Recreational fishing
The marine park offers world class offshore and inshore fishing for fishing enthusiasts. Of course, always check the zones and management rules in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park Zoning Map, User Guide and the FishSmart NSW app before you head off.
Map of Lord Howe Island Marine Park
- Lord Howe Island Marine Park Zoning Map (PDF, 2836.26 KB)
- Lord Howe Island Marine Park User Guide (PDF, 2730.2 KB)
Most anglers fish in coastal waters around Lord Howe Island, either from trailer boats (anchored or drifting) or from shore.
- Catch huge kingfish, some of the biggest silver trevally found in NSW waters, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna offshore.
- Bottom fish in these waters for various emperors, jobfish, and a variety of cods.
- From the rocks and beaches or close to the island, catch silver trevally, silver drummer, kingfish, spangled emperor, bluefish (protected in NSW, a take of five is allowed at Lord Howe Island) and double header wrasse.
- Adventurous anglers can find excellent land-based game fishing for massive kingfish and yellowfin tuna.
Several charter fishers operate in the Park; see Visit Lord Howe Island for more information.
What you need to know
Before you go fishing, pick up a copy of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park User Guide and Zoning Map from the Lord Howe Island Visitor Centre, from local bait and tackle stores or from the marine parks office, and download the the FishSmart NSW app.
- Spearfishing is not allowed in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park.
- 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 in the water.
- If 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.
