The Best Fishing Spots on The Central Coast

Header image: Phil Worthy

Nothing beats catching your own dinner, and around here you don’t have to go far to do it. We’ve prepped a guide to the best fishing spots on the Central Coast, and there really is something for everyone – from people who’ve been chasing bream since primary school right through to beginners who’ve never held a rod and just want to know if the kids will get a bite before they lose interest.

This isn’t a “secret spots” list. Most of these are well-known. But well-known doesn’t mean crowded, and it definitely doesn’t mean easy – some of these still take a bit of homework to fish properly. Others you can rock up to with bait and figure out as you go. We’ve also included our pick for where to get gear before you head out.

Quick housekeeping before you start: you’ll need a valid NSW recreational fishing licence for anything other than a few exempt days, and it’s worth checking current bag and size limits on the NSW DPI Fishing website before you head out, since these do get updated.

What are the Central Coast fishing spots that locals love?

The Entrance

Underneath The Entrance Bridge there’s a proper flow of water moving between Tuggerah Lake and the ocean, and where there’s current, there’s fish. Set up on the shallow banks during the day or try your luck at night, especially around the tide change – that’s when the net fishers come out. Blackfish, bream, flathead and whiting are all realistic here.

Park the car over the bridge in the North Entrance carpark and you can drop a line in the channel between The Entrance North & Terilbah Island. It’s a peaceful spot with fewer crowds, so you can enjoy the serenity while you wait for that tug on the line. Good option if the main bridge area’s chocka on a weekend, plus there’s a small playground and public toilets across the road.

Tuggerah Lake

Calm, wide and about as forgiving as Central Coast fishing gets. Flathead and mullet are the main targets when you’re fishing in Tuggerah Lake, and because the water’s so still you can get away with a fairly basic setup. This is your spot if you want to kick back and drink it all in with a more relaxed sesh.

Lake Munmorah

Bush meets water here, and it’s a big enough lake that you’re not fighting for a spot on the bank. Flathead, bream, trevally, tailor and the odd Australian salmon are all on the cards. Bonus: stick around till dusk, the light over the water is 100% worth it as the sunset paints the sky.

Rip Bridge

Not for beginners, and we mean that – The Rip Bridge is all about active angling. The tides through here move fast, which is exactly why the fishing’s good – jewfish, tailor, whiting and bream all show up when the water’s pushing hard. Booker Bay and Daleys Point either side of the bridge get a mention too, so it’s worth walking a bit further than just the bridge itself if it’s busy.

Best fishing spots for beginners and kids on the Central Coast NSW

Ettalong

Shallow sand flats, gentle tides, easy access and coffee within cooee – Ettalong ticks every box for a first-timer or some family-friendly fishing. Whiting, bream and flathead are the usual catch when the tide comes in, and because it’s a fairly sheltered beach, the kids can dig around in the sand while the adults wait on a bite. Bring a small bait net and the real littlies can scoop along too. Low-key one of the better spots on the Coast to teach someone to fish.

Long Jetty

If prawning counts as fishing (it does, don’t argue with us), head to the Long Jetty foreshore, on the eastern edge of Tuggerah Lake. Set up on a jetty, cast the net out and swiftly haul it back in – takes a bit of arm work, but a bucket of fresh prawns at the end makes it worth it. Good one for teenagers who want to feel useful without needing a rod licence conversation. Fishing is all about patience (and snacks), and an iconic view doesn’t hurt.

Where to go if you’re chasing something bigger…

Terrigal

Terrigal’s where the marlin and Spanish mackerel stories come from, mostly from casting off the cliff edge at the Haven, underneath the Skillion. Look, you probably won’t hook a marlin on your first go – but if you want to become part of the folklore, that’s your best chance at walking away with a prize catch. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get the big one though, there are plenty of impressive kingfish, salmon and tailor to be caught. Plus, it’s a beautiful spot to spend a few hours even if the fish aren’t biting.

Patonga

Sitting right at the mouth of the Hawkesbury, Patonga is one of the more underrated spots to catch a fish on the Central Coast, but locals who fish it tend to keep going back. The wharf is a low-effort option for bream and whiting, and if you’ve got a boat, the creek and surrounding waters open up into some genuinely good flathead territory. Good spot to pair with brekkie before you head out – or book into the campgrounds and make a weekend of it.

South Avoca

The rock platform at the southern end of Avoca Beach has been drawing serious anglers for decades. It’s actually got a bit of history to it – this is one of the spots where high-speed rock spinning first took off on the Coast, back when locals were casting chrome lures on backyard-built reels in the sixties. It’s still producing now, with kingfish, tuna and mackerel turning up for those willing to work the ledges, alongside the more dependable bream, jewfish, luderick and drummer.

The reason it fishes so well is the same reason it needs to be taken seriously -the platform drops straight into deep, moving water, and that closeness to the action is what makes it good and what makes it risky. This general stretch of coast has seen people get into real trouble over the years, so treat any exposed platform along here with proper respect – check the swell forecast before you go, don’t fish alone, wear grippy shoes rather than thongs, and skip it altogether if there’s any size in the sea. It’s also a declared high-risk location under NSW law, so a lifejacket isn’t a nice-to-have here (details further down). It’s one of the best spots on the Coast when conditions are right – just don’t wander down to on a whim.

Norah Head and Pelican Point

Further north than most of our other spots, but worth the drive if rock fishing’s your thing. Pelican Point near Norah Head gets a mention from more than a few Fishing Monthly writers for bream fishing off the washes, and the rock ledges around here are also known for rock blackfish (or “pigs,” if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about) and the occasional groper. Norah Head itself has a boat ramp too, if you’d rather stay off the rocks altogether.

Winney Bay

If you’re up for a bit of an adventure, Winney Bay is a cracking spot for proper rock fishing. It’s a bit off the beaten track (access is via the trail near the water tank at Cape Three Points), but the payoff is worth it! The waters here are home to a decent variety of species. Worth the drive if you know what you’re doing.

Another little word of warning on this one – rock fishing accounts for more fishing-related deaths in NSW than any other type, largely because people underestimate swell. This is another high-risk platform, so a lifejacket isn’t optional here, it’s the law. Fish with someone else, check the conditions properly, and don’t turn your back on the ocean. This one’s for the more experienced fishos.

Need fishing gear? Stop by Empire Fishing and Boating in Woy Woy

Before you cast a line, make sure you’ve got the right gear. Family-owned and operated, Empire Fishing and Boating has become a go-to destination for local anglers thanks to its quality fishing equipment, bait, tackle, and friendly advice. Whether you’re taking the kids down to the wharf for their first fishing adventure or gearing up for a serious day on the water, the knowledgeable team can help point you in the right direction.

Located on Ocean Beach Road in Woy Woy, Empire Fishing and Boating also offers a range of marine services, including:

• Rod and reel repairs
• Yacht rigging
• Boat detailing
• Shipwright work

Best of all, you’ll get local knowledge from people who know the waterways and fishing conditions of the Central Coast inside and out.

53 Ocean Beach Road, Woy Woy
(02) 4309 6609
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The life jacket law you need to know about

Central Coast Council opted into the Rock Fishing Safety Act a few years back, and it still catches people out. If you’re fishing a declared high-risk rock platform anywhere in the Central Coast LGA – from Broken Bay in the south right up to Frazer Park in the north – you and anyone helping you fish, including kids, are legally required to wear an approved lifejacket. Not “should.” Required.

The on-the-spot fine is $100, which sounds almost mild until you think about why the rule exists. NSW loses around eight people a year to rock fishing, and it can catch anyone out, even the most experienced.

Winney Bay, South Avoca and the ledges around Norah Head and Pelican Point are all inside the declared area, so if you’re heading to any of the rockier spots on this list, the lifejacket goes in the bag right next to the rod. Council publishes maps of the exact declared zones if you want to double check a specific platform before you go, which is worth doing if you’re not a regular out there.

For the boaties: Brisbane Water

If you’ve got a tinny, Brisbane Water deserves its own mention.

It stretches through Koolewong, Point Frederick, Point Clare, Saratoga, Davistown, Woy Woy and around Pelican Island and Rileys Island, and it’s one of the more underrated stretches of water on the Coast for bream, flathead and whiting.

The edges near the mangroves are good for lure casting on a rising tide, and Gosford’s Central Coast Highway boat ramp gives you easy access if you’re launching from town. Woy Woy’s Lions Park ramp is another solid launch point if you’re planning to work your way toward Patonga and Broken Bay.

A few good spots away from the coastline

Not everything worth fishing on the Coast involves salt water. A few inland spots come up often enough that they deserve a mention.

Erina Creek – there’s a small jetty off the Central Coast Highway where you’ll spot kids fishing after school most afternoons. It’s a popular spot for catching mud crabs, plus bream and the occasional flathead are on offer, and kayakers working the snags further upstream toward Woodport do alright too. Handy one if you’ve got young kids and want something closer to home than the beach, or don’t have access to a boat.

Wyong River – feeds into Tuggerah Lake and holds bream, estuary perch and the odd flathead around the snags, pontoons and bridge pylons. South Tacoma is the usual launch spot if you’ve got a tinny or kayak. Quieter and slower than the coast.

Ourimbah Creek – the local bass spot. It’s proper creek fishing, snags and overhanging banks rather than open water, so light tackle and soft plastics worked in close to structure is the way to go. One to know: bass and estuary perch go catch-and-release only across NSW from May to August, so check the calendar before you plan a trip around keeping one.

So, what fish can you catch where on the Central Coast?

Fish	Where to try	Worth knowing
Bream	The Entrance, Rip Bridge, Brisbane Water, Erina Creek, South Avoca	Notorious for ignoring a bait sitting right in front of it, especially clear water on a high tide
Flathead	Tuggerah Lake, Lake Munmorah, Brisbane Water, Patonga, Wyong River	Best run is roughly October to March
Whiting	Ettalong, Pelican Point (Norah Head), Brisbane Water	Push of an incoming tide is your best shot
Tailor	Rip Bridge, Lake Munmorah, South Avoca	Autumn’s usually the pick of the season
Jewfish (mulloway)	Rip Bridge, South Avoca, Patonga (better with a boat)	Dawn, dusk and after a flood are the classic windows
Kingfish	South Avoca, Terrigal, Norah Head	Spring into summer, metal lures or live bait off the rocks
Luderick / Drummer	South Avoca, Pelican Point	Cabbage weed and cunjevoi in the washes, year-round
Bass	Ourimbah Creek	Catch-and-release only from May to August
Estuary perch	Wyong River, Ourimbah Creek	Same closed season as bass, worth checking before you head out
Prawns	Long Jetty	Cast netting, warmer months, bring a mate to work the net

This isn’t the full list of what’s swimming around out here, just the pairings that keep coming up when you actually talk to people who fish these spots regularly.

A few tips before you go fishing

• Tides matter more than the time of day. Most of these spots fish best around the change of tide, not necessarily at dawn or dusk, whatever the fishing forums tell you.
• Bream will test your patience. They’re notorious for cruising past a bait without touching it, especially in clear water on a high tide. Don’t take it personally.
• Rock fishing is not the spot to “give it a go” for the first time. Start on a jetty or a beach, work your way up.
• Bring more bait than you think you’ll need. Pilchards, prawns and mullet strips cover most of what’s on this list.
• Check the weather, not just the forecast icon. Swell and wind direction matter more than the little cloud symbol suggests.

Central Coast fishing isn’t about finding one perfect spot and sticking to it forever. Most of the locals fish two or three of these on rotation depending on the tide, the wind, and how they’re feeling that particular weekend. Pick one that suits where you’re starting from, and go from there.

Bait’s cheap, the view’s free. Go wet a line and see what bites!