Woolgoolga Headland

Woolgoolga Headland is the grassy cape between Woolgoolga's main beach and Back Beach, with dark rock ledges dropping into clean water on its eastern face. It's a compact, accessible rock spot — you can park on top and be fishing within a few minutes — with the Solitary Islands on the horizon and whales passing in winter. The ledges hold drummer, bream and luderick in the wash and tailor in the cooler months. The water around it is a habitat protection zone of Solitary Islands Marine Park: line fishing is fine, but the park's take list applies.

Fish the white water off the eastern ledges with lightly weighted baits — prawn, bread, pilchard pieces or cabbage weed — for drummer, bream and luderick, with a little bread berley to hold them. Tailor are spun with 30–50 g metals or floated on ganged pilchards at first and last light, mostly from autumn into winter. On calmer nights, big baits off the deeper ledges are a mulloway chance. The beaches either side give dart and bream in the warm months, but stop well short of Flat Top Point at the southern end of Back Beach — the water off it is a sanctuary zone.

Drummer (rock blackfish, 30 cm, bag 10), bream and tarwhine are the regulars, luderick come through in winter, and tailor school off the headland from autumn. Mulloway are taken occasionally at night. Eastern blue groper can't be taken by any method in NSW until the end of February 2028 — release any you hook.

Only species on the park's habitat-protection-zone list may be taken: finfish other than protected species, most sharks and rays, and listed baits such as beach worms, pipis, nippers and prawns — cunjevoi and rock crabs aren't on it, so bring bait. Stick to the higher ledges on the eastern face and watch the sets for at least ten minutes before you climb down. A south-east swell wraps around the headland and washes the lower rocks, so in that weather pick the northern side or don't fish. The headland is a popular lookout and part of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk — keep casts and hooks clear of walkers on the path above.

Drive up to the car park on top of Woolgoolga Headland at the end of the headland road; the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk runs around the cape. From the grass, short scrambles lead down to the ledges, which are uneven rock and unsuitable for prams, wheelchairs or small children. Woolgoolga's town centre, beach reserve and facilities are a few minutes away.

The eastern ledges are exposed to easterly and south-easterly swell and wash heavily in a big sea. They fish best in a small, clean swell — under about 1.5 m — with light westerly winds. A north-east sea breeze can make the northern side sloppy in the afternoon. A rising tide into dawn or dusk is the pick.

These are exposed natural rock ledges with deep water off them — waves wash the lower ledges in any decent swell and the rock is slippery. 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. Mind the cliff edges above the rocks, oyster cuts, and bluebottles after north-easterlies.

Yes. The water around Woolgoolga Headland is a habitat protection zone of Solitary Islands Marine Park, where recreational line fishing is permitted. Only species on the park's take list may be kept, and cunjevoi and rock crabs can't be collected for bait. A NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is required unless you're exempt.

Off the headland: drummer (rock blackfish), bream, tarwhine and luderick in the wash, tailor in autumn and winter, and the odd mulloway at night. Woolgoolga's beaches fish for dart, whiting and bream in the warmer months. Tailor are 30 cm minimum with a bag of 10.

Yes. Woolgoolga is inside Solitary Islands Marine Park, which runs from Muttonbird Island at Coffs Harbour north to the Sandon River. Waters off the headland are a habitat protection zone, but there are sanctuary zones elsewhere in the park — check the DPIRD FishSmart app's live map before fishing somewhere new.

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.