Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River fishing spots

The Clarence is one of the biggest rivers on the NSW coast, and its mouth between Yamba and Iluka draws mulloway, bream and luderick, with the training walls, channels and flats all fishable from shore. Headlands at Woody Head, Iluka Bluff, Yamba and Angourie add rock fishing for drummer, tailor and bream. Luderick peak in winter; whiting and flathead in the warmer months.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 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

9 spots: Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Woody Head	Headland	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
2. Iluka Bluff	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
3. Iluka north wall & Iluka Beach	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
4. Iluka Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Yamba Channel	Channel	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
6. Yamba south wall & Turners Beach	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Whiting Beach	Flats	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Pippi Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
9. Angourie Point	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–

1. Woody Head

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Woody Head campground road in Bundjalung National Park (park fees may apply).
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin bream, luderick and rock blackfish. Out of season now: Spanish mackerel.
Best tide: Drummer and luderick on the rising tide; tailor at dawn.
Best wind: Light winds; the bay beside the head gives some shelter. Faces NE.
Note: Rocky head in Bundjalung National Park with a sheltered bay and ocean ramp beside it: bream, luderick and drummer off the rocks, tailor at dawn, and mackerel offshore in summer and autumn.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down. Limited mobile reception: you may not be able to call 000.
Zone: Not in a marine park (Woody Bay is closed to lobster traps) Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.36510, 153.36770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Woody Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Iluka Bluff

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walk from the Iluka Bluff car park and lookout.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin bream, luderick and rock blackfish.
Best tide: Drummer in the wash on any tide; luderick and bream on the run-in.
Best wind: Light westerlies with a small swell. Faces E.
Note: Headland north of the Iluka wall: ledges and washes for drummer, bream and luderick; spin metal lures for 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: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.39840, 153.37610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Iluka Bluff, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Iluka north wall & Iluka Beach

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach Street, Iluka; walk out along the wall in calm weather.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and sand whiting. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Mulloway around the tide changes; bream and luderick on a moving tide.
Best wind: Light winds; waves break on the ocean side in any big swell. Faces E.
Note: The Clarence's northern training wall: the sheltered river side for bream and luderick, the ocean end for mulloway and tailor, whiting on the beach. An old trawler wreck lies off the river side.
Safety: Waves break over the ocean side of the wall. The Clarence River entrance is a designated coastal bar.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.39840, 153.36770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Iluka Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Iluka Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Iluka foreshore, boat harbour and ramps.
What's good here: Peak in October: dusky flathead, sand whiting and mulloway. Also in season: yellowfin bream, luderick and blue swimmer crab.
Best tide: Run-in for whiting and bream; flathead on the run-out.
Best wind: Sheltered inside the river; fishable in most winds.
Note: Sheltered bay and boat harbour on the river's north side: bream and luderick around walls and moorings, flathead and whiting on the sand edges.
Safety: Boat traffic around the harbour.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.41510, 153.35110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Iluka Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Yamba Channel

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Boat from the Yamba ramps; shore access along the Yamba foreshore.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream, silver trevally and luderick.
Best tide: Mulloway at the turn of the tide; flathead late in the run-out.
Best wind: Fishes in most winds; wind against tide makes it lumpy near the entrance.
Note: The main river channel past Yamba: drift or anchor for mulloway around the changes, flathead along the drop-offs, bream on the rocky edges.
Safety: Strong tidal currents and boat traffic.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.42630, 153.34960 · Open in Google Maps (position: Yamba Channel, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Yamba south wall & Turners Beach

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Turners Beach parking at Yamba; walk the wall.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and dusky flathead. Also in season: luderick, yellowfin bream, tailor and silver trevally.
Best tide: Luderick and bream on a running tide; mulloway around the changes.
Best wind: Light winds; big southerly swell washes the outer section. Faces E.
Note: The southern training wall: luderick (best May to August) from mid-wall to the T-piece, bream, trevally and flathead on a running tide, tailor and mulloway at the ocean end.
Safety: The T-piece has uneven, wave-washed footing. The Clarence River entrance is a designated coastal bar.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.43170, 153.36770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Turners Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Whiting Beach

Type: Flats · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Short walk from Yamba town.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand whiting and dusky flathead. Also in season: yellowfin bream.
Best tide: Run-in over the sand and the first of the run-out.
Best wind: Sheltered river shore.
Note: River-side sand at Yamba: wade with yabbies or worms for whiting, and cast small plastics along the edges for flathead.
Safety: Soft sand and strong currents at the channel edge.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.43170, 153.35110 · Open in Google Maps (position: Whiting Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Pippi Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Short walk from Yamba town.
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 for tailor and mulloway.
Best wind: Light westerlies. Faces ESE.
Note: Yamba's main surf beach south of Yamba Point: gutters for bream and whiting, tailor and mulloway at dawn and dusk, rock ledges at either end.
Safety: Rips; patrolled only in season.
Zone: Not in a marine park Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Map: -29.44840, 153.36770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pippi Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Angourie Point

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Angourie village; walk to the point.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway. Also in season: tailor, yellowfin bream, rock blackfish and luderick.
Best tide: Drummer in the wash on any tide; tailor at dawn.
Best wind: Light westerlies with a small swell. Faces E.
Note: Exposed rocky point south of Yamba with deep water close in: drummer, bream and luderick in the washes, tailor and mulloway at dawn and dusk.
Safety: A big surf break: heavy wash over the ledges. Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and non-slip footwear, never fish alone, and watch the swell for 15 minutes before you go down.
Zone: Not in a marine park (Solitary Islands Marine Park begins further south near Sandon) Guide only, not for navigation: check dpird.nsw.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -29.48170, 153.36770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Angourie Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

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

Boat ramps: Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River
Ramp	Notes	Position
Yamba Road ramp (opposite Golding Street)	Clarence River (Yamba Bay). 2 lanes with pontoon; about 21-50 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW).	-29.43416, 153.34344 Google Maps
Hickey Island ramp, Yamba	Clarence River (Yamba Bay). 1 lane with pontoon; about 11-20 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition fair (TfNSW).	-29.43307, 153.35976 Google Maps
Witonga Drive ramp (Crystal Waters Reserve), Yamba	Clarence River (Oyster Channel). 2 lanes with pontoon; about 11-20 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW). Crystal Bay upstream is closed to nets other than landing nets.	-29.42197, 153.31921 Google Maps
Spenser Street ramp, Iluka	Clarence River. 2 lanes with pontoon; about 21-50 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW).	-29.40189, 153.34588 Google Maps
Iluka boat ramp (Iluka Bay)	Clarence River (Iluka Bay). 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; usable at all tides; toilets, fish-cleaning table; condition good (TfNSW).	-29.41297, 153.35475 Google Maps
Woody Head ocean ramp (Shark Bay)	Tasman Sea (Shark Bay). 1 lane; about 0-10 trailer parks; shallow at low tide; toilets; fee payable; condition poor (TfNSW). Ocean launch; Woody Bay is closed to lobster traps.	-29.36516, 153.37178 Google Maps

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River in October: mulloway, dusky flathead, sand whiting, 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: mulloway, dusky flathead, sand whiting, sand and tiger flathead, snapper and Australian bass.

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

Out of season in October: Spanish mackerel (best Feb–May); mahi mahi (best Dec–Apr); 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 Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River

Crab traps are banned in the Clarence upstream of a line across the river at the Maclean Court House ramp.
Woody Bay (Iluka) is closed to lobster traps.
Some waters next to prawn farms near Palmers Island and in Palmers and Micalo channels are closed to fishing: check the DPIRD Clarence guide.
Lake Arragan: no nets or traps except landing, dip or scoop nets and bait traps.
Spearfishing is banned on ocean beaches except the last 20 m at each end.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Yamba, Iluka and the Clarence River

The Clarence River entrance is a designated coastal bar: get local advice and wear lifejackets crossing.
Woody Head, Iluka Bluff, Yamba and Angourie are exposed ocean rocks: lifejacket and a fishing partner.
Mobile reception is limited in Bundjalung National Park.

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

Evans Head (about 33 km north)
Wooli and Minnie Water (about 42 km south)
Ballina and the Richmond River (about 64 km north)
Woolgoolga and Red Rock (about 78 km south)

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 Clarence Recreational Fishing Guide (July 2024): Clarence crab-trap line, Woody Bay lobster trap closure, prawn-farm closures, Lake Arragan, Crystal Bay); visitnsw.com (Iluka break wall: sheltered casting on the river side, waves on the ocean side, trawler wreck, Beach Street access); fishraider.com.au (Angler forum (2014): Yamba wall bream, flathead and trevally on a running tide; luderick at the wall bend); macman.id.au.ratsoftobruktribute.com (Angler blog (mirror): Yamba wall luderick May to August, mid-wall to the T-piece; T-piece footing); nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (NPWS Woody Head: target species by season, limited mobile reception); 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).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.