Yackatoon
Sydney Harbour, Sydney (AUS)
Sydney is commonly thought of as the capital city of Australia and while technically that isn’t the case it is most certainly the heart of destinations when it c...
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Sydney is commonly thought of as the capital city of Australia and while technically that isn’t the case it is most certainly the heart of destinations when it comes to tourists visiting Australia. It has famous locations such as the well known Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Bondi Beach but may be surprising to many is just how good the fishing is in the area as well.
You can fish inside the harbour itself, from the shore or head outside the heads and go big game fishing all very easily. The results can also be just as rewarding if not better than many other locations in Australia. Most popular species are Yellowtail Kingfish, tuna, dorado and snapper.
The fishing in Sydney is really divided between fishing in the harbour and heading to the reefs and “shelf” outside of the heads. Where you prefer to target will greatly depend on the fishing style you want to use and the species you desire to catch.
Yellowtail Kingfish: These are one of the most popular fish to target in Sydney. They are fish fighting machines that test any anglers skill level. Powerful fish that are built for speed and are sure to get your heart rate pumping during a battle.
Mahi Mahi: One of the most beautiful species to catch in Sydney is without a doubt the Mahi-Mahi. They turn up each year when the waters begin to warm up. They are great fighting fish and known to put on amazing aerial displays when hooked.
Bluefin Tuna: One of the winter fish species most popularly targetted by anglers is the Bluefin tuna in the offshore waters of Sydney. The best ways to catch these are either by trolling or chumming the waters.
Snapper: This is a real trophy fish of the Sydney waters. They are great eating and provide great fishing opportunities in the winter and spring months of the year. They are also a hard fighting fish that many die-hard anglers seek to catch.
The Amberjack species are a game fish that are found both in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. Greater Amberjack can weigh up to 170 lb (80 kg).
Distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, the Giant Trevally - also known as GT - (Caranx ignobilis) is the most wanted species for popping lovers. They can be 1,70 cm long and reach up to 80 kg (175 lb)!
Salmon is a generic name for several species from Salmonidae family. In fact there are eight species distributed in the Pacific Ocean (like for example the Chinook salmon, Pink salmon or the Sockeye salmon) and one species from the Atlantic Ocean (the Atlantic salmon).
The great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), often referred to as barracuda, is a long predator that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters where they like to patroll mangroves, reefs and drop-offs. Record barracuda can grow to 1,5m and weigh over 45kg (100lb+).
A Flounder is a flatfish and several species are distinguished. They camouflage themself by lying on the bottom of the ocean floor to ambush their prey and also as protection against predators.
Flounder are very good eating fish and can grow up to 60 centimeters (20 inch).
The yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is a type of amberjack found in the Southern Hemisphere. They can grow up to 180 cm (70 in). Yellowtail kingfish can be caught from New Zeeland, Australia to Chile.
Talang Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianus) are a Pacific fish that are highly reflective, shiny and are known to travel in schools. At times they fight so hard that they’ll die due to exhaustion before being released back into the water. They also have pointed spines that can inflict wounds if not handled carefully. Queenfish grow to around 15 kilos, but are most commonly encountered around half that size.
The king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) or kingfish is a common fish species of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. King Mackerel can grow to up to 40kg (90lb) and have razor sharp teeth.
The Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) has large eyes and long pectoral fins. This is why this species is also known as longfin tuna. The largest Albacore can reach up to 140 cm (4.6ft) and weigh up to 40 kg (90lb).
The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is probably the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. The magnificent fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. Blue Marlin is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) can be told apart from blue marlin due to their “stripes” of blue that run vertically down their bodies. Striped marlin is lighter than blue marlin, but their body shape and even colouring remains the same aside from the stripes. These marlin can weigh up to 180kg (400lb) and have a maximum length of 4 m (12 ft).
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), also known as Ono (meaning “delicious” in Hawaiian), are found in many subtropical and tropical waters. They’re identifiable by their blue-green upper body which shifts into silver towards their belly. They also have blue vertical striping along their sides. These predators are torpedo-shaped and have long and largemouths with teeth.
Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 400 pounds (180kg) in about a 7-year lifespan, and they range in length from 59 inches to 88 inches long. They’re known for their torpedo shape, with a pointed nose and a sickle-shaped tail, and have dark blue backs with yellow sides (thus their name) with a silver underside.
The White Marlin (Kajikia albida) is a very nice predator which can be caught off shore in warmer waters. This powerful fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. They can be caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
Spearfish (Tetrapturus) are a generic name for several species such as the shortbill spearfish and longbill spearfish. These billfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Black marlin (Istiompax indica) grows to be as big or bigger than blue marlin, with males reaching lengths of 4.65 meters and weighing up to 750 kilograms (1500lb), females larger. They are part of a group of fish called billfish, which includes varieties of marlin, swordfish, and spearfish.
The Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a pelagic fish that can grow up to 500kg (1000lb). The biggest Bluefin Tuna ever caught was 780kg (1496lb). These great fighters can be caught trolling, jigging, casting or drifting; mainly off-shore.
Spring: As the waters begin to warm up more so does the fishing in and around Sydney. Expect to start to see large schools of salmon and yellowtail kingfish being caught.
Summer: This period is a really strong fishing season for both inshore and offshore fishing in Sydney. Inshore you can find the Yellowtail kingfish, amberjack and salmon in high numbers. A feed of squid is often targetted successfully this time of year as well.
Offshore in summer, the warmer currents arrive and with them comes species such as Striped Marlin, Black Marlin and Blue Marlin. Dolphin Fish and wahoo are other species that are always found throughout the yar in Sydney.
Fall: This period continues to be amazing offshore with plenty of shark species found as well as tuna, marlin and dolphinfish and wahoo. A really good time to find huge gamefish offshore.
Winter: This is a great time of year to target the snapper on the reefs and around structured areas. They are a popular fish to target around Sydney. Offshore the bluefin and yellowfin tuna will begin to show up.
The most popular locations to visit when not enjoy the fishing include the previously mentioned Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera house and spending the day at Bondi Beach.
Other attractions worth considering include a river cruise in the harbour, a visit to Manly Beach, visiting Darling Harbour, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Sydney Tower Eye, Taronga Zoo or having a walk through the famous Kings Cross district.
There are also many museums, restaurants and bars you can visit in the city.
You need a fishing license to fish in freshwater and saltwater. The fishing charters in New South Wales normally have the fishing license included in the price, so you don't need to buy one if you're chartering a boat.