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South West Rocks Trip


GoingFishing

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Gday Raiders

I have booked a trip to South West Rocks end of March.

My main focus at this stage is figuring out where to launch the boat and under which conditions as every post, article and person I have spoken to tell me that the Bar Crossing at SWR is about as dangerous as they get.

I am considering a beach launch and am wondering what this involves? tyre chains etc? I will be launching a 6.2m plate boat on a dual axel trailer with a Nissan navara dual cab.

I also understand that the back creek option is good on the right tide, but hear that this can often get clogged up with sand, has anyone been up there recently?

My backup plan is to drive the hour to Coffs and fish out of coffs for the day if the conditions are not safe for bar crossing.

In addition to the above, any advice on fishing would be welcome :) 

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the bar is notorius especially on the run out tide

there is a good boat ramp on the main river near the tavern about 3km from the main town plenty of signs

Scotts head has a concrete ramp on the beach went out off there a few weeks ago with a mate in his 5.8m plate boat and a hilux  it's fairly sheltered and a lot closer than coffs 

definetly wouldn't use tyre chains on sand they'll just make you sink

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The Trial Bay Gaol boatramp at Arakoon is OK, and it beats the bar crossing. Your Navara is 4x4 yeah?  Then you shouldnt have any issues driving on sand.   

As for SWR being as about as dangerous as they get?  I beg to differ. Try the Harrington crossing and you'll think SWR is a walk in the park.

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The bar is ok in the right conditions.

Been over it many times in boats under 5m.

Wouldn't recommend going out while it's dark.

Go for a walk to the end of the break wall the day before if you have time and have a look where the main channel runs. Normally it's towards the rhs when you travel out

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey Mate 

Sorry forgot to write back from my last trip up there. 

Back Creek 

is good on low swell & high tide. You only have to punch through 1 set of breakers & can track channel out to the left & hit the full (fat waves) that are in deeper water of channel. 2 things though, you want to launch with someone as to beach or jetty to tie up to only ouster rock wall & 2nd you will need to clear a low bridge that could be an issue with out riggers or high T top on high tide.  

The Goal 

Again possible obstructions from low trees but should be ok. Ramp drops off to shallow sand but last time I was there was fine & you can swing trailer to the left to get some slightly deeper water. Good at high tide but can be sergy with big north east swell. If you can lock diffs & have reasonable all terrain tires  you should be sweet. 

The Bar 

As others have said its not that bad if swell is low & you cross it at tide changes or low movement times but it can turn nasty fast. 

Hat head 

Its a bit like back creek but holds swell better only no good in north swell. Again shallow with a narrow creek to get out. 

I will be up there over Easter I think. Swell not great at this stage on Friday & warm currents too far out so Spanish will be thin. If the current is up there are some spots I get them on jigs.

Might see you up there.   

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