Go Fishing - Sydney Harbour's Wharves, Piers and Parks
Sydney Harbour is best known for its premier tourist attractions like the Opera House, Luna Park, Taronga Zoo and of course the iconic Harbour Bridge. However it is also highly regarded in recreational fishing circles as an outstanding shore based fishing destination offering a variety of productive options including rock platforms, wharves, piers and numerous parks and reserves.
Popular with serious anglers, family fishos and visiting tourists, the Harbour offers quality fishing for a range of common species such as dusky flathead, mulloway, bream, luderick, mullet, tarwhine, silver trevally, a couple of different squid species and leatherjacket. In the warmer months, the Harbour is invaded by pelagic species including Australian salmon, bonito, frigate mackerel and the mighty kingfish, providing keen sportfishermen with exciting action from the many wharves, piers, reserves and rocky outcrops.
Fishing access in the Harbour is generally pretty good. More than 120 known land-based locations, some in sight of the city’s most
iconic landmarks, provide for truly unique fishing experiences. Take the opportunity to explore the array of land-based fishing options available around the Harbour.
Before you plan a trip to Sydney Harbour, make sure you do your homework as a number of fishing closures are in place. These closures exist for a variety of reasons, from public health and safety to preserving unique aquatic environments. The majority of these closures are signposted. Penalties apply for not complying with the relevant rules and regulations.
Sydney Harbour and all its tributaries is listed as an Intertidal Protected Area, which means take of any shellfish, molluscs and crustaceans (for example crabs, cunjevoi, cockles, mussels, snails, whelks, oysters and abalone) is prohibited.
As anyone who has ever spent time on its foreshores or out on the water will know, Sydney Harbour is an extremely busy working port with huge amounts of boat traffic, industry, tourism and recreational/ commercial use. The key to enjoying this shared resource is for recreational fishers to fish responsibly and make sure we present a positive image by cleaning up any fishing related mess (even if it’s not yours!), keeping the noise down (especially at night) and to show respect and courtesy to other users such as commuters, residents and workers.
Following these common sense suggestions will help ensure we all enjoy continued access to the Harbour’s fantastic land-based
fishing locations, now and into the long-term.
This guide to Sydney Harbour’s Wharves, Piers & Parks is the first of a planned three-part series of Sydneybased DPI Go Fishing handbooks.
Guide
Go Fishing - Sydney Harbour's Wharves, Piers and Parks (PDF, 1254.19 KB)
