Recreational fishing

Recreational fishing is popular offshore, in the bay and estuaries, and off Jervis Bay's rocks and beaches. Of course, always check Jervis Bay Marine Park Zoning Map and the FishSmart NSW app before you head off.

Map of Jervis Bay Marine Park

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Offshore

The deep water immediately adjacent to Jervis Bay and the close proximity of the Continental Shelf make offshore fishing easily accessible and very productive.

  • Troll or jig to produce a variety of pelagic species including bonito, salmon, tuna, kingfish and dolphinfish.
  • Bottom fishing for species such as snapper, morwong and flathead is excellent.
  • Find out about fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the area.

Bay and estuary

  • Jervis Bay is renowned for squid.
  • Tossing a jig over the seagrass beds in the calm, shallow waters around the edges is a popular pastime for many local anglers.
  • Good catches of flathead, snapper and bream, and a variety of leatherjacket species are found inside the bay.

Currambene Creek provides safe and easy fishing for the less adventurous.

  • It is easily accessible from the shore or the regional boat ramp.
  • Bait or lure fishing for garfish, flathead, whiting, bream and trevally is guaranteed to provide lunch for the family.

Rocks and beaches

Jervis Bay's land-based game fishing is legendary and several record-breaking marlin have been landed.

  • Other species commonly taken from these ledges include kingfish, various tuna species such as yellowfin, mackerel, striped, longtail and bonito, and large salmon and tailor.
  • Drummer and bream are abundant from oceanic rock platforms.
  • Ocean beaches are popular haunts for those chasing large whiting, salmon, and bream.

Several charter fishers operate in the park; visit Destination NSW for more information.

What you need to know

  • Before you go fishing, download the FishSmart NSW app and pick up a Jervis Bay Marine Park Zoning Map and User Guide (PDF, 881.61 KB) either online, from local bait and tackle stores, tourist information centres, Marine Park office or on your mobile device.
  • Some species are protected from fishing and collecting in habitat protection zones. Spearfishing is not allowed in any creeks, the Hyams Beach Habitat Protection Zone or any sanctuary zone. NSW DPI also restricts spearfishing in other areas.
  • You can transit through sanctuary zones with stowed fishing gear but make sure fishing lines aren't baited and no part of the line is immersed.
  • If you have fishing gear on your boat when you stop in a sanctuary zone for a picnic or a break, you must have your fishing gear in an unrigged state. That means no part of the fishing line is attached to any hook, artificial lure, artificial fly, swivel or other piece of fishing tackle (other than the reel the fishing line was spooled on).
  • NSW fishing rules and regulations, including bag and size limits, also apply when fishing in marine parks. Most people fishing in NSW waters need to pay the NSW recreational fishing fee.
  • Make sure you fish safely.

What else can I do and see?