Woolgoolga and Red Rock fishing spots

The northern Coffs Coast, all inside Solitary Islands Marine Park: Red Rock and the Corindi River, the headlands at Arrawarra and Woolgoolga, and creek-mouth beaches south to Moonee. Headlands give bream, drummer and tailor, and pelagics come close in late summer and autumn; the creeks hold whiting, flathead and jacks. Several creeks and reefs are sanctuary zones, so carry the map.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

5 spots here, all fished from land, 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

5 spots: Woolgoolga and Red Rock
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Corindi Beach (Red Rock)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
2. Arrawarra Headland	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
3. Woolgoolga Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park
4. Woolgoolga Headland	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
5. Moonee Beach & Moonee Creek	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby

1. Corindi Beach (Red Rock)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach tracks from Corindi Beach and Red Rock.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide for whiting and bream; tailor and mulloway at dawn and dusk.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Long beach between Red Rock and Arrawarra in a habitat protection zone: whiting and bream on the rise, tailor and mulloway at the ends of the day.
Safety: The Corindi River entrance is a designated coastal bar with shifting sand flats. Rips.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone; Pipe Clay Lake behind the beach is a special purpose zone closed to fishing, and parts of the Corindi River estuary at Red Rock are sanctuary zone Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.03170, 153.20110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Corindi Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Arrawarra Headland

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Arrawarra Headland car park (Coffs Coast Regional Park).
What's good here: In season in October: tailor, yellowfin bream, rock blackfish and mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel and cobia.
Best tide: Drummer in the wash on any tide; pelagics follow the bait, not the tide.
Best wind: Light winds and clean water. Faces E.
Note: Headland with bream, drummer and tailor in the washes; when warm water pushes in from late summer, mackerel, tuna and cobia can come within range. Fish only outside the Arrawarra special purpose zone.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Arrawarra Headland special purpose zone (Aboriginal fish traps, at Arrawarra Beach on the north side): no fishing or collecting without a permit Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.06510, 153.20110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Arrawarra Headland, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Woolgoolga Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Woolgoolga town foreshore, near the boat ramp.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream and tailor.
Best tide: Rising tide for whiting and bream.
Best wind: Fairly sheltered from southerlies by the headland. Faces E.
Note: Front beach north of the headland: whiting and bream in the gutters on the rise, tailor at dusk, flathead near the creek mouth.
Safety: Boats launch from the beach near the headland.
Zone: Habitat protection zone: recreational line fishing allowed Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.09840, 153.20110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Woolgoolga Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Woolgoolga Headland

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Headland car park in Coffs Coast Regional Park (limited parking at weekends).
What's good here: In season in October: tailor, yellowfin bream, rock blackfish, luderick and mackerel tuna. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel.
Best tide: Drummer and bream on the run-in; pelagics follow the bait.
Best wind: Light winds and a small swell. Faces E.
Note: Busy headland: drummer, bream and luderick in the washes, tailor at dawn, and spinning for tuna and mackerel when warm water pushes in.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone; Flat Top Point sanctuary zone about 1.5 km south: no fishing there Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.11510, 153.21770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Woolgoolga Headland, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Moonee Beach & Moonee Creek

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Moonee Beach reserve; easy foreshore access.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick, silver trevally and mangrove jack.
Best tide: Run-in over the creek flats; jacks around the tide changes.
Best wind: Creek sheltered in most winds. Faces SE.
Note: Shore-based line fishing only at the beach and creek mouth: whiting, flathead, bream and trevally on the flats, jacks further up the creek. No bait or invertebrate collecting.
Safety: Moonee Creek entrance is a designated coastal bar.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Moonee Beach habitat protection zone: shore-based recreational line fishing only, no collecting. The Southern Section sanctuary zone starts only about 100 to 150 m off the beach: no fishing in it, so keep casts short Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -30.19200, 153.17080 · Open in Google Maps (position: Moonee Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Woolgoolga and Red Rock
Ramp	Notes	Position
Red Rock Reserve ramp (Corindi River)	Corindi River. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; usable at all tides; condition good (TfNSW). Parts of the Corindi River estuary within about 300 m are sanctuary zone: check the zoning map before fishing.	-29.98264, 153.22631 Google Maps
Arrawarra Beach ramp	Ocean. 1 lane; about 21-50 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets; condition good (TfNSW). Beach launch next to the Arrawarra special purpose zone: no fishing in it.	-30.05977, 153.20073 Google Maps
Woolgoolga ramp	Tasman Sea. 2 lanes; about 11-20 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW). Beach launch beside the headland.	-30.10973, 153.20365 Google Maps
Sandy Beach ramp	Ocean. 1 lane; usable at all tides; toilets; condition poor (TfNSW). Beach launch; sanctuary zone close offshore to the south.	-30.15371, 153.20057 Google Maps
Emerald Beach ramp	Ocean. 1 lane; usable at all tides; toilets; condition poor (TfNSW). Beach launch; Southern Section sanctuary zone about 300 m away.	-30.17144, 153.18959 Google Maps
Moonee Creek ramp	Moonee Creek. 1 lane; usable at all tides; toilets; condition poor (TfNSW).	-30.20890, 153.15687 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Woolgoolga and Red Rock in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting, mulloway, sand and tiger 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: dusky flathead, sand whiting, mulloway, sand and tiger flathead, snapper and Australian bass.

Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick, rock blackfish, mackerel tuna, silver trevally, mangrove jack, tarwhine, yellowtail kingfish, leatherjacket, eastern sea garfish, mud crab, blue swimmer crab, southern calamari, 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 Woolgoolga and Red Rock

Solitary Islands Marine Park: no fishing in sanctuary zones (including parts of the Corindi River estuary, Flat Top Point, the Southern Section between Bare Bluff and Green Bluff, and around the islands).
Arrawarra Headland special purpose zone: no fishing or collecting except by permit.
Moonee Beach and Minnie Water Back Beach zones: shore-based recreational line fishing only; no collecting at Moonee Beach.
Fishing with bait is banned within 200 m of the grey nurse sites at South Solitary Island, and within 500 m of the island wire traces may be used 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 Corindi Beach (Red Rock), Arrawarra Headland, Woolgoolga Headland and Moonee Beach & Moonee Creek: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Woolgoolga and Red Rock

Corindi River and Moonee Creek entrances are designated coastal bars; the other ramps are beach launches through surf.
Headland rock fishing: lifejacket and a partner; swell surges over low ledges.

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

Coffs Harbour and Sawtell (about 24 km south)
Wooli and Minnie Water (about 37 km north)
Nambucca Heads and Urunga (about 56 km south)
Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River (about 78 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 (Solitary Islands Marine Park zoning map (Aug 2024): zones, Arrawarra special purpose zone, Moonee shore-based-only zone, grey nurse rules); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Coffs Coast Go Fishing guide (07/2024): mackerel Feb-May, warm-current pelagics, jacks in Moonee, Woolgoolga and Corindi creeks, whiting in the Corindi); coastbeat.com.au (Coffs Coast family spots: Moonee flats species, Red Rock Corindi Creek bream and flathead, Woolgoolga); nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (Woolgoolga Headland: Coffs Coast Regional Park, weekend parking, fishing licence and marine park zoning); nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (Arrawarra Headland: beach casting, Mullaway Headland); 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); 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.