The NSW South Coast has some of the most productive rock fishing in Australia and some of the most dangerous. A long weekend targeting kingfish and snapper from the rocks.
The Ground Rules
Rock fishing kills more people in Australia than any other recreational activity. It is not a dangerous sport in theory — it is dangerous when treated casually. The rules that keep you alive are not complex: wear a lifejacket always, never fish alone, check the swell forecast before you leave (not just the wind), know the set wave interval for your location, and have an exit route identified before a wave arrives rather than after. This is the framework for every trip to the rocks.
The Coast
The stretch from Ulladulla to Eden offers extraordinary access to deep water from accessible platforms. The land falls steeply into the Tasman here — the continental shelf is relatively close to shore and deep-water pelagic species come within casting distance in a way that is rare on the flat northern coast. Yellowtail kingfish, Australian salmon, snapper, and the occasional tuna can all be reached from the right platforms on the right day.
The Fishing
We targeted kingfish at a platform I will not name — good spots on the South Coast are earned through research rather than read about online — with 30g metal slices cast into a metre of white water and retrieved fast. The logic is simple: baitfish get trapped in the wash and kingfish follow them. The hits are violent. The first fish I hooked that morning ran 40m of 30lb braid before I had processed what was happening.
Three kingfish in two days, between 65 and 78cm. Australian salmon throughout, released. One large snapper taken on bait at last light from a lower platform on the second evening, kept for dinner.
Camp
A campsite at Murramarang National Park, 10 minutes from the best ground. Evening meals of fresh fish and the particular satisfaction that comes from cooking what you caught that afternoon. This is accessible to anyone who prepares properly. Browse our fishing clothing range — and please, also invest in a quality rock fishing lifejacket.
