Fishing in Wooli
Protected from the south and the west, Wooli has its own microclimate and is a fantastic fishing destination!
Solitary Islands Resort is nestled along the banks of the Wooli Wooli River and we have sites available where you can fish from your ‘doorstep’, or grab one of our complimentary canoes to put the crab pots in up river. Bring your boat and launch it from our private boat ramp and secure it at the water’s edge in front of your camp, ready to go whenever you are. Just a short stroll will take you to several low-tide sandbanks where you can pump yabbies.
Fishing in NSW recreational waters requires a fishing licence.
Wooli Wooli River
Fishing in the tidal Wooli Wooli River can be productive all year round, with an excellent supply of bream, whiting, flathead, tailor, mullet and many other species.
The estuary system is very healthy and supports blue swimmer and mud crabs but there are Marine Park no-go zones, so check with the local authorities before you set crab pots and traps any farther upstream than The Forks.
The river can be navigated by a small boat or canoe for about 20km, and the deeper areas are ideal for tinnies or fishing boats up to 16ft. At low tides, you should be cautious of sandbars.
Wooli Entrance
You’ll land some exceptional catches at the breakwall at the river entrance, especially at night. Expect to catch bream, luderick, mulloway, blackfish, tailor and flathead. Big mangrove jacks can be caught at night in the summer months.
Hint: use prawns and both cut and live baits for best results.
Wooli Racks
The area around the floating oyster racks in the river produce good sized bream, especially in the cooler months, and flathead tend to lie under the edges of the racks.
Take care not to touch the oyster rack themselves, as these are commercial leases.
Hint: use prawns, live poddy mullet and larger plastic lures in gold, pink and green for best results when the water is clear.
Wooli Forks
The Bookham River arm marks the start of the sanctuary. From here you can only fish the southern end.
Deep Hole
Below the power lines is a deep hole and this is a good place to catch big flathead, trevally and even the odd mangrove jack on the run-out tide, particularly in the warmer months. Whiting can be taken off the adjacent sand flats.
Hint: try live baits such as poddy mullet and larger soft plastic shad-style lures with half-ounce jig heads in black and gold colours.
Wooli Beach
Gutters abound along the whole length of the beach, with the best gutters at the Wilson Head end. The breakwall can create some interesting backwash areas and enormous jewfish are often landed
The beach is fished mostly for mulloway, bream and tailor.
Solitary Islands Marine Park
Recreational fishing is a popular activity in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Its substantial reef and rocky outcrops are home to more than 550 fish species. Of course always check the zones and management rules in Solitary Islands Marine Park Zoning Map and User Guide before you head off.
Located to the north of the park, anglers can target
trevally, pelagics such as kingfish, dolphin fish and cobia. Snappers can be caught inshore in winter and further offshore in summer, including Spanish mackerel for a short period in late summer.
The waters off our coast are warmed by the East Australian Current, which brings blue, black and striped marlin, as well as mahimahi, tuna, wahoo, mackerel, spearfish, and sailfish within easy reach.
This region is unique on the east coast of Australia as far as ready access to diversified game fishing is concerned, with the continental shelf and the big fish that inhabit it only 13 nautical miles and a comfortable 45 minute run seawards.