Spring Fishing in Sydney: What to Target, Where to Fish & What Gear to Use

Spring is one of the most exciting times to go fishing in Sydney.

After months of cooler winter conditions, longer days and warmer weather gradually begin to change our estuaries, beaches, rock platforms and offshore waters. Bait starts moving, fish become more active and anglers can encounter a great mixture of winter and summer species.

The key thing to remember is that spring fishing in Sydney is a transition period. A hot 28°C day doesn't necessarily mean the water has warmed overnight. Early in spring, water temperatures can remain relatively cool, so many winter fishing techniques continue to work while flathead, whiting, kingfish and other warmer-water favourites progressively become more active.

Whether you're just getting into fishing or you've been doing it for years, here's what we'd be looking for around Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, the Northern Beaches and our local estuaries this spring.

1. Flathead – Look Towards the Warming Shallows

Flathead are one of the best species to target as Sydney moves through spring.

As shallow sections of our estuaries begin to receive more sunlight, flathead become increasingly active around sand flats, weed edges, drop-offs, channels and areas holding baitfish.

Rather than randomly casting across featureless water, look for changes.

A shallow sand flat dropping into deeper water is a perfect example. Flathead can sit along the edge waiting for prawns, baitfish and other food to move past.

Good Spring Flathead Lures

Soft plastics are hard to beat.

• 2.5–4 inch prawns
• 3–4 inch paddle tails
• Minnow-profile plastics
• Small curl tails
• Shallow-diving hardbody lures

Choose your jighead weight based on depth and current rather than simply using the same weight everywhere.

In shallow water you may only need a light jighead, while deeper channels or areas with stronger tidal flow will require additional weight to keep your lure close to the bottom.

For more information, check out our Complete Flathead Fishing Guide, covering rods, reels, lures, leader and techniques.

2. Sydney Harbour Kingfish – Be Patient Early in Spring

Kingfish are synonymous with Sydney fishing, but early spring can require some patience.

Warm air temperatures can arrive well before the ocean temperature really begins climbing. During early spring, kings can therefore be inconsistent and difficult to locate.

That doesn't mean they're not there.

Look around areas with:

• Baitfish
• Current
• Deep structure
• Headlands
• Harbour markers
• Reef
• Drop-offs

Live squid remains one of Sydney's most productive kingfish baits, while lure anglers can use soft plastics, stickbaits, minnows and metal jigs depending on where the fish are holding.

As we move through October and November, watch for increasing bait activity and surface feeding.

This is when carrying several different lure styles becomes useful. If kings are feeding aggressively on top, try a stickbait or surface lure. If they're following but refusing surface presentations, a soft plastic or sinking lure worked below the school can make a big difference.

Experienced anglers targeting larger fish also need to think seriously about tackle. Sydney kingfish are experts at finding moorings, reef and structure, so adequate drag pressure, strong leader and quality terminal tackle matter.

3. Bream – Don't Ignore Them

Bream are available around Sydney throughout the year and are a fantastic spring target for both beginners and experienced lure anglers.

Look around:

• Rocky shorelines
• Pontoons
• Wharves
• Oyster-covered structure
• Sand and weed edges
• Wash around the rocks
• Beach gutters

For bait fishing, prawns, worms and other natural baits presented on relatively light tackle are a simple and effective option.

For lure anglers, small plastics, crankbaits and other finesse presentations can provide brilliant sport.

One common mistake is fishing too heavy. Where conditions allow, lighter leaders and smaller presentations generally look more natural and can produce considerably more bites.

To learn more read our Bream fishing guide. 

4. Whiting – A Great Option as the Shallows Warm

Whiting become increasingly important as spring progresses towards summer.

They are an excellent target for families and newer anglers because they can be caught from beaches, estuary shorelines and shallow sand flats without requiring heavy or complicated tackle.

Good baits include:

• Beach worms
• Bloodworms
• Nippers
• Small pieces of prawn

Use a light running-sinker rig and avoid using unnecessary weight. The idea is to allow the bait to move naturally.

If you're lure fishing, small surface lures can become extremely effective as the water continues to warm, particularly over shallow sand and weed.

That exciting surface bite generally improves as we move closer to summer.

5. Australian Salmon – Spring Doesn't Mean They're Gone

Don't pack the salmon gear away just yet.

Australian salmon can continue to provide excellent fishing along Sydney's beaches, headlands, Pittwater and Sydney Harbour during spring.

Keep an eye out for:

• Birds working over bait
• Surface splashes
• Baitfish spraying from the water
• Dark patches of moving fish
• Activity around headlands and current lines

Small metal lures are one of the simplest options when salmon are feeding.

The biggest mistake anglers make when encountering a school is using a lure that's much larger than the baitfish the salmon are eating.

If fish are following your lure but refusing it, reduce your lure size before changing everything else.

Salmon are also one of the best fish for introducing someone to lure fishing. They're aggressive, fight hard and can often be reached from shore.

6. Luderick and Drummer – The Rocks Are Still Worth Fishing

Spring isn't only about chasing warm-water species.

Our local Sydney rock platforms can continue producing excellent luderick and rock blackfish (drummer) while cooler water remains along the coast.

Luderick are particularly accessible to land-based anglers and can be found feeding around weed-covered rocks, washes and sheltered ocean ledges.

Drummer generally require slightly heavier tackle because they're powerful fish that immediately head towards the rocks once hooked.

When fishing the ocean rocks, conditions always come first.

Check the weather, swell and tides before leaving home, wear appropriate footwear and safety equipment, and never assume a rock platform is safe simply because you've fished it previously.

7. Squid – An Important Spring Target

Squid shouldn't be overlooked.

They are an excellent species to target in their own right and also one of the most valuable baits available for Sydney kingfish.

Around Pittwater and Sydney Harbour, concentrate your efforts around:

• Weed beds
• Kelp
• Rocky edges
• Clear water
• Wharf lighting
• Current edges

Having several squid jig colours and sizes available allows you to adapt to water clarity, depth and light conditions.

If you're fishing during the day, pay particular attention to clear water and weed.

At night, artificial lighting around suitable shore-based areas can attract bait and squid.

8. Beach Fishing – Find the Gutters

You don't necessarily need a boat to enjoy good spring fishing in Sydney.

The Northern Beaches provide excellent land-based opportunities for bream, whiting, salmon, tailor and other species.

The important part is learning to read the beach.

Instead of simply walking onto the sand and casting as far as possible, look for:

• Deeper gutters
• Channels
• Whitewater
• Sandbanks
• Rips
• Holes
• Areas where waves aren't breaking

These features concentrate fish and food.

Sometimes the best water is surprisingly close to shore.

Spring is also a good time to scout your local beaches during daylight, identify promising gutters and return during the early morning, evening or after dark.

What Changes From September to November?

One of the best ways to improve your spring fishing is to understand that conditions won't stay the same for the entire season.

September

Water can still be cool.

Continue targeting species such as luderick, drummer, bream and salmon while beginning to look for flathead moving around the estuaries.

Kingfish are present, although locating consistent numbers can require more work.

October

This is when things begin getting particularly interesting.

The shallows warm, bait activity increases and flathead fishing should become increasingly productive.

Whiting activity improves and kingfish become an increasingly important Harbour and Pittwater target.

November

Summer fishing is getting close.

Flathead and whiting should be well and truly on the radar, while Sydney Harbour and Pittwater can begin producing increasingly exciting pelagic activity.

It's also time to start thinking about surface fishing for species such as kingfish, salmon and bonito.

Spring Fishing Tips for Beginners

If you're new to fishing, don't make your first setup overly complicated.

For general Sydney estuary fishing, a light spinning outfit can catch an enormous variety of fish.

From there you can fish bait, soft plastics and small hardbody lures for species including bream, flathead and whiting.

More importantly, start by targeting one species rather than trying to catch everything at once.

Choose a location, learn what fish live there and build your tackle around those fish. You'll learn much faster.

Spring Fishing Tips for Experienced Anglers

Experienced anglers should pay particular attention to the transition itself.

Don't fish according to the calendar. Fish according to:

• Water temperature
• Bait
• Current
• Wind
• Tide
• Water clarity
• Recent weather

Spring can change quickly.

A shallow flat that was quiet two weeks ago could suddenly be holding bait and flathead. Likewise, a Harbour location can go from seemingly lifeless to full of pelagics as bait moves through.

Stay mobile and let what you see in the water dictate your approach.

Where Should You Fish Around Sydney This Spring?

Sydney Harbour

Excellent variety and plenty of shore- and boat-based opportunities for bream, flathead, squid, kingfish and pelagic species.

Pittwater

One of Sydney's most versatile waterways with opportunities for squid, flathead, bream, kingfish and other pelagics.

Northern Beaches

Fantastic land-based access for salmon, bream, whiting, tailor and other beach species.

Narrabeen Lagoon

An accessible estuary option particularly suitable for anglers chasing flathead and bream on light tackle.

Sydney Ocean Rocks

Productive for species including luderick, drummer, trevally and pelagics, but only fish when conditions are safe and always follow NSW rock-fishing requirements.

Don't Forget the Sydney Fishing Report

Spring conditions can change rapidly, which is why current information matters.

We publish regular Sydney Fishing Reports covering Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, the Northern Beaches and offshore fishing.

Use our fishing reports alongside the more detailed guides on the Fishing Station website to work out what's biting, where anglers are finding fish and which techniques are producing.

Get Ready for Spring Fishing

Spring is a brilliant time to fish Sydney because you don't have to choose between winter and summer fishing.

For several months, the two overlap.

You can be catching luderick and drummer around the ocean rocks one weekend, flathead across a shallow estuary flat the next, and then chasing kingfish or salmon around Sydney Harbour.

The biggest advantage you can give yourself is to watch how the water changes rather than simply watching the date.

Follow the bait, adjust your tackle and keep moving until you find life.