Rise & Shine It's Fishing Time!

Now that summer is here you should dust off that fishing gear and take your family and friends for a fish on any one of its three beautiful waterways. Firstly, you have the pristine Port Hacking River that runs from Bate Bay and up to Audley Weir in the Sutherland Shire. Secondly there is the Georges River that borders on the northern side of the Shire and then there is the smaller Woronora River that starts from just upstream of the Como Bridge.

There are literally hundreds of places in the Sutherland Shire that you can wet a line with a chance of tackling with your next fish and you don’t have to have a boat to do it.

Fishing from the shore

For those of you that don’t have a boat the Shire has plenty of places that you can easily get to, that it would take more than this article to list them.

If you were looking for a place to take the kids for a couple of hours you could try Gymea Baths where you are in with a chance of tangling with a kingfish or salmon while suspending your bait under a float. Or you could cast out wide and fish the bottom for whiting, flathead and bream.

The stretch of beach from the baths at Gunnamatta to Darook Park is another great place where the kids and you can cast a short distance into deep water. Best fished on the out going tide. If the kids get tired of fishing you could always go for a swim in the Gunnamatta Bay baths or build sand castles.

If you travel to either Bundeena or Maianbar in the Royal National Park you can try pumping for pink nippers or catching a few poddy mullet for bream, whiting, trevally and flathead that can be caught while fishing off the shore.

Try the George’s River at Bald Face Point or the southern side of the Taren Point Bridge for bream, flathead and mulloway. You will need to have heavier gear, as there is a strong current and a rocky shoreline and bottom. Not a good place to take small kids and the parking can be a bit hard at times.

It may be a smaller river, but the Woronora River has a number of land-based spots that are worth a try. The ramps at Bonnet Bay and Burnum Burnum are best fished when the tide is high for bream, flathead, whiting and mullet. Try using half pilchards, tube worms and pink nippers for bait. Further upstream you could try Prince Edward Park and if the kids get tired of fishing there is a nearby park, picnic area and playground.

Fishing out of a boat

Don’t have a boat. Don’t worry there are a number of places where you can hire a boat in the Shire. Try Como Marina, Boab Boats and Finz Hire where you can hire a small tinny or a boat that will take you offshore. Some of these hire places will also hire you the gear that you need to catch a fish or two.

Maybe you would like to spend the weekend on the water? Cronulla House boats has a on the water holiday home that has 3 spacious bedrooms, 1 double, 2 with bunks and a double sofa bed in the lounge area and can accommodate up to 8 people.

Ok, driving the boat yourself is not your scene and you would like to be taken to places where you can be looked after while having a fish.

This is not a problem as you could book yourself or a group of people on one of the many charter boats that are available in the shire. Depending on which one you choose you could find yourself fishing in Botany Bay or the Port Hacking River for bream, whiting, flathead or trevally. You might even get your arms stretched while targeting kingfish and salmon. Here are some suggested charter companies Bravo Fishing Charters, Sydney Premium Fishing Charters, All At Sea Charters or Dorso's Deep Sea Fishing Charters to name a few.

The offshore option is also catered for by the charters boats and you too could find yourself trolling for kingfish and bonito off the coast or chasing marlin and dolphin fish out wide. The choice is up to you.

For more information on where the boats ramps and wharfs are in the Shire Click here and if you are after more information on fish species and fishing regulations in NSW click here. 

Canoeing and Kayaking

For all your outdoor adventures on the water you could try Bundeena Kayaks and hire a kayak and explore the Port Hacking River at your own pace. The Boatshed at Woronora is situated on Forbes Creek on the picturesque Woronora River. It offers a wide range of delightful food, smooth coffee, a relaxing view and very affordable canoe and kayak for hire. With the café looking directly onto the water you are welcome to come and experience the beauty of the river any day of the week. 

Need to top up your fishing tackle for that next outing?

There are four tackle shops located in the Shire that will cater for your boating and fishing needs. You can find Fishin at Miranda for all your lure needs, Fergo’s Tackle World at Taren Point for all your fishing and diving needs, Angler Power at Sylvania has rods, reels, lures and bait. While BCF at Taren Point has all your Fishing, Boating and Camping needs.

For more general information about fishing in the Sutherland Shire click here.

I am lucky enough to spend a lot of time on the water throughout these three fantastic waterways in the Shire and over the 37 years that I have live here I am still amazed at what fish they produce.

If you get the chance to get out and about on these glorious waterways you could always send me an email at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au and let me know how you went. Also, if you would like any further information feel free to send me an email.

Hope to see you on the water sometime.