Wollongong is a beautiful Australian beach town, with plenty of great water-based activities. With a stunning coastline and lakes, there are also plenty of great fishing spots to cast a line.
From Lake Illawarra to Perkins Beach, we’re covering the top land-based fishing locations in Wollongong.
Important note: Ensure you follow all local guidelines for fishing requirements. The NSW government lists fishing rules to encourage ‘healthy and sustainable fisheries for future generations’. Besides checking local guidelines and restrictions, those fishing should:
- Throw away all rubbish, including bait bags and fishing lines.
- Practice catch and release and only keep what you need.
- Abide by all regulations regarding bag limits.
Photo by Albert S on Unsplash.
Top 5 Land-Based Fishing Spots in Wollongong
1. Lake Illawarra.
Lake Illawarra is a beautiful place to cast a line in Wollongong, with plenty of walking and fishing platforms along the 33 square kilometre lake. Although the lake is no deeper than 3.7 metres, there are still plenty of fish there.
Besides great fishing, Lake Illawarra is also well known for other water activities, like stand-up paddle boarding and boating, with easy access from its 13 boat ramps. The lake is a great place to spend an entire day, fishing, swimming and enjoying all water activities.
For those who don’t want to get their toes wet, you can also cycle around the lake via the Lake Illawarra Art Trail, while learning about local history. Furthermore, Lake Illawarra is enjoyed by bird lovers too, who come to watch birds coming to nest or gather food.
Fish commonly caught at Lake Illawarra:
- Bream
- Whiting
- Flounder
- Flathead
Lake Illawarra Channel.
If you head to the Lake Illawarra Channel, you can expect whiting and bream there during summer months and luderick during winter months.
2. Bellambi Point.
Bellambi Point is another great land-based fishing spot in Wollongong. From fishing at the beach to the boat ramp, there are plenty of great spots to cast a line. Make sure you check where you can fish and how to use safe practices.
If you want to find bream, tailor and trevally, head to the rocks on the southern end. You can also find these fish, as well as luderick, salmon, drummer and kingfish to the front of Bellambi Point.
Fish commonly caught at Bellambi Point:
- Bream
- Tailor
- Trevally
- Luderick
- Salmon
- Drummer
- Kingfish
3. Perkins Beach.
Perkins Beach is not only a beautiful beach, but also a great fishing spot. Only 15 minutes south of Wollongong, Perkins Beach is known to have a healthy fish population due to the artificial reef implemented in 2019, making it an abundant fishing hotspot.
Fish commonly caught at Perkins Beach:
- Bream
- Salmon
- Flathead
- Tailor
- Jewfish
4. Towradgi.
Towradgi is not only a popular beach for surfers and those seeking some leisure, it’s also a popular fishing spot. However, keep in mind the beach can get quite busy, so morning or afternoon may be the best time to cast a line when it’s less busy.
Fish commonly caught at Towradgi:
- Bream
- Whiting
- Tailor
5. Austinmer.
Austinmer is a popular beach, but it is often overlooked for fishing in Wollongong. The Wollongong beach is a popular tourist beach, so try to go in the morning or evening when it’s less crowded to get some good catches.
Fish commonly caught at Austinmer:
- Bream
- Trevally
- Luderick
- Drummer
- Salmon
Want to go big with an off-shore fishing adventure in Wollongong? You can find fishing trips and charters on Localsearch.com.au.
More from Chloe 
