Clarence River Fishing Spots

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Clarence River

Overall
Saltwater
New South Wales | North Coast

4.1/5 - (8 votes)

29°25'19.66" S, 153°20'56.12" E

The Clarence River is the largest river in AUstralia south of the Tropic of Capricorn, it runs 394km from the Great Dividing Range, it’s joined by 24 tributaries and has a massive catchment area. The Clarence River is home to a large prawn trawling and fishing industry, however parts of the Clarence River are also protected from commercial fishing. Clarence River fishing spots are popular amongst locals and tourists, the upper reaches have bass and eastern freshwater cod (protected species), the salt water is home to a fantastic Bream fishery.

There is a maze of mangroves, islands, gutters, man made structures and sand bars making the Clarence River a fantastic place to go fishing. The small population of Yamba and Iluka love fishing but there are still many secrets to discover when fishing the Clarence River.

What fish Species are caught in the Clarence River?

The main target fish are:

Bream
Flathead
Whiting
Tailor
Mulloway
Luderick

The headlands and break walls around Yamba and Iluka offer:

Cobia
Spanish Mackerel
Longtail Tuna
Snapper
Bream
Luderick
Tailor

There are many great land based fishing spots around Yamba that are family friendly and some that are more for the dedicated angler. A boat is great for exploring and really opens up the potential for some great fishing. Also a kayak is great for the upper reachers when targeting bass, the ability to sneak up is unmatched.

Land Based fishing spots in Yamba

Yamba South Wall
Fish either side of the break wall, some great catches are made along here, take metal slices for Tailor, Longtail Tuna and the odd Spanish Mackerel from the end. Bream and the occasional Mulloway lurk along here, change of tide is great for Mulloway at night surfside.

Iluka Break wall
Fish either side for Bream and Tailor, metal slugs work well for tailor. Towards the end of the break wall anglers often catch longtail tuna, cobia, spanish mackerel and at night time the occasional mulloway.

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Boat and Kayak fishing Clarence River

Dart Island
Fish the run out tide with soft plastics for Flathead along this sand bar. Whiting on a incoming tide.

Freeburn Island Gutter
Fish along this shore line and at the gutter on a run out tide for Flathead, soft plastics bounced along the bottom work well.

Clarence Valley
The jettys / wharfs in here hold bream but take note of any no fishing signs.

Romiaka Channel
Great flathead fishing in the channel at the start of the run out tide, towards the end of the run out tide fish the mouth.

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Recommended fishing gear for the Clarence River

Fishing the Clarence River, a 4-6kg spin outfit with braid and fluorocarbon leader will cover most fishing when chasing Bream, Flathead, Whiting and Luderick.

Fishing for tailor is a bit different but 6kg outfit will cover most Tailor, 10kg is preferred. Mulloway will require a more heavy duty setup, around 15kg will cover it.

Here are some quick tips for fishing in the Clarence River

Flathead – 3” pink soft plastics work well
Whiting – Fresh pumped yabbies
Bream – will take all sorts of lures and bait, deep water metal vibes work well. Soft plastics around man made structures like jetties. Bait works well at most land based spots
Mulloway – Live bait like mullet is dynamite, however jewfish will readily take larger soft plastics and even hard body lures in the right conditions
Tailor – metal slugs around 50-90g retrieved at a constant speed not far from the surface
Luderick – Cabbage weed or stringy weed, have been known to take prawns, worms and yabbies
Spanish Mackerel – larger hard body lures retrieved quickly, metal slices. Gar on floats

If you just like to go have fun with the family a simple running ball sinker setup using fresh bought bait will work wonders for Bream, Flathead, Luderick and Tailor!

If you’re looking for some local handmade lures, check out PhD Fishing

Where to go fishing near Clarence River?

Sportsman Creek
Bream and the occasional Mangrove Jack in summer in Sportsman Creek. Further upstream in the Brackish...
Sportsman Creek Bridge
The run out tide here fishes well for Bream and Flathead around the pylons.
Broadwater run out tide
The drop off here fishes well on a runout tide for Bream, Flathead and small Mulloway,...
South arm rocks
Large set of rocks at the mouth of South Arm, fish this spot on the run...
Mororo Bridge
Good bream and mulloway fishing in the deep hole and around the pylons of Mororo Bridge.
Goodwood Island Bridge
The bridge pylons and rocks to the north and another set of rocks on the north...
Palmers Rock wall
Drift along the rock wall for good size bream.
Palm Channel and gutters
The 3 channels here fish well on a run out tide for Flathead. At the top...
Nihill Island
All the small drains, sandbars and drop offs around here fish well for Flathead on soft...
Bill Weiley Bridge
Esk River is a popular fishing spot for Mangrove Jack in summer. Bream and flathead are...
Bolorobo Island Channel
Drift down the sand bar and channel on a run out tide for Flathead on soft...
North Arm break wall
Good spot for bream and luderick, winter fishes best for bream here.
Browns Rocks
Great bream fishing in Winter, reef structure provides a great habitat, bait and lures work well....
Harwood Bridge
A popular fishing spot at night for Mulloway, they will take live baits and soft plastics...
Oyster Channel Gutters
The gutters and drains that flow back into Oyster channel along here all produce flathead on...
Oyster Channel Sandbar
Good whiting fishing on an incoming tide. Fairly shallow access in Oyster Channel.
Oyster Channel Bridge
Fishing the pylons here will produce Bream and Luderick. This is a popular spot for Mulloway,...
Micalo Channel Bridge
Good fishing on a run out tide for Flathead, on the incoming tide Bream around the...
Yamba Canals
Good bream fishing on lures around the wharfs, take notice of any no fishing signs. Good...
Romiaka Channel
Great flathead fishing in the channel at the start of the run out tide, towards the...
Clarence Valley
The jettys / wharfs in here hold bream but take note of any no fishing signs.
Freeburn Island Gutter
Fish along this shore line and at the gutter on a run out tide for Flathead,...
Dart Island
Fish the run out tide with soft plastics for Flathead along this sand bar. Whiting on...
Yamba Break wall bream
A popular fishing spot for Bream and Luderick, fish the outgoing tide.
Marine Rescue Iluka
Fish the tides for Bream and Luderick, this is a good fishing spots to get out...
Yamba Marina
Fish off the rock wall for Bream and Luderick on bait. The trawler moorings have some...
Whiting Beach
A popular swimming spot in the corner, the beach along here is a great family fishing...
Yamba Luderick
A good spot for Luderick and Bream on the incoming tide, the back eddy here holds...
Iluka Break wall
Fish either side for Bream and Tailor, metal slugs work well for tailor. Towards the end...
Yamba South Wall
Fish either side of the break wall, some great catches are made along here, take metal...