The Macleay River is one of the larger river systems in New South Wales at 298km long it extends from the Uralla in the great dividing range to the river mouth at South West Rocks. Approximately 490km north of Sydney, the Macleay River is a maze of tributaries, sand bars, weed beds and mangrove lined banks plus the added bonus of beaches and headlands, which makes fishing the Macleay River and surrounds well worth the effort.
There are a bunch of great land based fishing spots on the Macleay River, at Arakoon and trial bay. From game fishing off the head lands, to beach and creek fishing anglers can target a wide variety of fish, plus upstream there is Australian Bass.
What fish species are caught in the Macleay River?
From the beaches and headlands around South West Rocks anglers can wrestle with Mulloway, Bream, Whiting, Tailor and some game species like Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and Kingfish. The break wall on the Macleay River mouth is a popular spot for Mulloway, Bream, Cobia, Tuna and Tailor.
Macleay River is popular amongst small boat anglers and really opens up the fishing opportunities, heading offshore is also a possibility as the bar can be quite easy to cross at times to fish Trial Bay for Snapper, Cobia and more. This area is also protected from south-easterly swells which contribute to the south west area being a great fishing destination.
Further upstream kayaks and small boats are great to get into the tight structure and lure fish for Australia Bass on the Macleay River. Bass and bream fishing can be exciting particularly in Summer.
Sneak up here on high tide and drift out on the run out tide for some...
The deep hole here holds flathead and Bream.
The sand bars along here all have Yabbies, pump at low tide and fish for Flathead...
This is a popular stretch of water for Flathead, Bream and Drummer. Flathead on the sand...
Yabbies on low tide and whiting on the incoming tide, also these small channels and drop...
Submerged rocks here make for good fishing for Bream and Mangrove Jack on lures. Flathead also...
Heavy structure and deep bends from here upstream make for a good place to cast lures...
Some good structure in this creek, oyster leases and mangroves, Bream, Flathead and the odd Mangrove...
Some big mulloway are caught here at night time, deep hole along here. Bream and Flathead...
Bass school up under the bridge in winter, metal vibes jigged vertically will land some.
Bass school up here in the deeper water during winter, either bait or metal vibes jigged...
Some good deep water and structure along the nestle factory, Bass, Bream and Flathead a caught...
A deep hole here along with the bridge pylons make this a great spot for fishing...
This bridge holds some good flathead and the occasional small mulloway mainly at night.
Cast lures at the wharfs and moored boats for some good bream fishing all along this...
A deep hole here holds Mulloway at times, a bit upstream the drop off fishes well...
Drift along all these small creek mouths on a run out tide for Flathead on soft...
A good deep hole here and rocks off the point to the south, this spot fishes...
Rocks poke out off this point, here anglers can target Bream, Flathead and Mulloway, a runout...
Good bream fishing at this wharf. Further downstream the breakwall has Drummer mostly with the occasional...
Good fishing here on the run out tide for Flathead. In a boat or kayak drift...
A quiet land based fishing spot, this spot has Bream, Drummer and Flathead, best fished with...
Bream, Flathead and bass down stream, some great snags to cast out all the way to...
These structure protrudes causing a disruption to the flow of the river which attracts fish like...
This drain drops off into some deep water which holds flathead, bream and mulloway. Live baiting...
A deep hole and pylons holds some good fish particularly at night. Bream, Tailor, Cobia and...
Access to shallower water along the bend here fishes well for Whiting and Flathead, yabbies work...
This drain has flathead on a runout tide, fish the mouth of it with bait or...
A quiet place to soak a bait for Bream and Flathead, access to some very deep...
Accessed by four wheel drive from Grassy head, drive south or via boat, this breakwall at...
A good family spot to soak bait which can be bought from the boat shed. For...
A popular spot for Drummer all along this rock wall, a great spot for the family...
Easy access to fishing here for Flathead, Bream and Drummer, snaggy bottom so be careful.
A cement walkway here and big boulders make this a popular spot to fish for Tailor,...
Plus, where, when and how to fish every spot!
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