Callala Bay Jetty

Callala Bay Jetty is the short jetty beside the boat ramp at Callala Bay, on the northern shore of Jervis Bay. Squid are the reason to come — the seagrass around the ramp and through Callala Bay is proven squid ground, and the jetty puts a jig straight over it. Everything else is a bonus. The jetty sits in the Jervis Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, where recreational line fishing is allowed. The Wowly Gully Sanctuary Zone is the creek about 600 m to the north-east, and the Hare Bay and Red Point sanctuary zones start a little over 2 km east, at Red Point.

Cast a 2.5–3.0 size jig over the darker weed patches and the sand edges either side of the jetty, let it sink close to the bottom, then give it a couple of sharp lifts and a long pause. Night is the time, along with dawn and dusk; a slow, steady retrieve works when the squid are shy. Bream and leatherjackets pick at peeled prawn or a squid strip fished on a light running sinker beside the jetty and along the weed edge. A little bread berley brings the bream in.

Squid have no size limit and a combined bag of 20 with cuttlefish, but cuttlefish aren't on the marine park's take list, so release any you jig. Yellowfin bream are 25 cm minimum on a bag of 10 shared with tarwhine, and leatherjackets have a combined bag of 20. Taking octopus is prohibited throughout the Jervis Bay Marine Park. Eastern blue groper can't be taken by any method in NSW until the end of February 2028 — release any you hook. The NSW Recreational Fishing Fee applies unless you are exempt.

Boats moor off the end of the jetty, so cast along the weed edges to either side rather than out through the moorings. It is the ramp's jetty first — give way to anyone launching, retrieving or tying up. Rinse squid ink off the decking before you leave — the next person along is probably carrying a boat battery. Stay out of Wowly Gully with a rod — the whole creek is sanctuary zone, and no fishing or collecting is allowed there.

The jetty runs about 65 m out from the Callala Bay boat ramp on the village foreshore, with ramp parking beside it. Toilets and a playground are in the foreshore reserve a short walk to the north. The walk out is flat and short, which makes this an easy spot for a family squid session.

Inside Jervis Bay the jetty is sheltered from ocean swell on most days. Callala Bay faces south-east across the bay, so a fresh south-easter blows straight onto the jetty and stirs up the water. Westerlies and north-westerlies blow offshore and leave it calm and clear. Squid like clean water and low light, so a still night after a few settled days is the time.

The jetty serves the boat ramp, so boats and trailers come and go through the day — keep clear of the ramp and never cast across a boat being launched. Squid ink and wet weed make the decking slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Night is squid time; bring a head torch and keep small children back from the jetty edge. The Wowly Gully, Hare Bay and Red Point sanctuary zones are the legal hazards — no fishing of any kind in any of them.

Yes. The jetty beside the Callala Bay boat ramp is in the Jervis Bay Marine Park's habitat protection zone, where recreational line fishing is allowed. Give way to boats using the ramp. The Wowly Gully Sanctuary Zone to the north-east and the Hare Bay Sanctuary Zone to the east are closed to all fishing.

Off the jetty beside the boat ramp, over the weed and sand either side, at night or at dawn and dusk. Use a 2.5–3.0 size jig. Squid have no size limit and a bag of 20; cuttlefish aren't on the marine park's take list, so release any you jig.

No. The taking of octopus is prohibited throughout the Jervis Bay Marine Park, and octopus also cannot be taken from ocean rock platforms anywhere in NSW.

Yes. Wowly Gully is a sanctuary zone of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, so fishing, spearfishing and collecting are all prohibited in the creek. It enters the bay about 600 m north-east of the Callala Bay jetty.