Fishing Nobbys Breakwall (End), Newcastle Guide

Rock Platform Best: Dawn, Dusk, Night Tide: Strong tidal flow

End section of Nobbys breakwall where shipping channel meets open ocean. Massive current flow brings baitfish schools. Deep water immediately off the rocks. Ocean swell hits here first.

Nobbys Breakwall is NSW's most notorious rock fishing location, and for good reason, multiple lives have been lost here. It is also one of the most productive land-based fishing spots on the NSW coast. The end section sits where the shipping channel meets open ocean, with 12 to 20 metres of water right at your feet and every migrating pelagic funnelling past. Seven species are targetable across the seasons: kingfish in summer (live yakka under balloon or stickbaits at dawn), mulloway on winter nights (live bait on the channel side during the run-out tide, fish to 20kg-plus), tailor in feeding frenzies along the ocean-facing wash zone, salmon on fast-retrieved metal slices, bonito when ocean temps hit 20 degrees, trevally on peeled prawn around inner wall structure, and luderick on float-fished cabbage weed at tide changes.

The current edges are everything here. Predators sit where fast water meets slow, ambushing bait swept through the channel. Peak action runs two hours either side of tide change. Watch for birds diving and surface busting, get your lure in immediately when you see it.

Life jacket is mandatory, full stop. Never fish alone, never turn your back to the ocean, and do not go if swell exceeds 1.5 metres. The walk from Nobbys Road car park takes 15 to 20 minutes, bring everything you need because there is nothing on the breakwall. No fish is worth dying for.

Depth: 12-20m in channel, drops to 30m+ toward open ocean

Best day to fish Nobbys Breakwall (End) this week

The standout looks like Sun 15 Nov, 6:00 pm for Tailor.

The moon's dropped a major feed right in that window. You've got the evening bite as the light drops off, and you'll hit the tide change, and that's the switch that turns them on.

Scored from the live 7-day outlook, updated Fri 1:00am. Re-check the live rating above before you head out.

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Best bite times at Nobbys Breakwall (End) this week

Fish the hour either side of each tide change. Windows that have already passed drop off this list.

Next window

3:36 – 5:36am today

Low tide · near dawn/dusk

Strong

Today 13 Nov

3:36 – 5:36am Low Strong near dawn/dusk
10:18am – 12:18pm High
5:12 – 7:12pm Low

Tomorrow 14 Nov

Fri 11:09pm – 1:09am High
4:16 – 6:16am Low Strong near dawn/dusk
10:58am – 12:58pm High
5:59 – 7:59pm Low Strong near dawn/dusk

Rest of the week — Sun 15 to Wed 18 Nov

Sun 15 Nov

Sat 11:57pm – 1:57am High
5:00 – 7:00am Low Strong near dawn/dusk
11:42am – 1:42pm High
6:50 – 8:50pm Low Strong near dawn/dusk

Mon 16 Nov

12:52 – 2:52am High
5:53 – 7:53am Low Strong near dawn/dusk
12:32 – 2:32pm High
7:43 – 9:43pm Low Strong near dawn/dusk

Tue 17 Nov

1:53 – 3:53am High
6:58 – 8:58am Low
1:28 – 3:28pm High
8:34 – 10:34pm Low

Wed 18 Nov

2:54 – 4:54am High
8:11 – 10:11am Low
2:30 – 4:30pm High
9:23 – 11:23pm Low

Tide data: TICON-4 (DGFI-TUM), CC BY 4.0, updated Fri 1:00am. Not an official tide table.

These are forecast bite windows, not a safety statement. Rock platform conditions can change fast, regardless of the tide table — see Safety below.

What You Can Catch

Yellowtail Kingfish Peak Mulloway (Jewfish) Slow Tailor Good Australian Salmon Slow Luderick (Blackfish) Slow Australian Bonito Good Silver Trevally Slow

How to Fish Each Species Here

Yellowtail Kingfish Dec-Mar (summer)

Kings station in the current line where fast water meets slow, waiting to pick off disoriented baitfish. Deepest water of any land-based spot in Newcastle.

Best conditions: Dawn, incoming tide, when bait schools are being pushed through the channel.

How to fish: Live yakka under balloon float, or cast stickbaits (Nomad Riptide 125mm) into the current at dawn. Heavy tackle - 50lb leader minimum.

Exact spot: The very end where current is strongest. This is THE kingfish spot in Newcastle.

Full Yellowtail Kingfish guide →

Mulloway (Jewfish) Apr-Aug (winter prime)

Bait flushes out of the harbour on outgoing tide. Mulloway line up along the channel wall to intercept disoriented baitfish in the current.

Best conditions: Night, last 2hrs outgoing tide. Overcast or new moon.

How to fish: Live bait (yakka, squid) or fresh flesh baits on running sinker rig, 50lb leader. Fish the channel side at night on the run-out.

Exact spot: Channel side on the run-out tide. Fish to 20kg+ here.

Full Mulloway (Jewfish) guide →

Tailor May-Aug (winter peak)

Wash zone stirs up baitfish against the rocks. Tailor school up and slash through bait in feeding frenzies along the ocean-facing side.

Best conditions: Night, overcast, slight swell pushing bait onto the rocks. Run-in tide.

How to fish: Gang-hooked whole pilchards on 30-40lb wire trace. Chrome slices at dawn. Can catch 50+ fish when they are on.

Exact spot: Ocean-facing side where wash creates feeding zones. Also productive from channel side at night.

Full Tailor guide →

Australian Salmon Jul-Sep (winter migration)

Salmon migration follows the coast past the breakwall entrance. Schools push bait against the structure and feed aggressively on the surface.

Best conditions: Dawn, when schools push through on the incoming tide. Look for surface busting.

How to fish: Metal slices retrieved fast (Halco Twisty 40-70g chrome). Cast into boils, wind FAST. No pauses. Explosive surface action.

Exact spot: Ocean-facing side and the end section. Watch for surface boils and birds.

Full Australian Salmon guide →

Luderick (Blackfish) May-Aug (winter)

Breakwall rocks have excellent cabbage weed growth - natural food source draws luderick. Inner edge is sheltered enough to fish comfortably.

Best conditions: Dawn and midday around tide changes. Slight swell pushing weed.

How to fish: Float fishing with fresh green cabbage weed on #8-#10 long shank hooks. Berley with chopped weed and sand.

Exact spot: Inner edge of breakwall - sheltered from ocean swell. Fish at tide changes.

Full Luderick (Blackfish) guide →

Australian Bonito Dec-Apr (when ocean temps hit 20°C+)

Warm current brings bonito within casting distance. They chase bait schools smashed against the rocks by ocean wash.

Best conditions: Dawn, clean ocean water, when bait schools are visible in the wash.

How to fish: Metal slugs 20-40g, cast far and wind as fast as possible. Speed is everything - bonito are the fastest fish here.

Exact spot: Ocean-facing side in the wash zone at dawn. Watch for bust-ups with birds.

Full Australian Bonito guide →

Silver Trevally May-Sep (winter)

Trevally school up predictably along structure, feeding on small crustaceans and baitfish near the rocks. Less condition-dependent than other species.

Best conditions: Not fussy on conditions. Incoming tide, any time of day.

How to fish: Paternoster rig with peeled prawn near bottom on inner wall. Also take small metal lures. Not fussy eaters.

Exact spot: Inner wall section where current is gentler. School up around structure.

Full Silver Trevally guide →

Where to Cast

The very end Where shipping channel meets open ocean. Maximum current flow and deepest water (12-20m). Every migrating pelagic passes this point - the premier ambush location. LOOK FOR: Current rip visible as disturbed water, bait schools being pushed through.
Ocean-facing side when swell is small Wave action pushes baitfish against the rocks. Lower risk only in small swell, never safe - check the live rock status before fishing it. When fishable, it's extremely productive for everything from luderick to kingfish. LOOK FOR: White water against rocks, birds hovering over wash zone.
Channel side on run-out tide Bait flushes out of the harbour on the outgoing tide. Predators line up along the channel wall to intercept. Prime mulloway territory at night. LOOK FOR: Visible current running along the wall, bait schooling in eddies.

Casting technique

Fish the current EDGES, not the middle. Predators sit where fast water meets slow, ambushing bait that gets swept out of the current. The depth change from shelf to channel is a constant patrol route.

Seasonal Calendar

Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Yellowtail Kingfish	Peak	Peak	Peak	-	-	-	-	-	Good	Good	Peak	Peak
Mulloway (Jewfish)	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	-	Good
Tailor	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak
Australian Salmon	-	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	-	-	-
Luderick (Blackfish)	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	-	-	-
Australian Bonito	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	-	-	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak
Silver Trevally	-	-	-	-	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	-	-	-

Current month highlighted. Peak = best months, Good = adjacent months, - = slow.

Local Tips

Kingfish: This is THE spot. Live yakka under balloon or cast stickbaits into current at dawn
Mulloway: Night fishing with live bait or fresh flesh baits on bottom - fish to 20kg+ here
Tailor: Winter nights - gang-hooked pillies, can catch 50+ fish when they are on
Salmon: Metal slices retrieved fast when schools push through - explosive surface action
Luderick: Still available along the breakwall, float fish the inner edge at tide changes
Peak current flow (2hrs either side of tide change) is prime time - fish follow the bait
Watch for birds diving and surface busting - get your lure in IMMEDIATELY
This spot has claimed many lives. No fish is worth dying for. Be smart.

Getting There

Parking

Nobbys Road car park. Walk along the breakwall - 15-20 min to the productive end section.

Facilities

Toilets in Nobbys car park only. Nothing on the breakwall - bring everything.

Tackle & Bait

Freddy's Fishing & Outdoors - 93 Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow. Tackle and bait in store.

Access

Rock platform - LIFE JACKET MANDATORY

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Safety

Warning, Rock Platform

EXTREME DANGER - THIS IS NSW'S MOST NOTORIOUS ROCK FISHING LOCATION. Multiple deaths every year. Life jacket MANDATORY. Rogue waves sweep people off regularly. NEVER fish alone. NEVER turn back to ocean. DO NOT GO if swell >1.5m or strong winds. Under 1.5m is not automatically safe: strong wind or long-period swell makes this platform dangerous well below that. Tell someone your plans. If in doubt, DON'T GO.

Nearby Spots

Stockton Breakwall (End)

Newcastle · 534m away
Mulloway (Jewfish) · Yellowtail Kingfish · Tailor

Horseshoe Beach Drop-off

Newcastle · 1.3km away
Dusky Flathead

Stockton Beach (Wash Zone)

Newcastle · 1.5km away
Sand Whiting

Newcastle Beach (Gutters)

Newcastle · 1.8km away
Australian Salmon · Tailor · Sand Whiting

Explore more

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best day to fish Nobbys Breakwall (End) this week?

Based on the live 7-day outlook, the best day to fish Nobbys Breakwall (End) looks like Sun 15 Nov, 6:00 pm for Tailor. The moon's dropped a major feed right in that window. You've got the evening bite as the light drops off, and you'll hit the tide change, and that's the switch that turns them on. Conditions shift through the day, so check the live rating on this page before you head out.

What fish can I catch at Nobbys Breakwall (End)?

At Nobbys Breakwall (End) you can target Yellowtail Kingfish, Mulloway (Jewfish), Tailor, Australian Salmon, Luderick (Blackfish), Australian Bonito, Silver Trevally. End of Nobbys breakwall. Where channel meets ocean - serious big fish territory. Best tide: Strong tidal flow. Top spot: The very end. Tip: Kingfish: This is THE spot. Live yakka under balloon or cast stickbaits into current at dawn.

When is the best time to fish Nobbys Breakwall (End)?

The best times to fish Nobbys Breakwall (End) are dawn, dusk, night on a strong tidal flow. End section of Nobbys breakwall where shipping channel meets open ocean. Massive current flow brings baitfish schools. Deep water immediately off the rocks. Ocean swell hits here first. This month (November), peak species here: Yellowtail Kingfish.

How do I get to Nobbys Breakwall (End)?

Nobbys Road car park. Walk along the breakwall - 15-20 min to the productive end section. Toilets in Nobbys car park only. Nothing on the breakwall - bring everything. Nearest other spot: Stockton Breakwall (End) (534m away). Nearest tackle: Freddy's Fishing & Outdoors (93 Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow).

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