Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven fishing spots

From the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven river mouths to the calm beaches and high cliffs of Jervis Bay. The rivers fish for flathead, bream, luderick and mulloway; Jervis Bay is known for squid, whiting, snapper and kingfish, with salmon on the surf beaches from autumn to spring. Most of the bay is a marine park with no-take sanctuary zones.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here, all fished from land, 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

9 spots: Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Shoalhaven Heads	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
2. Crookhaven Heads	Breakwall	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
3. Crookhaven River, Greenwell Point	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
4. Culburra Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
5. Penguin Head	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Currarong rocks (Whale Point)	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	Jervis Bay Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
7. Beecroft Head	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Jervis Bay Marine Park
8. Callala Beach	Beach	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Jervis Bay Marine Park
9. Collingwood Beach, Vincentia	Beach	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Jervis Bay Marine Park; no-take zone nearby

1. Shoalhaven Heads

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Parking off River Road and near the surf club, then a walk to the river mouth and beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting, mulloway and Australian salmon. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor and luderick.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies; southerlies blow straight up the mouth.
Note: The Shoalhaven's northern mouth, often closed by sand: flathead and whiting on the flats, bream and luderick along the rock edges, and salmon and tailor on the beach either side.
Safety: The entrance opens and closes; currents are strong when it is open. Surf beach either side is unpatrolled outside the season.
Zone: No marine park. Jervis Bay Marine Park starts at Kinghorn Point to the south. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.86510, 150.75120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Shoalhaven Heads, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Crookhaven Heads

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Crookhaven Heads boat ramp car park (Prince Edward Avenue), then walk the walls toward the lighthouse.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway, Australian salmon and dusky flathead. Also in season: luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Lower half of the run-out tide, especially around dawn or dusk (local advice).
Best wind: Westerlies; big south-east swell makes the mouth dangerous. Faces E.
Note: The main Shoalhaven and Crookhaven mouth: weed floats for luderick, bream close to the mouth in winter, metals for salmon and tailor, and live baits around the walls for mulloway.
Safety: River-mouth bar: strong currents and breaking waves for boats. Slippery walls: lifejacket recommended.
Zone: No marine park. Traps other than bait traps are banned in the entrance waters. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.89840, 150.76780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Crookhaven Heads, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Crookhaven River, Greenwell Point

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Greenwell Point foreshore (Titania Park and the trawler wharf area) and ramps; the Canal links through to the Shoalhaven River.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick and silver trevally.
Best tide: Run-in tide through the oyster-lease channels.
Best wind: Low rock walls around Greenwell Point are sheltered from winter westerlies.
Note: Coordinate is the gazetteer point for the Crookhaven River. Drift baits or plastics past oyster leases and channel edges for flathead and bream; pump nippers on the flats for whiting.
Safety: Do not fish from, tie up to or anchor on oyster leases. Boat traffic in the narrow channels.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.93180, 150.71780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Crookhaven River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Culburra Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Surf club and street car parks along Culburra; Tilbury Cove at the Penguin Head end.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting, dusky flathead and mulloway. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide around dawn and dusk.
Best wind: Westerlies; north-easters roughen it. Faces E.
Note: East-facing beach between Crookhaven Heads and Penguin Head with reefy patches: worms for whiting and bream, pilchards for salmon and tailor, flathead in the gutters.
Safety: Patrolled only in season; rips are common.
Zone: No marine park; Jervis Bay Marine Park begins at Kinghorn Point, south of Penguin Head. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.92340, 150.76780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Culburra Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Penguin Head

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Walk around from Tilbury Cove or the Culburra surf club car park; the direct track down the headland is steep.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: tailor, rock blackfish, luderick and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies; avoid big east swell. Faces E.
Note: Flat ledges either side of the headland: spin for salmon and tailor, and berley for drummer, luderick and bream. Blue groper here are no-take.
Safety: Steep access track. Shoalhaven is not a declared rock-fishing area, but a lifejacket is strongly advised.
Zone: Outside the marine park; Jervis Bay Marine Park starts at Kinghorn Point a few kilometres south. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.93180, 150.78450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Penguin Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Currarong rocks (Whale Point)

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Currarong village car parks and the Abrahams Bosom Reserve tracks.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and southern calamari.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerlies are blocked by the peninsula; north-easters blow onto it. Faces NNE.
Note: Rock platforms on the north side of Beecroft Peninsula: drummer, luderick and bream in the washes, squid off the weedy ledges, and salmon and tailor on metals.
Safety: Platforms face north-east swell. Lifejacket strongly advised.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone. A small sanctuary zone lies about 1.3 km west near the village end of Currarong Beach: check the zoning map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -35.01510, 150.83450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Whale Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Beecroft Head

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Inside Beecroft Weapons Range: open to the public only at set times (generally Friday afternoon, weekends and NSW school holidays) and closed for exercises. Check with Defence before going.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish, Australian bonito, tailor and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Southerlies are blocked; north-easters and big swell make the ledges dangerous. Faces ENE.
Note: High ledges over deep water: live-bait or spin for kingfish and bonito in the warmer months, salmon and tailor in the cooler months, drummer in the washes.
Safety: High, exposed ledges: lifejacket, cleats and a partner. Defence range: unexploded-ordnance warnings apply; stay on roads and tracks. Access can close at short notice.
Zone: Habitat protection zone. The Drum and Drumsticks and Point Perpendicular sanctuary zones lie south along the cliffs: check the zoning map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -35.01510, 150.85120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Beecroft Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Callala Beach

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Beach access tracks along Callala Beach.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead and Australian salmon. Also in season: yellowfin bream, southern calamari and eastern sea garfish.
Best tide: Rising tide over the shallow sand and weed edges.
Best wind: Westerlies are offshore; south-easters blow in across the bay. Faces ESE.
Note: Calm bay beach with sand and seagrass: worms or nippers for whiting and bream, squid jigs along the weed edges, and flathead on plastics in the gutters.
Safety: South-easters bring chop across the bay.
Zone: Habitat protection zone. The Huskisson sanctuary zone is about 1.8 km south and another sanctuary zone sits around Callala Point to the north-east: check the zoning map. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -35.01510, 150.70120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Callala Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Collingwood Beach, Vincentia

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Reserves and beach tracks along the Vincentia foreshore.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead and Australian salmon. Also in season: yellowfin bream, southern calamari and eastern sea garfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies are offshore; north-easters blow straight on. Faces ENE.
Note: Long bay beach between Moona Moona Creek and Plantation Point: worms for whiting and bream, and squid over the seagrass on the inside of Plantation Point.
Safety: Look for sanctuary-zone markers at both ends of the beach.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Moona Moona Creek sanctuary zone is about 0.8 km north, and a sanctuary zone runs south from Plantation Point past Hyams Beach. Fish only between them. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -35.06510, 150.66780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Collingwood Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven
Ramp	Notes	Position
Shoalhaven Heads - River Rd Ramp Shoalhaven River	1 lane, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Shoalhaven River side at Shoalhaven Heads.	-34.85441, 150.74509 Google Maps
Crookhaven Heads Boat Ramp	3 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Main ocean launch for the Shoalhaven, across the Crookhaven bar.	-34.90536, 150.76051 Google Maps
Greenwell Point Boat Ramp - Titania Park Adelaide Street	2 lanes, 30-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Crookhaven River at Greenwell Point.	-34.90606, 150.73544 Google Maps
Currarong Boat Ramp (Yalwal Street)	2 lanes, 11-20 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets (TfNSW record). Ocean ramp on the north side of Beecroft Peninsula; swell dependent.	-35.01288, 150.82412 Google Maps
Callala Bay Boat Ramp	1 lane, 21-30 car/trailer spaces, water access: shallow at times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Jervis Bay launch; can get shallow.	-35.00039, 150.72470 Google Maps
Woollamia Regional Ramp	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Regional ramp on Currambene Creek for Jervis Bay; Currambene Creek has sanctuary zones upstream and at the mouth.	-35.02562, 150.66638 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven in October: Australian salmon, dusky flathead, sand whiting, 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: Australian salmon, dusky flathead, sand whiting, mulloway, snapper, sand and tiger flathead, Australian bass and estuary perch.

Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick, rock blackfish, southern calamari, silver trevally, eastern sea garfish, yellowtail kingfish, Australian bonito, tarwhine, leatherjacket, 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).

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 Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven

Jervis Bay Marine Park (Kinghorn Point to Sussex Inlet, including Currambene and Moona Moona creeks): no fishing in sanctuary zones; only listed species may be taken in habitat protection zones; no spearfishing in creeks, sanctuary zones or the Hyams Beach habitat protection zone.
Currambene Creek: the Lady Denman Heritage Complex fish enclosure is closed to all fishing.
Crookhaven River entrance: traps other than bait traps are banned.
Booderee National Park waters (southern Jervis Bay) are Commonwealth-managed with their own fishing rules.
Eastern blue groper: no take by any method in NSW.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Jervis Bay Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Currarong rocks (Whale Point) and Collingwood Beach, Vincentia: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven

Shoalhaven is not a declared rock-fishing area, but lifejackets are strongly advised on all ocean rock platforms.
The Crookhaven and Shoalhaven river mouths have strong currents and shallow, breaking bars.
Beecroft Peninsula is an active Defence range: access closes for exercises and unexploded-ordnance warnings apply.

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

Ulladulla and St Georges Basin (about 37 km south-west)
Kiama and Shellharbour (about 37 km north)
Lake Illawarra and Windang (about 51 km north)
Wollongong and Port Kembla (about 62 km north)

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 Jervis Bay: species, seasons, salmon beaches, squid grounds, kingfish ledges); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Jervis Bay Marine Park extent and creeks included); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Official zoning map); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Zone rules, spearfishing limits, Huskisson special purpose zone); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Shoalhaven closures (Currambene Creek enclosure, Crookhaven entrance traps)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Crookhaven entrance trap closure); defence.gov.au (Beecroft Weapons Range public access times and closures); shoalhaven.com (Crookhaven Heads ramp and river-mouth fishing); fishraider.com.au (Angler forum: Crookhaven mouth, Greenwell Point walls and Penguin Head ledges (anecdotal)); 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.