Fishing in Tathra
Tathra is a great family destination with a mixed bag of fishing. Saltwater anglers can choose from estuary, surf, rock and blue-water, while freshwater offerings include streams and dams.
A concrete boat ramp is situated in Kianinny Bay. It is suited to boats up to 7m and offers good parking and cleaning facilities.
Tathra Beach runs north from the Wharf to the Bega River. Although the beach produces most of the common surf fish such as salmon and tailor, it also has a big reputation for sand whiting caught on sandworms and nippers.
The Bega River is worth a visit for bream, flathead, luderick, whiting and estuary perch.
For freshwater anglers, Brogo Dam near Bega is stocked with Australian bass, while the Bemboka River near Brown Mountain and Tantawangalow Creek near Candelo are worth a visit for brown trout.
Kianinny Bay is a picturesque protected bay with immediate access to the open ocean. It has first rate boat launch facilities, fish cleaning tables and a boat washing area. It is also home to the Tathra Amateur Fishing Club and has grassy areas and tables for picnics as well as barbecue facilities.
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GAME FISHING
With the continental shelf a short 19 kms away, Tathra is a must for game fishing enthusiasts where less time travelling and more time fighting the big fish is a prerequisite.
Local Tip:
December through to May coincides with the warmest water currents of the year bringing with them huge amounts of baitfish attracting the ‘big’ fish.
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BOTTOM FISHING
Like fishing for Sand and Tiger Flathead, Gurnard and Gummy Sharks? Flathead are a prolific species on the south coast and are commonly called the bread and butter fish of ocean fishing. Thousands of holiday-makers and locals put their boats in at Kianinny in the pursuit of Flathead.
Local Tip:
Drift fishing enables you to cover more territory. For Sand Flathead, try the outskirts of Tathra Bay, lining up the pine trees on Tathra Headland. Tiger Flathad are generally caught out wider – about 3-5 kms out from Tathra Headland. Both species are caught using flesh baits of any kind and plastic jigs.
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REEF FISHING FROM TATHRA
Fish for Snapper, Morwong, Flathead, Leatherjacket and Gummy Sharks off the Reef. Kianinny Bay provides access to the closest main reef section – 6 kms South of Tathra. Its easy to find by travelling south until you see the distinctive coloured white rocks. This reef system starts 800 metres out and goes out for several kilometres.
To the North of Tathra there are reef fishing opportunities around Bunga and Goalen Heads. Many good reef species get caught here as well as Kingfish, Sharks andTuna species.
Local Tip:
Drift fishing is very popular with squid and all fleshes as bait.
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BEACH FISHING
Tathra and its surrounding National Parks offer some spectacular beach fishing with Salmon, Tailor, Bream, Gummy Shark, Whiting and Mullet bountiful. The northern end of Tathra Beach near Mogareeka Inlet is a popular fishing area with locals.
Local Tip:
To catch Bream, Mullet and Whiting it’s best to use beachworms, pippies, prawns or fresh nippers. For Salmon, Tailor and Gummy Sharks, pilchards, fresh fish fillets or stripy tuna all work well.
ROCK FISHING
Visiting fisherman who enjoy rock fishing will be pleasantly surprised with the fishing available from the rocks within Tathra and surrounds. Black and Silver Drummer, Leatherjacket, Groper, Luderick and Banded Morwong can be caught all year round.
Local Tip: There are several spots between Tathra Headland and Kianinny Bay to pursue the above species. Use cunjy, abalone guts or cabbage weed for bait. From December to May in the same stretches of rocks, use live baits to target Bunito, Kingfish, Tailor and Salmon.
Always remember to sit and watch any potential fishing spots to ensure that they are safe to fish.
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RIVER FISHING
The Bega River, which meets the sea at Mogareeka Inlet, is a beautiful river system offering vast opportunities for bait fisherman for lure and fly-fishing. Blackfin and Yellowfin, Bream, Dusky Flathead, Jewfish, Whiting, Mullet, Tailor, Estuary Perch, Bass and Luderick can be caught regularly through the year. Within the river system there are excellent areas to pump nippers and bloodworms.Try catching poddy mullet for Flathead, or dip net for prawns on dark nights over summer.
Mogareeka has a picturesque picnic and barbecue area with shallow inlet for little ones to swim safely in. A boat ramp gives access to the river.