Sawtell Headland

Sawtell Headland is the rocky point at the southern end of Sawtell Main Beach, where Bonville Creek meets the sea. The eastern face drops into clean, rocky water — drummer and bream in the wash, tailor in the cooler months — while the creek mouth on the south side brings estuary fish past the point on the tide. It's a different headland from Boambee Head at the northern end of the beach. Unlike the headlands further north, it sits outside Solitary Islands Marine Park, which ends at Muttonbird Island.

Wash fishing is the main game: lightly weighted baits — prawn, bread, pilchard pieces or cabbage weed — drifted into the white water off the eastern ledges for drummer, bream and luderick, held with a little bread berley. Tailor are spun with metals or floated on ganged pilchards over the deeper water at dawn and dusk. On the creek side, the run-out tide pushes bait and estuary fish past the rocks, and a bait or soft plastic there finds bream and the odd flathead.

Black drummer (rock blackfish, 30 cm, bag 10), bream and tarwhine are year-round regulars, luderick come through in winter, and tailor school off the point from autumn. Dart run along the beach in summer, and mulloway are a night chance around the creek mouth. Eastern blue groper can't be taken by any method in NSW until the end of February 2028 — release any you hook.

Watch the sets for at least ten minutes before climbing onto the ledges, and favour the higher rock on the eastern face. In a south-east swell the creek side is the sheltered option. The boat ramp beside the headland is busy on good mornings — keep lines well away from boats crossing the Bonville Creek bar. Bring bait from town; the Sawtell village shops are a short walk away.

Drive to the end of the headland road at the southern end of Sawtell and park in the headland car park beside the boat ramp. A paved path runs around the top of the headland, with timber steps down towards the rocks; the ledges are uneven and unsuitable for prams, wheelchairs or small children. Public toilets are at the reserve near the Sawtell rock pool, and the village cafes are a few minutes away.

The eastern ledges take easterly and south-easterly swell and wash heavily in a big sea; they're best in a small, clean swell with light westerly winds. The creek side is sheltered from southerly swell. A rising tide into dawn or dusk suits drummer and tailor, and the run-out suits the creek mouth.

The eastern ledges are exposed natural rock with deep water off them; waves wash the lower ledges in any decent swell. Check the swell forecast and watch the ledges for ten minutes before going down; never fish alone, never turn your back on the sea, keep off low, wet rock, and leave as the swell builds. Coffs Harbour is not one of the ten council areas declared under the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016, but a lifejacket is strongly recommended every time you fish the ledges, with cleated boots and light clothing you can swim in. If you are washed in, swim away from the rocks, float, signal and have your mate call 000, and know your retreat to higher rock before you cast. The Bonville Creek bar and boat ramp bring boat traffic past the point, and the creek current runs hard on the run-out.

Yes. The rock ledges on Sawtell Headland, at the southern end of Sawtell Main Beach beside the Bonville Creek mouth, are fished for drummer, bream, tailor and luderick. The headland is outside Solitary Islands Marine Park. A NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is required unless you're exempt.

Black drummer (rock blackfish), bream, tarwhine and luderick in the wash, tailor in autumn and winter, dart along the beach in summer and mulloway at night near the creek mouth. Tailor are 30 cm minimum with a bag of 10.

No. Sawtell Headland is at the southern end of Sawtell Main Beach next to Bonville Creek; Boambee Head is the headland at the northern end of the beach beside the Boambee Creek mouth.

Coffs Harbour is not one of the ten council areas declared under the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016, and a lifejacket is strongly recommended on the ledges, which take waves in an easterly or south-easterly swell.