Estuary and lake fishing Far South Coast NSW

[Derny Driver]

I just spent the weekend south of Batemans Bay, an area I havent been to before and I was amazed to see so many beautiful rivers and creeks that looked like good spots for fishing.

I didnt take the boat as it was too windy to go out on the ocean, but Bermagui has an impressive harbour and the continental shelf close in which I will try some time in the future.

But Im planning on another weekend away in about 5 weeks time, the weather should be warmer and I was wondering if any of the rivers or lakes there would be worth a try from the boat. I mean, I definately WILL take the boat and explore some of those waterways, but which one would be the pick to throw a line in for some flattys and bream? 

Moruya river

Tuross river

Dalmeny

Kianga creek

Narooma river

Corunna Lake

Wallaga lake

Bermagui river

 

[thepud]

Depends on size of boat.  Tuross Lake is quite good, but hallow at the ramp.  Moruya river is good and the fishing tackle shop posts on facebook weekly fishing updates. Wallaga lake will fish ok.  The Wagonga at Narooma is also ok for bream and flathead, depending on time etc.  I haven't fished any of the others.  

[Steve0]

If you feel like heading a bit further, Pambula river around the oyster leases and the edges of the shark hole turns on mixed sport.

Leases are at the bottom in the images. Shark hole? The approximate R/H bend is the shark hole. Be aware that a lot of debris ends up on the bottom there. I hauled the kayak part on the mud on the inside of the bend or close to the leases on the other side. In the leases in the lower part of the photo, find your drift. As the river runs to the right across the top, a lure near the leases should produce Bream/Flathead (saw them, but didn't ever stop to fish there). 

The boat ramp is just out of shot on the left.   Don't try to shortcut. Follow the navigation markers. You can pump yabbies on the sandy stretch, bottom left in the photo. Test a metal lure on the stretch that leads to the ocean and you may find Salmon and Tailor. If you head towards the ocean, be wary, or you may end up stranded on a sandbar.

[noelm]

All the south coast lakes can be good fishing, if you know what you’re doing. I have fished most of them on and off for decades, love Narooma, had some great catches right up the end near the oyster leases. Corunna is good for Flathead and Prawns, Wopengo is good fishing and Oysters. It really makes no difference, good bait and some effort will see you go OK. Most can be fished from the shore, but access is easy with a boat.

[Derny Driver]

15 hours ago, Steve0 said:

If you feel like heading a bit further, Pambula river around the oyster leases and the edges of the shark hole turns on mixed sport.

Leases are at the bottom in the images. Shark hole? The approximate R/H bend is the shark hole. Be aware that a lot of debris ends up on the bottom there. I hauled the kayak part on the mud on the inside of the bend or close to the leases on the other side. In the leases in the lower part of the photo, find your drift. As the river runs to the right across the top, a lure near the leases should produce Bream/Flathead (saw them, but didn't ever stop to fish there). 

The boat ramp is just out of shot on the left.   Don't try to shortcut. Follow the navigation markers. You can pump yabbies on the sandy stretch, bottom left in the photo. Test a metal lure on the stretch that leads to the ocean and you may find Salmon and Tailor. If you head towards the ocean, be wary, or you may end up stranded on a sandbar.

That looks like a great spot Steve, lots of options.

Thanks so much for the detail. Appreciated.

[Derny Driver]

12 hours ago, noelm said:

All the south coast lakes can be good fishing, if you know what you’re doing. I have fished most of them on and off for decades, love Narooma, had some great catches right up the end near the oyster leases. Corunna is good for Flathead and Prawns, Wopengo is good fishing and Oysters. It really makes no difference, good bait and some effort will see you go OK. Most can be fished from the shore, but access is easy with a boat.

Thanks Noel

I'll definately take the boat next time. I already noted those oyster leases, might give them a go.

Cheers mate

[noelm]

1 hour ago, Derny Driver said:

Thanks Noel

I'll definately take the boat next time. I already noted those oyster leases, might give them a go.

Cheers mate

We used to just get close and cast right in on the racks, just use almost any small lure, you will lose a few, so don’t use the most expensive on the market…….got plenty of legal Snapper and Bream, even the odd Mullet. All those lakes fish basically the same, take a Nipper pump if you’re a bait type and fish structure, like weed edges, fallen trees, oyster racks, rocks and so on. Squirt Worms are great bait too, and most places have them, there’s not a Whiting still swimming that won’t take a live Squirt Worm, add Blackfish and Mullet and you should get a decent catch.

Edited September 3 by noelm

[Jiggy]

All these places are good, but for me I'd try around Merimbula. Pambula is next door and Tathra to the north. Great fishing in the lakes, river mouth and nearby beaches. Lots of spots accessible from the shore, though a boat will give you more options. Nice town, nice people, great fishing and good food. You have to try the oyster bar and brewery just outside of Pambula on the way to Eden; it's great.

Cheers

Rob

[noelm]

I think it’s pretty hard to pin one spot as being “the best” because they are all different, yet the same……some are quite unpopulated, some are quite busy, especially during summer, but, fishing can be great to just OK, like all fishing, it’s effort, time and preparation.

[Derny Driver]

11 minutes ago, Jiggy said:

All these places are good, but for me I'd try around Merimbula. Pambula is next door and Tathra to the north. Great fishing in the lakes, river mouth and nearby beaches. Lots of spots accessible from the shore, though a boat will give you more options. Nice town, nice people, great fishing and good food. You have to try the oyster bar and brewery just outside of Pambula on the way to Eden; it's great.

Cheers

Rob

Thanks mate, Ive never been that far south ....just looked on a map and that area looks amazing. 

[Derny Driver]

47 minutes ago, noelm said:

We used to just get close and cast right in on the racks, just use almost any small lure, you will lose a few, so don’t use the most expensive on the market…….got plenty of legal Snapper and Bream, even the odd Mullet. All those lakes fish basically the same, take a Nipper pump if you’re a bait type and fish structure, like weed edges, fallen trees, oyster racks, rocks and so on. Squirt Worms are great bait too, and most places have them, there’s not a Whiting still swimming that won’t take a live Squirt Worm, add Blackfish and Mullet and you should get a decent catch.

Ive got a nipper pump and a couple of little micro lures that I'm keen to try. Sounds like a good plan. Thank you !

[noelm]

Just to add, last year, I fished Wallaga for the first time been there before Prawning, but never “tourist” fishing, first day I just took a rod and a few plastics in my pocket to “sus out” what was around, found some great Nipper spots, limited Squirt Worm holes, but enough to try. Cast a bit here and there, got a Small Flathead, and a tiny Bream, but found a couple of rocky places to investigate. Low tide, got my pump, pumped about 15 Nippers in no time, plus a few Worms. Next morning at daybreak, I boated over near the rocks I saw yesterday, first cast, a decent Bream, then lost a Nipper, third cast, another Bream and it went quiet, moved a bit to a sand flat, put on a Worm and a very small sinker at cast right up on flat, must have thrown right into a Whitings mouth, because it was on instantly, then a couple of throw backs and it all went dead…..back to the ramp quite satisfied with my mornings effort.

[noelm]

1 minute ago, Derny Driver said:

Ive got a nipper pump and a couple of little micro lures that I'm keen to try. Sounds like a good plan. Thank you !

Haven’t fished Narooma for a year or so, but plenty of Nippers around Taylor’s on the inlet. I pump them there at low tide, then fish the same spot at high tide.

[Steve0]

8 hours ago, Derny Driver said:

That looks like a great spot Steve, lots of options.

Thanks so much for the detail. Appreciated.

If well down the coast and you feel like tossing a lure at Salmon/Tailor from the beach, send me a PM.  Nobody can guarantee pelagics but can tell you a couple of locations worth trying. 

[ireallylovefishies22]

I fished wallaga lake during December of last year, and there was some fantastic fishing. If you paddle to the sand bank near the bridge, you can pump yabbies and fish them on the eastern side of the bank, where I've had most of my success. Bream, luderick, whiting and flathead are the main species.

[Ganguddy Goodoo]

Maybe invest in the south coast fishing atlas (McGovern?). Then just go and explore. So many beautiful places between Ulladulla and Eden. I'm down that way about 10% of the time and haven't even scratched the surface for what is on offer. I tend to go fishing somewhere new every trip ... not good for the catch rate but who cares.