Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake fishing spots

Twin towns on the entrance to Wallis Lake, a big, clear and weedy lake best known for flathead, bream, whiting and luderick, with blue swimmer crabs and prawns in the warmer months. The entrance walls hold mulloway, tailor and drummer, and long surf beaches run north to Black Head and south to Cape Hawke. Estuary fishing peaks October to April; luderick and drummer carry the cooler months.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

7 spots here: 6 fished from land and 1 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

7 spots: Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Forster-Tuncurry breakwalls	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Nine Mile Beach (Tuncurry)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
3. Wallis Lake flats and channels	Lake	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Coolongolook River	River	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Bennetts Head & One Mile Beach (Forster)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Seven Mile Beach (Booti Booti)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
7. Black Head (Hallidays Point)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–

1. Forster-Tuncurry breakwalls

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks close to both walls on the Forster and Tuncurry sides; walk along the wall tops. Outer ends are rough boulders.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and Australian salmon. Also in season: luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor, yellowtail kingfish, silver trevally and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Run-out tide and the change for mulloway; the last of the run-in brings clean water for luderick and bream.
Best wind: Westerly winds are easiest; a big east or south-east swell washes the outer ends. Faces E.
Note: Point is the gazetted Cape Hawke Harbour entrance between the walls. Float weed for luderick along the inner walls, berley lightly for bream, and fish live poddy mullet on the run-out for mulloway.
Safety: Waves wash over the outer ends in east and south-east swell: stay off wet rock. Lifejacket strongly advised on the ocean ends (MidCoast is not a declared lifejacket area, but the risk is the same). Strong tidal current along the walls.
Zone: North of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park, which starts at Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club south of Forster. Entrance net and trap closures apply (see rules). Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.17340, 152.50940 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cape Hawke Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Nine Mile Beach (Tuncurry)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Walk on from the Tuncurry end. Beach driving needs a MidCoast Council beach permit; the single vehicle entry is via Sandbar Road.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, Australian salmon and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Look for gutters at low tide, then fish the run-in into the evening.
Best wind: Westerly and north-westerly winds; a fresh north-easter makes it sloppy. Faces E.
Note: Long beach running north to Black Head with well-formed gutters. Worms for whiting and bream in summer, pilchards or metal lures for tailor and salmon at dawn and dusk, big baits after dark for mulloway.
Safety: Surf beach with strong rips. Soft sand and incoming tides when driving; shorebird nesting areas close in spring and summer.
Zone: Not in a marine park (north of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park). Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.11510, 152.50110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Nine Mile Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Wallis Lake flats and channels

Type: Lake · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Ramps at Forster, Tuncurry, Coomba Park and Pacific Palms; shore access from foreshore reserves and around the islands.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick, blue swimmer crab, school and eastern king prawns and tarwhine.
Best tide: Rising tide over the flats; drop-offs and channel edges as the tide falls. Tidal range shrinks away from the entrance.
Best wind: Light winds. Afternoon nor'easters and southerly changes chop up the open southern basin quickly.
Note: Point is the gazetted lake centre. Drift channel edges with soft plastics for flathead, cast surface lures over sand and weed for whiting, and work oyster leases for bream. Hoop nets for blue swimmers in summer.
Safety: Very shallow flats and oyster leases: watch depth and keep off lease infrastructure. Wind builds a short, steep chop in the open lake.
Zone: Wallis Lake is outside the marine park. Entrance-area net and trap closures apply (see rules). Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -32.29840, 152.50110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wallis Lake, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Coolongolook River

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Small ramp at Coolongolook (Cedar Wharf), or travel up from Wallis Lake.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, Australian bass and estuary perch. Also in season: yellowfin bream and luderick.
Best tide: Top of the tide around snags and bank edges; bass and perch bite best at dawn and dusk.
Best wind: Sheltered river: fishable in most winds.
Note: The gazetted point is mid-river, upstream of the lake. Cast small lures and soft plastics at snags for bass and estuary perch upstream; bream and flathead in the lower river.
Safety: Submerged snags and oyster leases in the lower river. Floodwater after heavy rain brings debris and fast current.
Zone: Not in a marine park. Bass and estuary perch are catch-and-release only 1 May to 31 August. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -32.24840, 152.33450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Coolongolook River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Bennetts Head & One Mile Beach (Forster)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walks from nearby car parks to the headland rocks and beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and sand whiting. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide for drummer and bream in the washes; low-tide gutters on One Mile Beach before the run-in.
Best wind: Westerly or light south-westerly winds; a large easterly swell makes the rocks dangerous. Faces ENE.
Note: The gazetteer gives the headland and One Mile Beach the same point. Fish weed or prawn baits in the washes for drummer and bream; spin metals for tailor and salmon at first light.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and stay off swell-washed rock (MidCoast is not a declared area). Watch for bigger sets in easterly swell.
Zone: Bennetts Head is north of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park. The park starts about 1.5 km south, near Cape Hawke SLSC at the south end of One Mile Beach (habitat protection zone: line fishing allowed), and The Pinnacle sanctuary zone (no fishing) is off Cape Hawke, about 4.5 km south-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.18170, 152.53440 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bennetts Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Seven Mile Beach (Booti Booti)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Access tracks off The Lakes Way through Booti Booti National Park (park fees may apply at some areas).
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, Australian salmon and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Run-in tide through the evening; work the deeper gutters near low.
Best wind: Westerly quarter winds; strong southerlies and nor'easters both blow across or onto the beach. Faces E.
Note: Long, open beach in the marine park's coastal habitat protection zone. Worms for whiting and bream, metals and pilchards for tailor and salmon, especially autumn and winter.
Safety: Surf beach with rips. Remote stretches: carry water and tell someone your plans.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone: line fishing allowed. The Pinnacle sanctuary zone off Cape Hawke touches the far north end of the beach near Janies Corner: no fishing there. Check the zoning map before fishing that end. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.29840, 152.53440 · Open in Google Maps (position: Seven Mile Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Black Head (Hallidays Point)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks at Black Head; short walks to the platforms. Small beach launch at Black Head Beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide in the washes; dawn and dusk for tailor.
Best wind: Westerly and north-westerly winds; avoid large easterly or south-easterly swell. Faces E.
Note: Rock platforms either side of the headland at Hallidays Point. Weed for luderick and drummer, peeled prawn for bream, metals at first light for tailor and salmon.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and watch the swell (MidCoast is not a declared area). Low platforms are swept by surges in moderate swell.
Zone: Not in a marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.07340, 152.55110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Black Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

6 public boat ramps are listed for Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake, with positions from Maritime NSW Boat Ramps. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.

Boat ramps: Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake
Ramp	Notes	Position
Forster Boatharbour Boat Ramp	4 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Main Forster ramp near the entrance: access to the lake and, across the Forster bar, the ocean.	-32.17701, 152.50776 Google Maps
Tuncurry - Point Road Boat Ramp	4 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Tuncurry side of the channel, close to the breakwalls and bar.	-32.18139, 152.49952 Google Maps
Elizabeth Parade Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Pipers Creek, Forster: handy for the lower lake and channels.	-32.21429, 152.51668 Google Maps
Coomba Park Boat Ramp	1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Western shore of Wallis Lake: closest ramp to the Coolongolook and Wallingat rivers.	-32.23500, 152.47344 Google Maps
Pacific Palms Boat Ramp - Wallis Lake	2 lanes, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times (TfNSW record). Southern end of Wallis Lake near the weed flats.	-32.33323, 152.52646 Google Maps
Elizabeth Beach	1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: shallow at times (TfNSW record). Ocean beach launch at Elizabeth Beach: small craft only, in calm conditions; the dataset rates it poor and shallow at times.	-32.33106, 152.54072 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting, mulloway, dusky flathead 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: Australian salmon, sand whiting, mulloway, dusky flathead, snapper, Australian bass, estuary perch and sand and tiger flathead.

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

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 Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake

Wallis Lake entrance (breakwalls to Godwin Island and the Tuncurry and Forster foreshores): no hoop or lift nets, hand-hauled, push or scissor prawn nets, crab traps or lobster traps, all year.
Forster Keys canals: no nets other than prawn dip or scoop nets, hoop or lift nets and landing nets; Wallamba River above the Nabiac Pacific Highway bridge: no nets except a landing net.
South of Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park applies: sanctuary zones are no-take (check FishSmart or the zoning map).
Australian bass and estuary perch: catch and release only in rivers and estuaries from 1 May to 31 August.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Seven Mile Beach (Booti Booti): its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake

Forster-Tuncurry entrance is a coastal bar: check conditions and Marine Rescue before crossing, and never cross a run-out tide against swell.
Rock fishing: MidCoast is not a declared lifejacket area, but lifejackets are strongly advised on all ocean rocks and breakwall ends.
Afternoon nor'easters and southerly changes make Wallis Lake rough for small boats and kayaks.

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

Camden Haven (about 67 km north-east)
Port Stephens (about 69 km south-west)
Port Macquarie and the Hastings (about 93 km north-east)
Newcastle and Stockton (about 105 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: dpi.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Go Fishing Great Lakes guide (2024): Wallis Lake fishing locations, hot spots (breakwalls, bridge pylons, flats, oyster leases), target species and seasons); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Wallis Lake entrance, Forster Keys and Wallamba River closures); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Wallis Lake recreational fishing guide (rules and closures)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park zoning map (Aug 2024): park boundary at Cape Hawke SLSC, The Pinnacle sanctuary zone); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Marine park user guide: zone rules); midcoast.nsw.gov.au (MidCoast Council beach driving permits; Nine Mile Beach access via Sandbar Road); hookedupmagazine.com.au (Hooked Up magazine Forster article: local fishing background); coastbeat.com.au (Coastbeat: Wallis Lake and breakwall fishing background (local guide)); 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.