Wooli and Minnie Water fishing spots

Quiet villages from Brooms Head to Station Creek inside Yuraygir National Park, most of it in the northern Solitary Islands Marine Park, where several creeks and nearshore waters are sanctuary zones. Away from those, beaches and headlands fish well for tailor, bream and mulloway, and the lower Wooli and Sandon rivers hold bream, flathead and whiting. Autumn is a good beach season.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

6 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

6 spots: Wooli and Minnie Water
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Brooms Head	Headland	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
2. Sandon Bluffs	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
3. Rocky Point (Minnie Water)	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
4. Diggers Camp	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
5. Wooli Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby
6. Station Creek Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	Solitary Islands Marine Park; no-take zone nearby

1. Brooms Head

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Brooms Head village; walk onto the headland from the reserve.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Drummer and luderick on the rising tide; whiting late in the run-in on the beach.
Best wind: Light westerlies with a small swell. Faces E.
Note: Rocky head with reef running south and a small ocean ramp: bream, luderick and drummer off the rocks, tailor and mulloway along the beach to the south.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down. Strong rips along the beach south of the head.
Zone: North of Solitary Islands Marine Park, which begins near the Sandon River Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.61510, 153.34270 · Open in Google Maps (position: Brooms Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Sandon Bluffs

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walk from Sandon village, south of the river mouth.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Drummer and luderick on the run-in; tailor at dawn.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Rocky bluffs south of the Sandon River mouth in a habitat protection zone: drummer, bream and luderick, with tailor at first light. The river upstream is a sanctuary 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. Habitat protection zone; the Sandon River sanctuary zone begins upstream about 1.5 km away: no fishing there Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.68170, 153.33440 · Open in Google Maps (position: Sandon Bluffs, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Rocky Point (Minnie Water)

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Minnie Water village.
What's good here: In season in October: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Run-in for bream and luderick; drummer in the wash on any tide.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ENE.
Note: Low rocky point at Minnie Water in a habitat protection zone: washes for bream, luderick and drummer, tailor at first light.
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; the Northern Section sanctuary zone lies offshore to the north (about 1.4 km). Minnie Water Back Beach is shore-based line fishing only Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.76510, 153.30110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Rocky Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Diggers Camp

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Diggers Camp village, Yuraygir National Park.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream, tailor, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Rising tide for whiting and bream; drummer in the wash.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces E.
Note: Small beach and rock platform south of Minnie Water: bream and tailor in the gutters, drummer and luderick off the rocks. No collecting of bait or invertebrates on the rock platform.
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; Northern Section sanctuary zone about 800 m to the north; no collecting on the Diggers Camp rock platform Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.81340, 153.28940 · Open in Google Maps (position: Diggers Camp Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Wooli Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach tracks from Wooli village.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting, mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide; mulloway around the changes after dark.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Long beach in front of Wooli: tailor and bream in the gutters, mulloway at night. The river breakwall at the south end adds bream, mulloway and the odd jack.
Safety: The Wooli River entrance is a designated coastal bar. Rips.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Habitat protection zone; Jones Point sanctuary zone is just south of the river mouth: no fishing there Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.85840, 153.26970 · Open in Google Maps (position: Wooli Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Station Creek Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Gravel road to Station Creek campground (Yuraygir National Park).
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: tailor and yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Rising tide; dawn and dusk.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Remote beach south of Station Creek in a habitat protection zone: tailor, bream and whiting in the gutters. Station Creek itself is a sanctuary zone: no fishing in the creek.
Safety: Remote and unpatrolled.
Zone: No-take zone nearby. Station Creek sanctuary zone about 1.8 km north and Corindi River sanctuary zone to the south Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.96420, 153.24580 · Open in Google Maps (position: Station Creek Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Wooli and Minnie Water
Ramp	Notes	Position
Brooms Head ramp	Ocean. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; shallow at low tide; toilets, fish-cleaning table; fee payable; condition good (TfNSW). Ocean launch.	-29.60883, 153.33861 Google Maps
Sandon River ramp	Sandon River. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; shallow at low tide; toilets, fish-cleaning table; fee payable; condition fair (TfNSW). The river upstream is a sanctuary zone: no fishing there.	-29.67531, 153.32708 Google Maps
Minnie Water ramp	Tasman Sea. 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; shallow at low tide; fee payable; condition poor (TfNSW). Ocean launch.	-29.77496, 153.30063 Google Maps
Wooli River lower ramp	Wooli Wooli River. 2 lanes; about 11-20 trailer parks; high tide only; fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW). Jones Point sanctuary zone is near the river mouth.	-29.88406, 153.26521 Google Maps
Wooli River caravan park ramp	Wooli Wooli River. 1 lane; shallow at low tide; condition poor (TfNSW).	-29.87060, 153.26464 Google Maps
Station Creek campground ramp	Station Creek. 2 lanes; usable at all tides; toilets; fee payable; condition fair (TfNSW). Station Creek upstream is a sanctuary zone.	-29.94725, 153.25838 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Wooli and Minnie Water in October: sand whiting, mulloway, dusky flathead, 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: sand whiting, mulloway, dusky flathead, sand and tiger flathead, snapper and Australian bass.

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

Out of season in October: mahi mahi (best Dec–Apr); Spanish mackerel (best Feb–May); cobia (best Feb–May).

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 Wooli and Minnie Water

Solitary Islands Marine Park: no fishing in sanctuary zones, including the Sandon River system, the Northern Section offshore zones, the upper Wooli Wooli River, Jones Point, Station Creek and the Corindi River system.
Minnie Water Back Beach: shore-based recreational line fishing only.
No collecting of bait or invertebrates on the Diggers Camp rock platform.
Fishing with bait is banned within 200 m of the grey nurse sites at North 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 Sandon Bluffs, Rocky Point (Minnie Water), Diggers Camp, Wooli Beach and Station Creek Beach: each one's zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Wooli and Minnie Water

The Sandon and Wooli river entrances are designated coastal bars; Brooms Head and Minnie Water are ocean launches through the surf.
Remote national park coast: limited help nearby, rock ledges wash without warning.

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

Woolgoolga and Red Rock (about 37 km south)
Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River (about 42 km north)
Coffs Harbour and Sawtell (about 61 km south)
Evans Head (about 75 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): sanctuary zones, shore-based-only zones, Diggers Camp collecting ban, grey nurse rules); dpird.nsw.gov.au (DPIRD Solitary Islands Marine Park page); nsw.gov.au (Sandon River: campground on the north side, village on the south); nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (Yuraygir NP: autumn the best season for beach fishing); beachsafe.org.au (Beach south of Brooms Head: reefs south of the head, strong rips); wooliholidayunits.com.au (Wooli: rock wall mulloway and jacks, beach bream, tailor and mulloway, estuary flathead, whiting and bream); 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.