The Central Coast below the surface: fishing, prawning, and oysters

Whether you’re a recreational fisherman, a hungry camper, or just keen to drop a line in with your kids, the lagoons, lakes, rivers and bays across the Central Coast are teeming with marine life.

While there are plenty of decent spots to fish along the East Coast of Australia, the Central Coast is unique as it’s complex network of waterways, estuaries and coastal location means that visitors can not only fish, but prawn and collect oysters as well. Here’s the best places to experience each activity.

Of course, while fishing and prawning happens all over the coast, farming for oysters primarily happens around the Hawkesbury River system in the southern part of the Central Coast. Pop on waders and take a boat out to the oyster leases to try freshly shucked oysters with Sydney Oyster Farm tours at Mooney Mooney, or if you’re feeling hungry but would like to stay dry, visit Westray Oysters in Brisbane Waters, calling ahead to arrange the best time.

Even if you’re a beginner, the key to prawning is to pay attention to the time, the tide and the phases of the moon. At dusk, use a flashlight and net to catch prawns in the shallow waters of the Entrance Channel, paying attention to the size and bag limits. If you’re not sure it's easy to check online.

The other spot to give prawning a go is Long Jetty at Toowoon Bay. The three jetties that stretch out over Tuggerah Lake are the perfect place to toss out a net and pull some prawns back in.

While prawning is a fun family activity, there are plenty of other fishing opportunities at The Entrance.  The Bridge and adjacent rock walls are the perfect place to drop a line for flatheads, bream and jewfish. Whiting gather on the sandflats, while blackfish can be found off the spot known as the Wall. Bream and flathead can also be fished from the bridge.

Other popular spots include Terrigal Haven. While many of the Central Coast’s deep sea fishing charters leave from here, it’s also a neat, sheltered spot where you can cast a line and catch squid, bream, tailor, blackfish and mackerel. Budgewoi is also a reasonably safe spot to fish for blackfish and bream.

Remember that when fishing in New South Wales waters, you must pay the NSW recreational fishing fee and carry proof of purchase.

Safety should be your priority when fishing across the Central Coast. Always check the weather forecast before heading out, as well as the tides, avoiding unfavourable conditions, including big surf.

Make sure you wear a life jacket, use waders so your wet clothes don’t wear you down, and use appropriate safety gear. Pay attention to hazards like slippery surfaces or rock shelves especially.

Take a moment to check these essential safe fishing tips from the DPI.