Fishing in Sydney

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.

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.