Golden Bay is protected by an outer sand bar that creates a deep channel running along the beach. This natural structure holds fish consistently and gives Golden Bay a different character to the exposed surf beaches either side. The channel acts as a highway for fish moving along the coast, and bait stacks up in the calmer water behind the bar.

Cast across the channel and work baits or lures back through the current. The edges of the channel where sand meets deeper water are the ambush zones. Fish metals or poppers over the bar at dawn when tailor are active, or drop bait into the channel for mulloway at night. The incoming tide floods the channel and switches the bite on.

Tailor (strong summer and autumn numbers), herring, mulloway (November peak), whiting in the shallower sections, and Australian salmon in autumn.

The sand bar breaks the swell, so this spot often fishes when more exposed beaches are blown out. Watch for bait activity over the bar — birds working or small fish spraying means predators are close. The channel depth changes with sand movement, so check it each visit.