Fishing Redhead Beach, Lake Macquarie Guide

Ocean Beach Best: Dawn, Dusk, Night Tide: High tide

Famous for its red cliff headland at the northern end (the "Red Head"). The beach runs south as the northern tip of Nine Mile Beach. Dynamic sandbars create gutters that shift after swells. Rock platform at the red headland offers extra options.

Redhead Beach sits at the northern tip of Nine Mile Beach, anchored by its famous red cliff headland. The dynamic sandbars here create deep gutters that shift after every decent swell, and reading this water is the skill that separates a good session from a blank. The gutter 100 to 200 metres south of the SLSC has been consistent for 20-plus years, the sandbar geometry here creates reliable depth that traps bait and draws predators. Scout at low tide after a swell, photograph where the gutters form, then return at high tide to fish those exact spots.

Tailor push into the gutters on the high to trap bait against the beach, with bigger greenbacks of 60cm-plus arriving during the autumn run from March to May. Gang-hooked whole pilchards on 30lb wire trace, cast into the gutter and slow retrieve. Salmon bust up at first light from July to September, set your alarm for 30 minutes before dawn because the bite often stops by 8am. Chrome slices retrieved fast through the gutter or white water is the method. Whiting work the sandy wash zone on calm summer mornings, and mulloway hunt the gutter mouths at night as the tide drains baitfish through gaps in the sandbar.

Offshore wind from the west or southwest flattens the surf and cleans up the gutters, these are your prime days. Onshore from the east or northeast blows it out entirely. Walk past the flags; the best fishing is 100 to 300 metres south of the SLSC, away from swimmers.

Depth: Gutters 2-4m, sandbars 0.5-1m. Deeper water off the rocks at the headland.

Best day to fish Redhead Beach this week

The standout looks like Fri 11 Sept, 6:00 pm for Tailor.

You're on the run-in, water pushing bait up onto the flats. You've got the evening bite as the light drops off, and there's a solunar bite window running through it.

Scored from the live 7-day outlook, updated Thu 8:00am. Re-check the live rating above before you head out.

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Best bite times at Redhead Beach this week

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

Next window

12:24 – 2:24pm today

Low tide

Today 10 Sep

12:24 – 2:24pm Low
6:42 – 8:42pm High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Tomorrow 11 Sep

1:08 – 3:08am Low
7:18 – 9:18am High Strong matches this spot's best tide
1:11 – 3:11pm Low
7:25 – 9:25pm High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Rest of the week — Sat 12 to Tue 15 Sep

Sat 12 Sep

1:43 – 3:43am Low
7:57 – 9:57am High Strong matches this spot's best tide
1:56 – 3:56pm Low
8:06 – 10:06pm High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Sun 13 Sep

2:16 – 4:16am Low
8:35 – 10:35am High Strong matches this spot's best tide
2:40 – 4:40pm Low
8:45 – 10:45pm High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Mon 14 Sep

2:47 – 4:47am Low
9:12 – 11:12am High Strong matches this spot's best tide
3:25 – 5:25pm Low
9:24 – 11:24pm High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Tue 15 Sep

3:17 – 5:17am Low
9:48 – 11:48am High Strong matches this spot's best tide
4:12 – 6:12pm Low Strong near dawn/dusk
10:03pm – 12:03am High Strong matches this spot's best tide

Tide data: TICON-4 (DGFI-TUM), CC BY 4.0, updated Thu 8:00am. Not an official tide table.

What You Can Catch

Tailor Good Australian Salmon Peak Sand Whiting Slow Mulloway (Jewfish) Good Luderick (Blackfish) Good

How to Fish Each Species Here

Tailor Jan-Aug (bigger "greenbacks" 60cm+ in Mar-May autumn run)

Tailor push into gutters on the high to trap bait against the beach. They're ambush feeders - gutters concentrate prey.

Best conditions: High tide at dawn OR dusk. Overcast days fish all day.

How to fish: Gang-hooked whole pilchard on 30lb wire trace. Cast into gutter, let sink, slow retrieve. OR chrome slice (Halco Twisty 40g) with fast erratic retrieve when you see birds.

Exact spot: Walk 100-200m south of SLSC. The gutter here is most consistent. Fish the northern end where gutter meets the headland rocks.

Australian Salmon Jul-Sep (winter/spring run)

Salmon schools follow bait along the coast. NE wind pushes bait inshore and salmon follow. They trap bait in gutters.

Best conditions: Dawn after a NE blow has stirred up bait. High tide.

How to fish: Chrome slice 40-60g (Halco Twisty, hex wobbler). Cast into gutter or white water, wind FAST. No pauses. They want fast-moving prey.

Exact spot: Northern end near headland. When salmon are on, you'll see birds diving and surface explosions. Get there first thing - bite often stops by 8am.

Sand Whiting Nov-Mar (summer whiting run)

Whiting follow the tide onto sandy wash to feed on worms and yabbies. First 2 hours of incoming is prime as water floods the flats.

Best conditions: Dawn on incoming tide. Calm mornings.

How to fish: Wade knee-deep in the wash zone. Beach worm or yabby on #4 long shank, unweighted or tiny ball sinker. Feel for delicate taps.

Exact spot: The sandy wash zone in front of SLSC - wade out and cast ahead of you onto clean sand. Or walk south to dog beach section for less crowds.

Mulloway (Jewfish) Apr-Aug (winter)

Mulloway hunt the gutter mouths at night. As tide drains, baitfish get flushed through gaps in the sandbar - mulloway wait at these funnels.

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

How to fish: Fresh mullet fillet or whole squid on 6/0 circle hook, 50lb leader, 3oz sinker. Cast to gutter mouth, let soak on bottom. Wait for solid pull, let them run, circle hook sets itself.

Exact spot: Find where the gutter drains out (visible rip during day). Return at night and fish that exact spot. The structure doesn't move overnight.

Where to Cast

The gutter 100-200m south of SLSC Sandbars naturally form here creating a deep channel parallel to shore. The gutter holds water even as tide drops, concentrating bait and predators. LOOK FOR: Dark water (depth) with white water washing over the bar on the ocean side.
Northern section at the red cliff The headland creates a natural barrier. When swell pushes bait along the beach, they stack up against the rocks with nowhere to go. Tailor and salmon know this and patrol the zone. LOOK FOR: Bait flicking on surface near rocks, birds hovering.
Gutter mouths (where gutters drain to sea) As tide drops, water funnels out through gaps in the sandbar. Baitfish get swept through, predators wait at the funnel. LOOK FOR: Visible current ripping out through a gap in the breaking waves.
Dog beach section (Cain St) Less foot traffic means less spooked fish. Same gutter structure, fewer anglers. Worth the extra walk.

Casting technique

Cast to the EDGE of the gutter where it meets the sandbar - fish cruise this edge hunting. Don't cast into the middle of deep water. Work the transitions.

Seasonal Calendar

Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tailor	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak
Australian Salmon	-	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	-	-	-
Sand Whiting	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	-	-	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak
Mulloway (Jewfish)	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	-	Good
Luderick (Blackfish)	-	-	-	-	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	-	-	-

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

Local Tips

PRO TIP: Scout at LOW tide after a swell. Walk the beach and photograph where gutters form. Return at HIGH tide to fish those exact spots.
The gutter 150m south of SLSC has been consistent for 20+ years - the sandbar geometry here creates reliable depth.
Walk PAST the flags. Best fishing is away from swimmers. 100-300m south of the SLSC is the sweet spot.
Offshore wind (W/SW) flattens the surf and cleans up the gutters - much easier to read the water and safer fishing.
Onshore wind (E/NE) = skip this spot. Messy surf, hard to see gutters, dangerous rips.
After a big swell (2m+), new gutters form. The first calm day after is PRIME - fresh structure, fish haven't been pressured.
Headland rock platform: Only fish in under 1m swell. Luderick in the cabbage weed, mulloway at night soaking bait.
Salmon often bust up at first light then disappear. Set alarm for 30 mins before dawn.
For tailor, fresh bait beats frozen. Buy pilchards from the bait fridge at Redhead shops the day before.
The other tailor window is dusk into dark on small metals - when a school moves through it can go fish-a-cast. The same pattern runs the whole Nine Mile stretch down to Blacksmiths.

Getting There

Parking

Main car park at Redhead SLSC (Kalaroo Rd). Also Cain Street Reserve further south near dog beach section. Arrive early on weekends - fills fast.

Facilities

Toilets and showers at SLSC. Redhead Bowling Club nearby for food. Shops in Redhead village 5 min walk.

Tackle & Bait Supporter

BCF Bennetts Green - 7-15 Groves Rd, Bennetts Green. Frozen bait and tackle. About 10 minutes at Bennetts Green.

Access

Beach

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Safety

Hazards

Strong rips, especially around headland and after swell. Rock fishing at headland requires care and calm conditions. Swimmers 9am-5pm in patrolled zone.

Nearby Spots

Belmont Wharf

Lake Macquarie · 6km away
Arrow Squid / Southern Calamari · Blue Swimmer Crab · Leatherjacket

Green Point Jetty

Lake Macquarie · 7.7km away
Yellowfin Bream · Dusky Flathead · Sand Whiting

Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)

Lake Macquarie · 7.7km away
Dusky Flathead · Yellowfin Bream

Blacksmiths Beach

Lake Macquarie · 8.3km away
Tailor · Australian Salmon · Sand Whiting

Explore more

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best day to fish Redhead Beach this week?

Based on the live 7-day outlook, the best day to fish Redhead Beach looks like Fri 11 Sept, 6:00 pm for Tailor. You're on the run-in, water pushing bait up onto the flats. You've got the evening bite as the light drops off, and there's a solunar bite window running through it. Conditions shift through the day, so check the live rating on this page before you head out.

What fish can I catch at Redhead Beach?

At Redhead Beach you can target Tailor, Australian Salmon, Sand Whiting, Mulloway (Jewfish), Luderick (Blackfish). Northern tip of Nine Mile Beach. Gutters for tailor and salmon, sandy wash for whiting. Best tide: High tide. Top spot: The gutter 100-200m south of SLSC. Tip: PRO TIP: Scout at LOW tide after a swell. Walk the beach and photograph where gutters form. Return at HIGH tide to fish those exact spots..

When is the best time to fish Redhead Beach?

The best times to fish Redhead Beach are dawn, dusk, night on a high tide. Famous for its red cliff headland at the northern end (the "Red Head"). The beach runs south as the northern tip of Nine Mile Beach. Dynamic sandbars create gutters that shift after swells. Rock platform at the red headland offers extra options. This month (September), peak species here: Australian Salmon.

How do I get to Redhead Beach?

Main car park at Redhead SLSC (Kalaroo Rd). Also Cain Street Reserve further south near dog beach section. Arrive early on weekends - fills fast. Toilets and showers at SLSC. Redhead Bowling Club nearby for food. Shops in Redhead village 5 min walk. Nearest other spot: Belmont Wharf (6km away). Nearest tackle: BCF Bennetts Green (7-15 Groves Rd, Bennetts Green). About 10 minutes at Bennetts Green.

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