Silver Trevally Fishing: Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Guide

Peak season right now NSW: min size 30cm · bag limit 10

Fun winter sport fish. Schools push inshore when water cools. Excellent eating - firm, white flesh. Scale, gut, and bake whole or fillet and pan fry. A fun, accessible species that doesn't require expensive tackle. Great for kids and beginners on reef structure.

Adaptable: Reef-oriented schooling fish - prefer cleaner water but not fussy
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Where to Catch Silver Trevally

Newcastle

Lake Macquarie

Tackle & Setup

Rod & Reel

Rod 7ft light-medium spin, 4-8kg, moderate action
Reel 2500-3000 size spin reel
Mainline 8-15lb braid (PE 0.6-1.0)
Why Medium-light gear for a fun fight. They pull hard for their size and make good runs.

Leader

Material Fluorocarbon
Strength 10-20lb (5-10kg)
Length 1-1.5m
Why Fluoro for invisibility around reef structure. Not leader-shy but cleaner presentation helps.

Hooks

Style Wide gape or baitholder
Size #2-#1/0
Brand Mustad Baitholder size 2, or similar wide gape

Lure Recommendations

Name Colour Size Note
Berkley Gulp! Shrimp Pepper Prawn, Natural 2-3" Scented soft plastic on light jighead. Deadly around reef.
Zerek Fish Trap Soft Vibe Silver, FAB 65mm Small vibe worked near structure.
Halco Twisty Chrome 20g Small metal for when they're chasing bait.

Bait

  • Peeled prawn: The #1 trevally bait. Fresh from the fish shop.
  • Whitebait: Whole or halved. Hook through head.
  • Nippers (yabbies): Pumped from sand flats. Hook through tail.
  • Squid strips: Tough, stays on hook well around reef.

Paternoster rig or running sinker. Small baits, small hooks.

How to Catch Silver Trevally

Technique

Basic
Fish around reef structure, breakwalls, or over artificial reefs. Paternoster rig with peeled prawn, let it sit near bottom. They're not fussy eaters.
Advanced
Berley with crushed pilchards to bring the school in. Once hooked, keep tension constant - they have soft mouths that tear easily. Target them at dawn/dusk or overcast days when they're less spooky.
Retrieve
Bait: Let it sit. Lures: Slow hop near bottom or slow retrieve through the water column.
Presentation
They spook easily in clear water - cast past and bring bait/lure to them. Stealth matters.

Pro Tips

  • Late autumn through winter/spring is peak - they follow cold water inshore
  • Lake Mac artificial reefs (6 sites between Murrays Beach and Wangi) hold schools
  • The offshore artificial reef 3.5km NE of Swansea bar (28.5m depth) has them year-round
  • Not fussy - basic tackle and cheap bait works. Great species for beginners.
  • Can grow to 65cm and 4kg but most inshore fish are pan-sized 30-40cm
  • Excellent eating - firm white flesh, great pan-fried or baked
  • They school up predictably - if you catch one, keep fishing the same spot

Best Time to Fish

Best Time of Day
Dawn (5-9am), Midday
Best Tide
Strong tidal flow
Peak Season
May, June, July, August, September

Size & Bag Limits

30cm
Min Size
10
Bag Limit / day
NSW DPI full regulations →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I catch Silver Trevally in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

The best spots for Silver Trevally include Nobbys Breakwall (End), Swansea Channel, Pulbah Island Reef Edges. Peak season runs May to September. At Nobbys Breakwall (End): May-Sep (winter). Key spots: Swansea Channel, Pulbah Island reef edges, Lake Mac artificial reefs, Nobbys/Stockton Breakwalls (winter).

What is the best time to catch Silver Trevally?

Silver Trevally fish best at Dawn (5-9am) and Midday. Best tide: Strong tidal flow. Peak season: May, June, July, August, September.

What bait and lures work best for Silver Trevally?

Top lures: Berkley Gulp! Shrimp, Zerek Fish Trap Soft Vibe, Halco Twisty. Best bait: Peeled prawn, Whitebait, Nippers (yabbies). Use a 7ft light-medium spin, 4-8kg, moderate action.

When is Silver Trevally season in NSW?

Silver Trevally are in peak season around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie during May, June, July, August, September. Within the day they bite best at Dawn (5-9am) and Midday. You can catch them at other times of year too, but those are the months they are most active.

What is the legal size and bag limit for Silver Trevally in NSW?

In NSW, the minimum legal size for Silver Trevally is 30cm. The recreational bag limit is 10 per person. Rules change, so always check the current NSW DPI limits before you keep a fish.

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