Although more traditional Trout fly fishing can be found in the Snowy Mountains and the Blue Mountains, there are still plenty of Sydney fly fishing opportunities available. More adventurous anglers can wet a line in the local saltwater. Always wanted to fish with an iconic background behind you? Then cast a fly in Sydney Harbour instead. If more traditional angling is your cuppa tea, there are dams and lakes in northern and southern Sydney for you to explore.

What to Expect

Many of the fish around Sydney are seasonal and are known to move from saltwater to brackish waters. There’s a lot of overlap where you can find certain species. Fish with a captain to get the most out of your day and have the best chance of reeling in your chosen target. 

When fly fishing offshore, you’ll be targeting the likes of Skipjack Tuna and Kingfish. Other top species that can be found nearshore include Pink Snapper, Flathead, Bream, Luderick, and more. A 6–8 hour trip is best to target bigger and more unusual targets.

Closer to shore, you’ll be able to fly fish for Australian Salmon, Mulloway, Tailor and more. Top places for this include Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, and Port Hacking. Fish with a skipper who can tell you what’s in season and which species to expect on your trip. A 4-hour trip is good for anglers with less experience, as you won’t need a lot of time to reach the fishing grounds.

There’s even some lakes and dams within Sydney to explore. These include Narrabeen Lake, Manly Dam, North Head, and more. Narrabeen Lake also has two creeks leading into it which are great for Bream and Flathead. Narrabeen itself holds plenty of Whiting to target, whereas Manly Dam is known for its Australian Bass and Carp. North Head is all about the winter Australian Salmon. 

How to Prepare

When fishing with a guide, everything you need for the day is provided for you. This includes the fishing gear, licence, and usually food and drinks too.

If you decide to head out by yourself, you’ll need to buy a fishing licence for everyone in your group over 18. You must have the licence on you at all times. When deciding which rod to pack, a 5 wt fly rod is a good all-rounder.

If you’ve never fly fished before, some captains offer casting tuition lessons – this is highly recommended if you want to have a successful day of fly fishing.

For most species in NSW there are catch limits and size regulations. You must know about these before heading out and fish conscientiously. 

Book a holiday down under and come see what all the fuss is about yourself. You won’t regret a Sydney fly fishing adventure!