Which wind blows out which spot
The open coast moves together: a westerly suits 10 of the 11 spots facing the open sea, and an easterly blows 10 of the 11 out. The lake does not. In that same easterly 10 of its 13 spots come good and 3 are no use, and they are not all on one shore, which is why this is a list rather than a rule of thumb.
Where to go in this wind
Right now Coast 11kt SW Lake 10kt SSW
In a northerly
Open coast 1/11
Blown out (7)
Blacksmiths Beach, Newcastle Beach (Gutters), Nobbys Breakwall (End), Redhead Beach, Stockton Beach (Gutters), Stockton Beach (Wash Zone), Stockton Breakwall (End)
Newcastle Harbour 6/7
- Horseshoe Beach Drop-off
- Lee Wharf
- Carrington Bridge (Wickham Side)
- Carrington Wharf
- Queens Wharf
- Honeysuckle Wharf
Blown out (1)
Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 0/1
Nothing here reads sheltered in this one.
Lake Macquarie 4/13
Blown out (7)
Marks Point Sand Flats, Murrays Beach Jetty, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Toronto Foreshore Jetty, Wangi Wangi Jetty, Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
In a nor'easter
Open coast 1/11
Blown out (10)
Bar Beach, Blacksmiths Beach, Merewether Beach, Newcastle Beach (Gutters), Nobbys Breakwall (End), Redhead Beach, Stockton Beach (Gutters), Stockton Beach (Wash Zone), Stockton Breakwall (End), Swansea Channel Training Walls
Newcastle Harbour 4/7
Blown out (2)
Lee Wharf, Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 0/1
Nothing here reads sheltered in this one. It is blown out.
Blown out (1)
Swansea Channel
Lake Macquarie 7/13
- Coal Point Deep Hole
- Green Point Jetty
- Marks Point Sand Flats
- Pelican Foreshore
- Belmont Wharf
- Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)
- Speers Point Jetty
Blown out (3)
Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Toronto Foreshore Jetty
In an easterly
Open coast 1/11
Blown out (10)
Bar Beach, Blacksmiths Beach, Merewether Beach, Newcastle Beach (Gutters), Nobbys Breakwall (End), Redhead Beach, Stockton Beach (Gutters), Stockton Beach (Wash Zone), Stockton Breakwall (End), Swansea Channel Training Walls
Newcastle Harbour 3/7
Blown out (4)
Horseshoe Beach Drop-off, Lee Wharf, Queens Wharf, Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 0/1
Nothing here reads sheltered in this one. It is blown out.
Blown out (1)
Swansea Channel
Lake Macquarie 10/13
- Coal Point Deep Hole
- Wangi Wangi Jetty
- Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
- Green Point Jetty
- Marks Point Sand Flats
- Pelican Foreshore
- Belmont Wharf
- Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)
- Murrays Beach Jetty
- Speers Point Jetty
Blown out (3)
Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Toronto Foreshore Jetty
In a sou'easter
Open coast 1/11
Blown out (9)
Bar Beach, Blacksmiths Beach, Merewether Beach, Newcastle Beach (Gutters), Nobbys Breakwall (End), Redhead Beach, Stockton Beach (Gutters), Stockton Beach (Wash Zone), Swansea Channel Training Walls
Newcastle Harbour 3/7
Swansea Channel 1/1
Lake Macquarie 7/13
- Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn)
- Coal Point Deep Hole
- Marks Point Sand Flats
- Pelican Foreshore
- Belmont Wharf
- Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)
- Murrays Beach Jetty
Blown out (5)
Green Point Jetty, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Speers Point Jetty, Wangi Wangi Jetty, Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
In a southerly
Open coast 4/11
- Newcastle Beach (Gutters)
- Swansea Channel Flats (Naru Beach)
- Nobbys Breakwall (End)
- Stockton Breakwall (End)
Blown out (1)
Merewether Beach
Newcastle Harbour 7/7
Swansea Channel 1/1
Lake Macquarie 7/13
- Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn)
- Coal Point Deep Hole
- Toronto Foreshore Jetty
- Marks Point Sand Flats
- Pelican Foreshore
- Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)
- Murrays Beach Jetty
Blown out (5)
Green Point Jetty, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Speers Point Jetty, Wangi Wangi Jetty, Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
In a sou'wester blowing on the coast now
Open coast 10/11
Newcastle Harbour 6/7
- Horseshoe Beach Drop-off
- Lee Wharf
- Carrington Bridge (Wickham Side)
- Carrington Wharf
- Queens Wharf
- Honeysuckle Wharf
Blown out (1)
Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 1/1
Lake Macquarie 3/13
Blown out (7)
Belmont Wharf, Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off), Green Point Jetty, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Speers Point Jetty, Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
In a westerly
Open coast 10/11
- Newcastle Beach (Gutters)
- Blacksmiths Beach
- Redhead Beach
- Stockton Beach (Gutters)
- Bar Beach
- Stockton Beach (Wash Zone)
- Merewether Beach
- Nobbys Breakwall (End)
- Stockton Breakwall (End)
- Swansea Channel Training Walls
Blown out (1)
Swansea Channel Flats (Naru Beach)
Newcastle Harbour 6/7
- Horseshoe Beach Drop-off
- Lee Wharf
- Carrington Bridge (Wickham Side)
- Carrington Wharf
- Queens Wharf
- Honeysuckle Wharf
Blown out (1)
Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 1/1
Lake Macquarie 3/13
Blown out (8)
Belmont Wharf, Green Point Jetty, Marks Point Sand Flats, Murrays Beach Jetty, Pelican Foreshore, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
In a nor'wester
Open coast 7/11
- Blacksmiths Beach
- Redhead Beach
- Stockton Beach (Gutters)
- Bar Beach
- Stockton Beach (Wash Zone)
- Merewether Beach
- Swansea Channel Training Walls
Blown out (1)
Swansea Channel Flats (Naru Beach)
Newcastle Harbour 6/7
- Horseshoe Beach Drop-off
- Lee Wharf
- Carrington Bridge (Wickham Side)
- Carrington Wharf
- Queens Wharf
- Honeysuckle Wharf
Blown out (1)
Stockton Bridge
Swansea Channel 1/1
Lake Macquarie 5/13
- Toronto Foreshore Jetty
- Wangi Wangi Jetty
- Green Point Jetty
- Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off)
- Speers Point Jetty
Blown out (8)
Belmont Wharf, Coal Point Deep Hole, Marks Point Sand Flats, Murrays Beach Jetty, Pelican Foreshore, Pulbah Island Reef Edges, Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn), Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds)
Numbers are the live 0–10 rating for that spot, best first. Blowing over 8 knots; under that the site treats every spot as fishable.
Open coast 11
Beaches and rock platforms facing the open sea. No wind suits all 11 of these, and none blows all 11 out. Here you have to check the spot rather than the group.
| Spot | Area | Blown out by | Fishes well in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton Breakwall (End) | Newcastle | N NE E | S SW W |
| Stockton Beach (Wash Zone) | Newcastle | N NE E SE | SW W NW |
| Stockton Beach (Gutters) | Newcastle | N NE E SE | SW W NW |
| Nobbys Breakwall (End) | Newcastle | N NE E SE | S SW W |
| Newcastle Beach (Gutters) | Newcastle | N NE E SE | S SW W |
| Bar Beach | Newcastle | NE E SE | SW W NW |
| Merewether Beach | Newcastle | NE E SE S | N W NW |
| Swansea Channel Training Walls | Lake Macquarie | NE E SE | SW W NW |
| Swansea Channel Flats (Naru Beach) | Lake Macquarie | W NW | NE E SE S SW |
| Blacksmiths Beach | Lake Macquarie | N NE E SE | SW W NW |
| Redhead Beach | Lake Macquarie | N NE E SE | SW W NW |
Newcastle Harbour 7
Wharves, bridges and drop-offs inside the Hunter. All 7 fish in a southerly.
| Spot | Area | Blown out by | Fishes well in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeysuckle Wharf | Newcastle | — | N NE E SE S SW W NW |
| Lee Wharf | Newcastle | NE E | N S SW W NW |
| Queens Wharf | Newcastle | E | N S SW W NW |
| Carrington Bridge (Wickham Side) | Newcastle | — | N NE E SE S SW W NW |
| Carrington Wharf | Newcastle | — | N NE E SE S SW W NW |
| Stockton Bridge | Newcastle | N NE E SW W NW | S |
| Horseshoe Beach Drop-off | Newcastle | E | N NE S SW W NW |
Swansea Channel 1
The lake entrance.
| Spot | Area | Blown out by | Fishes well in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea Channel | Lake Macquarie | NE E | SE S SW W NW |
Lake Macquarie 13
The lake proper, bending around its points and bays. No wind suits all 13 of these, and none blows all 13 out. Here you have to check the spot rather than the group.
| Spot | Area | Blown out by | Fishes well in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont Wharf | Lake Macquarie | SW W NW | NE E SE |
| Pelican Foreshore | Lake Macquarie | W NW | NE E SE S SW |
| Marks Point Sand Flats | Lake Macquarie | N W NW | NE E SE S |
| Speers Point Jetty | Lake Macquarie | SE S SW | N NE E NW |
| Croudace Bay (Western Drop-off) | Lake Macquarie | SW | N NE E SE S W NW |
| Toronto Foreshore Jetty | Lake Macquarie | N NE E | S SW W NW |
| Coal Point Deep Hole | Lake Macquarie | NW | N NE E SE S SW |
| Pulbah Island Reef Edges | Lake Macquarie | N NE E SE S SW W NW | — |
| Wangi Wangi Point (Weed Beds) | Lake Macquarie | N SE S SW W NW | E |
| Wangi Wangi Jetty | Lake Macquarie | N SE S | E W NW |
| Green Point Jetty | Lake Macquarie | SE S SW W | N NE E NW |
| Shingle Splitters Point (Balcolyn) | Lake Macquarie | N NE E SW W NW | SE S |
| Murrays Beach Jetty | Lake Macquarie | N W NW | E SE S |
All Newcastle spots and all Lake Macquarie spots, with live conditions.
Where the wind stops helping
Which end of the beach. Which corner of the bay. Whether the gutter that was there in June is still there. The wind narrows it to a water and a handful of names, and everything after that belongs to whoever has actually walked it.
Swell is a separate question and on a rock platform it is the more serious one. A flat forecast is not a safe ledge. Check the live swell verdict before you go, and wear a lifejacket. This site will never call a rock platform safe, because it never is.
Every spot page carries its own read on the wind for the day you are looking at, and it will be more specific than anything on this page.