Port Stephens fishing spots

A large, sheltered port inside the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park, with sand flats, seagrass, oyster leases and deep channels for flathead, bream, whiting and squid, plus ocean rocks and beaches from Hawks Nest to Birubi. Kingfish and other pelagics work the heads in the warmer months; winter is the time for drummer, luderick and salmon. Sanctuary zones are scattered through the port, so check the map.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

8 spots here, all fished from land, 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

8 spots: Port Stephens
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Shoal Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
2. Tomaree Head	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
3. Fingal Bay beach	Beach	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
4. Soldiers Point	Channel	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
5. Lemon Tree Passage	Estuary	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
6. Bennetts Beach (Hawks Nest)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
7. Boat Harbour rocks	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park
8. Birubi Point & north Stockton Beach	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park

1. Shoal Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore parking along the bay; boat ramp at the eastern end (shallow at times).
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, southern calamari, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Rising tide over the sand; squid at dawn and dusk over the weed patches.
Best wind: Southerly and south-westerly winds blow offshore here; northerlies and nor'easters make it choppy. Faces N.
Note: General use zone. Cast soft plastics along the drop-off for flathead, worms or nippers on the sand for whiting, and jig the weed beds for squid.
Safety: Strong tidal flow toward the heads at the eastern end. Moorings and boat traffic.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. General use zone: fishing allowed. The Fly Point - Corrie Island sanctuary zone starts about 800 m west, past Nelson Head and Little Beach: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.71510, 152.16780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Shoal Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Tomaree Head

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Tomaree National Park from the Shoal Bay end; steep, rocky scrambles down to the ledges.
What's good here: Peak in October: Australian salmon and snapper. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Top half of the tide in the washes; the run-out at the heads for tailor and kingfish.
Best wind: The port-facing side is partly sheltered from southerlies; avoid large easterly or north-easterly swell. Faces NNE.
Note: Fish the port-facing ledges with weed or bread for luderick and drummer, and spin metals into the current line at the heads for tailor and kingfish.
Safety: Port Stephens is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejacket compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks. Swell surges along the ledges at the heads.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Zenith Beach sanctuary zone (Zenith and Wreck beaches) begins about 400 m south: no fishing there. Stay on the port side of the headland. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.71510, 152.18450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tomaree Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Fingal Bay beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Foreshore car parks; small boat ramp at the north end (shallow at times).
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, dusky flathead and Australian salmon. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor and southern calamari.
Best tide: Afternoon high tide for flathead and whiting along the beach.
Best wind: Southerly and westerly winds blow offshore; north-easters push straight in. Faces NNE.
Note: Coastal habitat protection zone. Walk the beach casting soft plastics for flathead, use worms or yabbies for whiting, and metals for salmon and tailor in the cooler months.
Safety: Do not try to cross Fingal Spit to the island: it floods fast with strong currents and people have drowned there. Rocks at either end are in the Port Stephens declared lifejacket area.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Fingal Island sanctuary zone covers the island and its waters, about 1.5 km east of the beach point: no fishing there. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.74840, 152.16780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Fingal Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Soldiers Point

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore reserves and the Soldiers Point boat ramp; marina next door.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and snapper. Also in season: yellowfin bream, southern calamari and tailor.
Best tide: Run-in tide and the turn of high; the channel runs hard mid-tide.
Best wind: North-facing points are sheltered from southerlies; nor'easters blow straight in.
Note: Habitat protection zone. Deep water runs close to the point: drift or cast plastics for flathead, float lightly weighted baits for bream and snapper, and fish near the oyster racks for whiting.
Safety: Strong tidal current and boat traffic in the channel.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Pindimar sanctuary zone is across the channel about 600 m north-east, Fame Cove sanctuary zone about 1.6 km north and Cromartys Bay sanctuary zone about 2 km south: no fishing in any of them. The marina is a special purpose zone. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.69840, 152.06780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Soldiers Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Lemon Tree Passage

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Henderson Park boat ramp and foreshore; paths and small jetties around the village.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream, mud crab, blue swimmer crab and luderick.
Best tide: Rising tide onto the flats; crabs move most on the bigger tides in the warmer months.
Best wind: Sheltered from most winds; strong westerlies blow down the passage.
Note: Bait and lures along the passage edges for flathead and bream. Crabbing is popular but the Port Stephens crab gear rules apply (daylight-only hoop nets, trap entrance limit).
Safety: Muddy, shallow flats at low tide.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Three sanctuary zones lie about 1.5 to 1.7 km away: Wallis and Fenninghams Island creeks (south-east, up Tilligerry Creek), Mallabula (north-west) and Cromartys Bay (north-east). No fishing in any of them. A small special purpose zone sits at the waterfront. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.73170, 152.04280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lemon Tree Passage, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Bennetts Beach (Hawks Nest)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Walk on at Hawks Nest; the beach runs north into Myall Lakes National Park.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, Australian salmon and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Find gutters at low tide, then fish the run-in into the evening.
Best wind: Westerly and north-westerly winds; a strong southerly blows onto the beach. Faces SE.
Note: Coastal habitat protection zone. Classic gutter fishing: worms for whiting and bream, pilchards and metals for tailor and salmon, bigger baits at night for mulloway.
Safety: Surf beach with rips. Commercial beach hauling is allowed on this beach: give crews room.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone: line fishing allowed. Cabbage Tree Island sanctuary zone (no fishing) is about 1.6 km south-east, around the island off Yacaaba Head. Jimmys Beach sanctuary zone is inside the port, not on this beach. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.68170, 152.19280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bennetts Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Boat Harbour rocks

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walk from the village; small ocean boat ramp in the harbour.
What's good here: Peak in October: snapper and Australian salmon. Also in season: rock blackfish, luderick, yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide in the washes; dawn and dusk for tailor.
Best wind: Northerly and north-westerly winds; avoid southerly swell. Faces SSE.
Note: Coastal habitat protection zone. Rock ledges either side of a small ocean harbour: weed or prawn baits in the washes, metals for tailor and salmon at first light.
Safety: Port Stephens is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejacket compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks. Exposed to southerly swell.
Zone: Habitat protection zone: line fishing allowed. No sanctuary zone nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.79010, 152.11780 · Open in Google Maps (position: Boat Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Birubi Point & north Stockton Beach

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Car park at Birubi Point, Anna Bay. Driving onto Stockton Beach (Gan Gan Road entry) needs a Worimi Conservation Lands beach permit, sold online.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, Australian salmon and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Read the gutters at low tide and fish the run-in; rocks fish best on the rising tide.
Best wind: Northerly and north-westerly winds; strong southerlies make it dangerous. Faces SSE.
Note: The marine park ends at Birubi Beach SLSC. Rocks at the point for drummer and tailor; the beach to the south is a big-gutter beach for salmon, tailor and night mulloway.
Safety: Port Stephens is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejacket compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks. Soft sand, tides and post-storm closures when driving the beach.
Zone: Coastal habitat protection zone at the point; the beach south of Birubi Beach SLSC is outside the park. Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -32.79840, 152.08450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Birubi Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Port Stephens
Ramp	Notes	Position
Soldiers Point Boat Ramp	3 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Main ramp for the western port, channels and oyster leases.	-32.69934, 152.06222 Google Maps
Little Beach Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Nelson Bay, near the heads. Fly Point - Corrie Island sanctuary zone starts about 100 m west; no fishing from boats in the Little Beach zone.	-32.71204, 152.15878 Google Maps
Shoal Bay Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: shallow at times, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Closest ramp to the heads and Shoal Bay. Zenith Beach sanctuary zone (no fishing) is just around Tomaree Head.	-32.72187, 152.17852 Google Maps
Henderson Park (Lemon Tree Passage) Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 51+ car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Henderson Park: Tilligerry Creek, Lemon Tree Passage and the southern port.	-32.72991, 152.04006 Google Maps
Hawks Nest - Moira Parade Boat Ramp	2 lanes, 21-50 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, pontoon, toilets, fish-cleaning table (TfNSW record). Myall River at Hawks Nest: the lower Myall and the northern port.	-32.67102, 152.17050 Google Maps
Boat Harbour Boat Ramp	1 lane, 0-10 car/trailer spaces, water access: all times, toilets (TfNSW record). Small ocean ramp for calm days; exposed to southerly swell.	-32.78777, 152.11180 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Port Stephens in October: sand whiting, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, snapper 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, Australian salmon, dusky flathead, snapper, mulloway, sand and tiger flathead, Australian bass and estuary perch.

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

Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park: sanctuary zones (including Fly Point - Corrie Island, Zenith Beach, Fingal Island, Cabbage Tree Island, Jimmys Beach, Pindimar, Salamander Bay, Cromartys Bay and Mallabula) are no-take; check FishSmart or the zoning map.
Little Beach (Nelson Bay) habitat protection zone: hand-held line fishing from the two jetties and the beach between them only; no collecting, no fishing from boats, no berley.
Port Stephens crab gear (to protect turtles): hoop and lift nets only between sunrise and sunset, nothing suspended above the hoop, crab-trap entrances no wider than 320 mm.
No prawn dip, scoop, hand-hauled, push or scissor nets west of a line from Soldiers Point to Fame Point.
Spearfishing is banned in Nelson Bay boat harbour and part of the lower Myall River.

Marine parks and no-take zones

The zone notes here name Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park. A no-take zone starts close to Shoal Bay, Tomaree Head, Fingal Bay beach, Soldiers Point, Lemon Tree Passage and Bennetts Beach (Hawks Nest): each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Port Stephens

Port Stephens LGA is a declared rock-fishing area: lifejackets are compulsory on ocean-exposed rocks, for children and helpers too.
The heads between Tomaree and Yacaaba get steep, confused seas when a run-out tide meets swell.
Fingal Spit: never try to cross to Fingal Island.
Offshore trips may enter the Commonwealth Hunter Marine Park: check its zoning before fishing wide.

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

Newcastle and Stockton (about 37 km south-west)
Lake Macquarie (about 59 km south-west)
Forster-Tuncurry and Wallis Lake (about 69 km north-east)
Central Coast and Tuggerah Lakes (about 95 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 (Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park zoning map (Aug 2024): sanctuary zones, Little Beach rules); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Marine park user guide: Little Beach restrictions, special purpose zones, commercial haul-net beaches); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park page); dpird.nsw.gov.au (Port Stephens prawn-net and crab-gear closures); gazette.nsw.gov.au (April 2026 crab-gear closure for Port Stephens (5 years)); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Port Stephens recreational fishing guide (Jul 2024 edition): closures, spearfishing closures); nsw.gov.au (Port Stephens declared rock-fishing areas map); portstephens.org.au (Destination Port Stephens: species and fishing overview); myallcoast.newsofthearea.com.au (News Of The Area fishing report (Jul 2026): drummer off the rocks between Fingal and Rocky Point, lifejacket advice); worimiconservationlands.com (Worimi Conservation Lands beach vehicle permits online-only from March 2026); parksaustralia.gov.au (Commonwealth Hunter Marine Park (offshore)); 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.