Kiama and Shellharbour fishing spots

Headland country: Bass Point, Bombo, Blowhole Point and Black Head are well-known land-based spots for kingfish, bonito, salmon, tailor and drummer, while the small harbours at Shellharbour and Kiama give calmer water for squid, luderick and trevally. The Minnamurra River and Seven Mile Beach add flathead, bream, whiting and mulloway.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

10 spots here, all fished from land, plus 5 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

10 spots: Kiama and Shellharbour
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Barrack Point	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Shellharbour boat harbour	Bay	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Bass Point	Headland	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve; no-take zone nearby
4. Minnamurra River mouth	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Bombo Headland	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Bombo Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Kiama Harbour	Breakwall	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Blowhole Point, Kiama	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
9. Black Head, Gerroa	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
10. Seven Mile Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–

1. Barrack Point

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Street parking at Barrack Point with a short walk onto the platforms.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies; avoid big east swell. Faces E.
Note: Low platforms between Warilla and Shellharbour: berley the washes for drummer, luderick and bream, with salmon and tailor in the cooler months.
Safety: Shellharbour has not opted into the lifejacket law, but these low platforms wash over: wear one anyway. Never fish alone.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.55680, 150.87620 · Open in Google Maps (position: Barrack Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Shellharbour boat harbour

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Parking on the harbour foreshore next to the Shellharbour boat ramp (Towns Street).
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, luderick, yellowfin bream, silver trevally, eastern sea garfish and leatherjacket.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from southerlies; north-easters push swell in.
Note: Small sheltered harbour by Shellharbour village: squid jigs over the weed, light floats for garfish and luderick, and berley for bream and trevally around the rocks.
Safety: Boat ramp traffic: keep casts clear. The outer rocks catch north-east swell.
Zone: No marine park. Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve (no take) is about 2.7 km south-east at Bass Point. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.58180, 150.87620 · Open in Google Maps (position: Shell Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Bass Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Bass Point Reserve car parks off Bass Point Tourist Road, then walks down to the ledges.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: yellowtail kingfish, Australian bonito, tailor, rock blackfish and luderick.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies; fishable in light north-easters, dangerous in big south-east swell. Faces ESE.
Note: One of the Illawarra's best-known land-based game spots: live squid or yellowtail for kingfish, metals for bonito, salmon and tailor, and berley for drummer and luderick.
Safety: Exposed ledges: lifejacket, cleats and a planned way out. Shellharbour Council lists Bass Point among its high-risk rock platforms. Bushrangers Bay, at the eastern end of the point, is a no-take aquatic reserve.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Bushrangers Bay, the small bay at the eastern end of Bass Point (about 0.8 km south of this coordinate), is a no-take aquatic reserve where feeding fish and burley are also banned. Fish only outside it. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.59010, 150.90120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bass Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Minnamurra River mouth

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Riverside reserves at Minnamurra (James Holt Reserve, Charles Avenue) and a walk to the mouth.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick and tailor.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from westerlies; north-easters chop up the mouth.
Note: Coordinate is Minnamurra Point at the entrance. Nippers or worms on the sand flats for whiting and bream, plastics along the channel for flathead, weed floats on the rock edges for luderick.
Safety: Shallow, shifting entrance: boats cross with care. Minnamurra Headland is one of Kiama's named rock-fishing locations: lifejacket on the rocks.
Zone: No marine park. The whole river is closed to nets other than prawn scoop or dip nets and landing nets, and to spearfishing. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.63180, 150.86780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Minnamurra Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Bombo Headland

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Bombo Headland reserve parking, then short walks to the old quarry ledges.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, tailor, Australian bonito and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies with a small swell. Faces E.
Note: Old basalt quarry headland: berley the washes for drummer and luderick, cast metals for salmon, tailor and bonito, and live-bait for kingfish in the warmer months.
Safety: Kiama is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejacket compulsory on ocean rock platforms. Unstable cliff edges around the old quarry.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.65120, 150.86120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bombo Headland, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Bombo Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car parks at the northern end near the headland and station.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide around dusk.
Best wind: Westerlies; north-easters make it sloppy. Faces E.
Note: Beach between Bombo Headland and Kiama: pilchards and worms in the gutters for salmon, tailor, bream and whiting, and fresh baits after dark for mulloway.
Safety: Unpatrolled outside the season; rips are common.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.65680, 150.85120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bombo Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Kiama Harbour

Type: Breakwall · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Parking around the harbour and Blowhole Point Road; walk onto the harbour walls.
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, luderick, yellowfin bream, silver trevally, yellowtail kingfish, eastern sea garfish and leatherjacket.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from southerlies; north-easters roll into the harbour.
Note: Clear, sheltered harbour beside Blowhole Point: squid jigs over the weed, luderick and bream on floats along the walls, and small kingfish and trevally on berley.
Safety: Boat ramp and fishing-fleet traffic. The walls get wet in big north-east swell.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.66510, 150.85120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Kiama Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Blowhole Point, Kiama

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Blowhole Point Road car park beside the lighthouse, then a short walk to the ledges.
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: Light westerlies; avoid any decent east or south swell. Faces E.
Note: Deep water close to the ledges: live-bait or spin for kingfish, bonito, salmon and tailor, and bait the reef edges for snapper and drummer at first light.
Safety: Kiama declared area and one of council's named locations: lifejacket compulsory. Surge around the blowhole makes the platform unpredictable. Never fish alone.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.66510, 150.86780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Blow Hole Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Black Head, Gerroa

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car park at the end of Black Head Road, Gerroa, then a short walk to the platforms.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon. Also in season: tailor, Australian bonito, yellowtail kingfish, rock blackfish and luderick.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerlies and north-westerlies; exposed to southerly swell. Faces SE.
Note: Headland at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach: spin for salmon, tailor and bonito when bait schools sit close, live-bait for kingfish, and berley for drummer.
Safety: Kiama declared area and one of council's named locations: lifejacket compulsory. Exposed to southerly swell.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.78180, 150.81780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Black Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

10. Seven Mile Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Seven Mile Beach National Park picnic areas and the Gerroa car parks; walk to find a gutter.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon, sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide; gutters fish best around dawn and dusk.
Best wind: North-westerlies; strong southerlies blow straight in. Faces SE.
Note: Long open beach from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads: beach worms in the gutters for whiting and bream, pilchards for salmon and tailor, and fresh baits after dark for mulloway.
Safety: Long unpatrolled beach with strong rips. Pipis are bait only (50 max) and must stay within 50 m of the high-water mark.
Zone: No marine park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -34.81510, 150.76780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Seven Mile Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Kiama and Shellharbour
Ramp	Notes	Position
Shellharbour (Harbour Ramp)	2 lanes, water access: all times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Sheltered harbour launch beside Shellharbour village.	-34.57636, 150.87198 Google Maps
Shellharbour (Bass Point Ocean Ramp)	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times (TfNSW record). Ocean ramp on the Bass Point road; exposed in easterly swell.	-34.59403, 150.88642 Google Maps
Minnamurra River (James Holt Reserve)	1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: high tide only (TfNSW record). Small river ramp; high tide only per the TfNSW record.	-34.62016, 150.85175 Google Maps
Kiama Harbour	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Sheltered harbour launch for the Kiama reefs.	-34.67114, 150.85865 Google Maps
Cook Park Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Ocean ramp at Gerringong boat harbour; swell dependent.	-34.75081, 150.83187 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Kiama and Shellharbour 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: tailor, luderick, yellowfin bream, yellowtail kingfish, rock blackfish, Australian bonito, silver trevally, leatherjacket, eastern sea garfish, southern calamari, tarwhine, 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 Kiama and Shellharbour

Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve (Bass Point): no taking or disturbing anything, and no feeding fish or burley.
Minnamurra River: no nets other than prawn scoop or dip nets and landing nets; no spearfishing.
Pipis: bait only, 50 per person, not taken more than 50 m from the high-water mark.
Eastern blue groper: no take by any method in NSW.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve. A no-take zone starts close to Bass Point: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Kiama and Shellharbour

Kiama is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejackets are compulsory in the high-risk areas on the NSW Government map (Aug 2026), including Minnamurra Headland, Bombo Headland, Blowhole Point, Kendalls Point, Marsden Head, the coastal walking track coastline, Gerringong Headland and Black Head.
Shellharbour has not opted in, but its council lists Bass Point, Windang Island and Killalea among high-risk platforms.
Ocean ramps at Bass Point and Gerringong are exposed to swell.

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

Lake Illawarra and Windang (about 15 km north)
Wollongong and Port Kembla (about 25 km north)
Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven (about 37 km south)
Ulladulla and St Georges Basin (about 72 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 (Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve and Minnamurra River closures); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Minnamurra River net closure); nsw.gov.au (Kiama declared rock-fishing lifejacket area; declared-area map (Aug 2026) names the high-risk locations); regionillawarra.com.au (Kiama council-named high-risk rock-fishing locations); illawarramercury.com.au (Shellharbour high-risk platforms; not opted in); illawarramercury.com.au (Kingfish, bonito, salmon and tailor at Bass Point, Kiama Blowhole and Black Head (local report)); frasersproperty.com.au (Shellharbour kingfish and Kiama reef/snapper fishing (local charter)); spatial.industry.nsw.gov.au (Bushrangers Bay is the only protected area here; no marine park); opendata.transport.nsw.gov.au (Boat ramp locations and facilities).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.