Cronulla)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Bass and Flinders Point (Cronulla)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Shiprock Aquatic Reserve; no-take zone nearby
8. Gunnamatta Bay	Bay	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Shiprock Aquatic Reserve; no-take zone nearby
9. Port Hacking (main channel)	Estuary	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Shiprock Aquatic Reserve; no-take zone nearby

1. Botany Bay (open bay drifts)

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Ramps at Foreshore Road (Port Botany), Kyeemagh and Bonna Point.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting, snapper and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, yellowtail kingfish, southern calamari and silver trevally.
Best tide: Run-in tide over the weed and sand edges; drift with the flow.
Best wind: Light westerlies; a southerly or fresh nor'easter raises a short chop across the bay.
Note: Drift sand and weed edges for flathead, work the weed for squid, and watch for kingfish, salmon and bonito on bait in the warmer months.
Safety: Large ships at Port Botany. Waters off the airport runways are closed to all fishing.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Towra Point Aquatic Reserve covers the southern shore from Shell Point to Bonna Point: no fishing in its sanctuary zones; line fishing and recreational nets only in the refuge zone. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -33.98180, 151.18450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Botany Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Yarra Bay artificial reef

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Yarra Bay foreshore at La Perouse; launch at Foreshore Road.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: yellowfin bream, silver trevally, yellowtail kingfish, southern calamari and tarwhine.
Best tide: Dawn and dusk matter more than the tide.
Best wind: Sheltered from northerlies; southerlies blow into the bay.
Note: DPIRD reef balls lie in Yarra Bay on the northern shore (GPS marks are in the DPIRD Go Fishing Botany Bay guide): good for bait and for bream at dawn and dusk.
Safety: Anchors snag on the reef modules.
Zone: Not in an aquatic reserve. Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve (no collecting of invertebrates or cunjevoi) is on the headland about 2 km south-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -33.98180, 151.23450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Yarra Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Lady Robinsons Beach (Brighton-le-Sands)

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Beachfront parking along The Grand Parade.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Rising tide into the evening.
Best wind: Westerlies blow offshore; a strong southerly or nor'easter blows straight in. Faces E.
Note: Long bay beach on the western shore: worms or nippers for whiting and bream on the rising tide, small plastics for flathead.
Safety: Busy swimming beach in summer: fish away from swimmers.
Zone: Not in an aquatic reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -33.96510, 151.15120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lady Robinsons Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Georges River (Como to Oatley)

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore parks and ramps at Tom Uglys Bridge, Oatley Bay and Como.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, mulloway and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream and luderick.
Best tide: Tide changes around bridges and points; mulloway at night on the changes.
Best wind: Sheltered; strong westerlies blow down the river.
Note: Bays, points and bridges with deep holes; DPIRD stocks mulloway in the Georges. Soft plastics along rock walls for bream and flathead; fresh or live squid at night for mulloway.
Safety: Heavy boat traffic on weekends. Upstream of the Rabaul Road ramp the catch should not be eaten (pollution warning).
Zone: Not in an aquatic reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -33.99840, 151.09840 · Open in Google Maps (position: Georges River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Cape Solander

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Kurnell section of Kamay Botany Bay National Park: vehicle entry fee and evening gate closing; walk to the ledges.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish, Australian bonito, mackerel tuna, rock blackfish and tailor.
Best tide: Tide matters less than current and bait: fish when warm, blue water pushes in.
Best wind: Westerly winds; any decent east or south swell makes the ledges deadly. Faces E.
Note: High cliffs and ledges known for land-based game fishing with live bait or balloon rigs, plus drummer and salmon closer in. For experienced rock anglers only.
Safety: Extreme rock fishing on high, swell-swept ledges: lifejacket compulsory (Sutherland Shire declared area). Never fish alone; leave as soon as the swell rises.
Zone: Not in an aquatic reserve. Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve is about 2 km north across the bay entrance and Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve about 3 km south-west; both allow line fishing but restrict collecting. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.01680, 151.23170 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cape Solander, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Bate Bay beaches (Wanda to North Cronulla)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks at Wanda, Elouera and North Cronulla.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Low tide to find the gutters, then the run-in to dark.
Best wind: North-westerly and westerly winds; south-easterlies blow straight in. Faces SE.
Note: The gazetted Wanda Beach point sits in Bate Bay. Deep gutters along Wanda and Elouera hold salmon and tailor in winter, whiting in summer and mulloway at night after a swell.
Safety: Rips and big surf; patrolled swimming areas.
Zone: Not in an aquatic reserve. Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve (line fishing allowed, collecting restricted) is about 2 km east, at the Kurnell end of Bate Bay. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.04840, 151.16780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wanda Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Bass and Flinders Point (Cronulla)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walks from the Cronulla esplanade and nearby streets.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor, yellowtail kingfish and southern calamari.
Best tide: Rising tide in the washes; the run-out for squid and kingfish where the current runs.
Best wind: Northerly and westerly winds; south and south-east swell runs into the entrance. Faces SSE.
Note: Rock ledges at the southern tip of the Cronulla peninsula where Port Hacking meets the sea: washes for drummer and luderick, squid and kingfish in the current.
Safety: Sutherland Shire is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejacket compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks. Swell runs into the Port Hacking entrance.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Not in an aquatic reserve. Shiprock Aquatic Reserve (no-take) is about 2 km west inside Port Hacking, at the western headland of Burraneer Bay: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.07340, 151.15120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bass and Flinders Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Gunnamatta Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Gunnamatta Park and the netted baths, a short walk from Cronulla station; Cronulla wharf nearby.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, southern calamari and leatherjacket.
Best tide: Rising tide; evenings for bream and squid.
Best wind: Sheltered from most winds.
Note: Sheltered bay with a netted swimming enclosure and wharf: family spot for bream, whiting, tailor and squid. Bring bait: worms, nippers and shellfish can't be collected here.
Safety: Cast outside the swimming nets, away from swimmers.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Not in an aquatic reserve. No taking of worms, nippers or shellfish in Gunnamatta Bay. Shiprock Aquatic Reserve (no-take) is about 2 km west, at the western headland of Burraneer Bay. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.06510, 151.15120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Gunnamatta Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Port Hacking (main channel)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Ramps at Grays Point (Swallow Rock), Yowie Bay and Cronulla (Tonkin Park).
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper, dusky flathead and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish, yellowfin bream, southern calamari and luderick.
Best tide: Run-in tide brings clear ocean water; flathead on the drop-offs as it falls.
Best wind: Sheltered from swell; strong westerlies blow down the estuary.
Note: Clear, deep estuary with sand banks near the entrance and steep, weedy shores upstream: squid and kingfish around moorings, flathead on the drop-offs, bream along the rocky shores.
Safety: Sand banks near the entrance break in big swell. Busy with boats in summer.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Shiprock Aquatic Reserve (no-take) is about 500 m south-west, at the western headland of Burraneer Bay (Little Turriel Point): no fishing there. Nets and traps are banned upstream of Hungry Point. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.06510, 151.13450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Port Hacking, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

6 public boat ramps are listed for Botany Bay and Port Hacking, with positions from Maritime NSW Boat Ramps. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.

Boat ramps: Botany Bay and Port Hacking
Ramp	Notes	Position
Port Botany - Foreshore Road	4 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Port Botany: main Botany Bay ramp with security parking.	-33.95814, 151.19890 Google Maps
Kyeemagh Boat Ramp	4 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Cooks River mouth, western bay. Don't eat fish from the Cooks River.	-33.94620, 151.16174 Google Maps
Bonna Point	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: mid to high tide only, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Kurnell, at the eastern edge of Towra Point Aquatic Reserve, with a sanctuary zone about 200 m west: no fishing there. Mid to high tide only.	-34.00718, 151.19225 Google Maps
Tom Uglys Bridge Boat Ramp (Horse Rock Point)	2 lanes, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Georges River at Tom Uglys Bridge (Sylvania).	-34.00507, 151.11243 Google Maps
Swallow Rock - Grays Point	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Swallow Rock, upper Port Hacking.	-34.06203, 151.07946 Google Maps
Tonkin Park - Cronulla	1 lane, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: mid to high tide only, pontoon, toilets (TfNSW record). Port Hacking at Cronulla; mid to high tide only.	-34.05540, 151.15009 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Botany Bay and Port Hacking in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead, snapper, mulloway and 4 more. Of the 29 species our NSW Mid Coast to Sydney list has for this part of the coast, 8 peak in October 2026 and 16 more are in season.

Peak in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead, snapper, mulloway, Australian salmon, sand and tiger flathead, Australian bass and estuary perch.

Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, yellowtail kingfish, southern calamari, luderick, silver trevally, rock blackfish, tarwhine, leatherjacket, mackerel tuna, Australian bonito, eastern sea garfish, mud crab, blue swimmer crab, yellowfin tuna and school and eastern king prawns.

Out of season in October: mahi mahi (best Dec–Apr); marlin (best Jan–Apr); Spanish mackerel (best Feb–May); cobia (best Feb–May).

Seen now and then, so not rated: mangrove jack.

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 Botany Bay and Port Hacking

Towra Point Aquatic Reserve: no fishing in sanctuary zones; refuge zone allows hook and line and recreational nets only, no collecting.
Shiprock Aquatic Reserve (Port Hacking) is no-take; Cape Banks and Boat Harbour aquatic reserves allow line fishing but no cunjevoi or invertebrates other than abalone and rock lobster.
Waters off the Sydney Airport runways and Penrhyn Estuary are closed to all fishing; oysters are closed in Botany Bay and the Georges River.
Port Hacking upstream of Hungry Point - Cabbage Tree Point: no hoop or lift nets, prawn nets, crab traps or lobster traps; Gunnamatta Bay: no worms, nippers or shellfish.
Inscription Point (Kurnell), Cabbage Tree Point (Bundeena) and Kogarah Bay foreshores have collecting closures; Towra Point to Kurnell: no digging with spade or fork.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Towra Point Aquatic Reserve and Shiprock Aquatic Reserve. A no-take zone starts close to Botany Bay (open bay drifts), Bass and Flinders Point (Cronulla), Gunnamatta Bay and Port Hacking (main channel): each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Botany Bay and Port Hacking

Randwick and Sutherland are declared rock-fishing areas: lifejackets are compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks.
Port Botany shipping, and closed water off the airport runways.
Cooks River and the upper Georges River carry pollution warnings: release your catch; Alexandra Canal is closed to all fishing.

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

Sydney Harbour (about 21 km north)
Pittwater, Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury (about 51 km north)
Wollongong and Port Kembla (about 52 km south-west)
Lake Illawarra and Windang (about 63 km south-west)

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 Botany Bay guide (2024): recreational fishing haven since 2002, Yarra Bay reef, mulloway stocking, species, Towra zones); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Botany Bay and Georges River closures (airport, Penrhyn Estuary, Cooks River, oysters, Georges River upstream)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Port Hacking closures (nets and traps, Gunnamatta Bay, Cabbage Tree Point)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Towra Point Aquatic Reserve zones); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Shiprock Aquatic Reserve (no-take)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve rules); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve rules); nsw.gov.au (Sutherland Shire declared rock-fishing areas map); nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (Kamay Botany Bay NP: Kurnell vehicle fee and gate hours, fishing from foreshores); events.visitsutherlandshire.com.au (Visit Sutherland Shire: Gunnamatta Park, Port Hacking and Dolls Point land-based spots); nsw.gov.au (Rock fishing lifejacket law and the list of declared LGAs); dpird.nsw.gov.au (NSW bag and size limits, bass and estuary perch catch-and-release period); data.gov.au (Spot coordinates: the site place index built from the Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and state naming authorities) and ABS ASGS 2021, CC BY 4.0); data.nsw.gov.au (Boat ramp coordinates, record ids, lanes, parking, water access and facilities (Maritime NSW Boat Ramps, Transport for NSW, Creative Commons Attribution; data updated Oct 2026)); spatial.industry.nsw.gov.au (NSW Marine Protected Areas zone polygons (DPIRD): every spot point was tested against sanctuary, aquatic reserve and special purpose zones).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.