Coffs Harbour and Sawtell fishing spots

Coffs Harbour's sheltered harbour, historic jetty and breakwalls make easy land-based fishing for bream, tailor, trevally and luderick, while Coffs, Boambee and Bonville creeks hold whiting, flathead and jacks. Offshore, DPIRD lists the local shoals as snapper hot spots (best April to October), with Spanish mackerel from February to May. North of the harbour wall is the marine park.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

10 spots here: 6 fished from land and 4 reached only by boat, plus 6 public boat ramps. Seasons follow our NSW North 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

10 spots: Coffs Harbour and Sawtell
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Diggers Beach & Macauleys Headland	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park
2. Park Beach & Coffs Creek	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park
3. Northern breakwall (Muttonbird Island)	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park
4. Coffs Harbour Jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Boambee Beach & Boambee Creek	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Bonville Headland (Sawtell)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Jeffreys Shoal	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
8. Changte Shoal	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	–
9. Sawtell Shoal	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	–
10. Whitmore Shoal	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	–

1. Diggers Beach & Macauleys Headland

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Diggers Beach Road; walk down to the sand.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and sand whiting. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide; dawn and dusk for tailor and mulloway.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces E.
Note: Surf beach north of the harbour below Macauleys Headland: deep gutters for bream, tailor and mulloway, with rocks at the southern end.
Safety: Rips; patrolled only in season.
Zone: Habitat protection zone: recreational line fishing allowed Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.26510, 153.15110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Diggers Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Park Beach & Coffs Creek

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Park Beach reserve; creek paths and bridge.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide on the beach; run-in on the creek flats.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces E.
Note: Town surf beach with Coffs Creek mouth at its south end: tailor, bream and whiting in the gutters, and bream, whiting and flathead under the bridge and along the creek shallows.
Safety: Rips; patrolled only in season.
Zone: Habitat protection zone (Coffs Creek included): recreational line fishing allowed Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.28170, 153.13440 · Open in Google Maps (position: Park Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Northern breakwall (Muttonbird Island)

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Walk out from the marina along the 1 km wall to Muttonbird Island.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick, silver trevally and mackerel tuna.
Best tide: Bream and luderick on a moving tide; tailor at dawn and dusk.
Best wind: The harbour side is out of the swell; the outer rocks need a small swell. Faces E.
Note: The wall linking Muttonbird Island to the mainland: bream, trevally and luderick on the harbour side, tailor and tuna off the outer rocks. Busy with walkers.
Safety: Swell surges up the outer side. Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down.
Zone: The seaward side is a habitat protection zone (line fishing allowed); the marine park's southern edge runs along here Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.29920, 153.14020 · Open in Google Maps (position: North Wall Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Coffs Harbour Jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Jetty foreshore car parks; walk out on the jetty.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream, silver trevally, tailor, eastern sea garfish and southern calamari.
Best tide: Rising tide; dusk for tailor and bream.
Best wind: Sheltered inside the harbour in most winds.
Note: Historic timber jetty in the sheltered harbour: bream, trevally and whiting, garfish under a float with berley, tailor at dusk. The point given is Jetty Beach beside it.
Safety: Watch for swimmers around the jetty.
Zone: The harbour is outside Solitary Islands Marine Park, which begins at the northern breakwall Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.30540, 153.14050 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jetty Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Boambee Beach & Boambee Creek

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Boambee Creek Reserve (day entry fee) or walk-in; 4WD from the northern end.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide on the beach; tide changes for mulloway in the creek.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces SE.
Note: Long beach south of the harbour with gutters year round; Boambee Creek at its south end has fishing platforms locals call the jewfish hole, plus flats for bream, whiting and flathead.
Safety: Boambee Creek entrance is a designated coastal bar. Rips.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.33170, 153.11770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Boambee Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Bonville Headland (Sawtell)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Sawtell village; short walk to the headland.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin bream, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Run-in for bream and luderick; drummer in the wash on any tide.
Best wind: Light westerlies with a small swell. Faces ESE.
Note: Rocky headland at Sawtell next to the Bonville Creek mouth: washes for bream, drummer and luderick, tailor at dawn. The creek flats inside hold whiting, flathead and jacks.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down. Bonville Creek entrance is a designated coastal bar.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.36510, 153.10110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bonville Headland, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Jeffreys Shoal

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Boat from the Coffs Harbour ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish and mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Best tide: Snapper around the tide changes.
Best wind: Light winds.
Note: DPIRD snapper hot spot north-east of the harbour: berley and lightly weighted baits or soft plastics for snapper; troll for mackerel in late summer.
Safety: Log on with Marine Rescue NSW.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. General use zone; Split Solitary Island sanctuary zone about 1.5 km to the west: no fishing there Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.24820, 153.19780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jeffreys Shoal, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Changte Shoal

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Boat from the Coffs Harbour ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish and mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Best tide: Snapper around the tide changes.
Best wind: Light winds.
Note: DPIRD hot spot for both snapper (April-October) and Spanish mackerel (February-May): drift baits with berley for snapper, troll or slow-troll baits for mackerel.
Safety: Log on with Marine Rescue NSW.
Zone: Outside the marine park; its habitat protection waters begin about 1 km north Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.31470, 153.18960 · Open in Google Maps (position: Changte Shoal, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Sawtell Shoal

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Boat from Coffs Harbour or the Sawtell ocean ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Best tide: Snapper around the tide changes.
Best wind: Light winds.
Note: Inshore shoal off Sawtell that DPIRD lists for snapper and Spanish mackerel: snapper in the cooler months, mackerel from February to May.
Safety: Beach launch at Sawtell is through surf.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.36770, 153.13020 · Open in Google Maps (position: Sawtell Shoal, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

10. Whitmore Shoal

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Boat from the Coffs Harbour ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish and mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel.
Best tide: Snapper around the tide changes.
Best wind: Light winds.
Note: DPIRD-listed snapper shoal south of the harbour: soft plastics or floated baits with berley, best from April to October.
Safety: Log on with Marine Rescue NSW.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.34720, 153.13730 · Open in Google Maps (position: Whitmore Shoal, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Coffs Harbour and Sawtell
Ramp	Notes	Position
Coffs Harbour boat ramp (outer harbour, south side)	Coffs Harbour. 4 lanes with pontoon; about 51+ trailer parks; usable at all tides; fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW). The main ramp; no bar to cross.	-30.31127, 153.14260 Google Maps
Coffs Creek ramp (Edgar Street)	Coffs Harbour Creek. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; high tide only; toilets; condition good (TfNSW).	-30.29851, 153.13561 Google Maps
Coffs Creek ramp (Melittas Avenue)	Coffs Harbour Creek. 1 lane; usable at all tides; condition poor (TfNSW).	-30.28925, 153.12530 Google Maps
Boambee Creek ramp (Link Road)	Boambee Creek. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; high tide only; condition poor (TfNSW).	-30.33920, 153.09375 Google Maps
Bonville Creek ramp, Sawtell	Bonville Creek. 3 lanes; about 0-10 trailer parks; shallow at low tide; fish-cleaning table; condition fair (TfNSW).	-30.37414, 153.09134 Google Maps
Sawtell Beach ocean ramp	Tasman Sea. 1 lane; about 11-20 trailer parks; usable at all tides; fish-cleaning table; condition fair (TfNSW). Beach launch through surf.	-30.37567, 153.10372 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Coffs Harbour and Sawtell in October: mulloway, sand whiting, snapper, dusky flathead and 2 more. Of the 29 species our NSW North Coast list has for this part of the coast, 6 peak in October 2026 and 18 more are in season.

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

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

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

Seen now and then, so not rated: Australian salmon and estuary perch.

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 Coffs Harbour and Sawtell

Solitary Islands Marine Park begins at the northern breakwall: north of it, no fishing in sanctuary zones and check the map for restricted zones.
North and South Solitary islands: no bait fishing within 200 m of the grey nurse sites, and within 500 m of either island wire traces only for trolling from a moving boat.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Solitary Islands Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Jeffreys Shoal: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Coffs Harbour and Sawtell

Boambee and Bonville creek entrances are designated coastal bars; the harbour ramp avoids a bar crossing.
Breakwall and headland rock fishing: lifejacket; swell surges on the outer rocks.
Offshore shoals are open ocean: log on with Marine Rescue 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

Woolgoolga and Red Rock (about 24 km north)
Nambucca Heads and Urunga (about 32 km south)
Wooli and Minnie Water (about 61 km north)
South West Rocks and the Macleay (about 70 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 Coffs Coast Go Fishing guide (07/2024): snapper hot spots (Jeffrey, Changte, Sawtell, Whitmore shoals) and season, Spanish mackerel hot spots and Feb-May season, whiting in Bonville Creek, jacks in Bonville and Boambee creeks); coffscoastholidayparks.com.au (Coffs Creek, Park and Boambee beaches, jetty and northern breakwater species; Boambee jewfish hole); coastbeat.com.au (Bonville Creek flats and access, Boambee Creek reserve fee and 4WD access, Korora deep gutters); coffscoast.com.au (Northern breakwall to Muttonbird Island (about 1 km), popular with fishers); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Solitary Islands Marine Park zoning map: zone at the breakwall and offshore shoals); nsw.gov.au (Designated NSW coastal bars on the north coast (Transport for NSW)); placenames.gov.au (Spot coordinates: the site place index (public/data/places), built from the Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and state naming authorities) and ABS ASGS 2021, CC BY 4.0); opendata.transport.nsw.gov.au (Boat ramp coordinates, lanes, parking, tide access and facilities: Maritime NSW Boat Ramps dataset (Transport for NSW, Creative Commons Attribution), metadata updated 3 Oct 2026); spatial.industry.nsw.gov.au (Zone check of every spot and ramp: NSW Marine Protected Areas zone polygons (DPIRD spatial service), distances computed 9 Oct 2026); gis.environment.gov.au (Australian Marine Parks zones (DCCEEW): offshore spots checked against every Commonwealth park zone, 9 Oct 2026); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD grey nurse rules: bait bans at North and South Solitary islands, Fish Rock, Green Island and Mermaid Reef; wire traces within 500 m only for trolling).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.