Autumn Fishing in Sydney: Species Guide for March-May

Autumn in Sydney is, without argument, the most exciting transitional period on the fishing calendar. The water is still warm enough to hold summer pelagics like kingfish and bonito, but cool enough to wake up species that have been dormant through the heat. Add improving squid numbers, tailor starting to fire, and luderick beginning to show on the rock platforms, and you have three months where something is biting almost everywhere you look.

For the JDM-equipped angler, autumn is a playground. Shore jigging transitions into eging. ISO rods come out of storage. Casting jigs and metal lures that sat unused through the hottest months find their way back into tackle bags. This is the season when having a versatile JDM setup truly pays dividends.

Here is your month-by-month guide to what is biting, where to find it, and how to target it through the Sydney autumn of 2026.

March: Summer's Last Hurrah

Water temperature sits around 21 to 23 degrees in March. The ocean is still holding warmth from summer, and the pelagics are making the most of it.

DAIWA WATER TEMPERATURE CHECKER

Yellowtail Kingfish

Kingfish are still in peak season through March -- the high period runs from December through April. If you have not yet had your kingy fix this summer, now is the time to get serious about it.

Rock platforms around La Perouse, Cape Banks, Long Reef, and North Head are all producing. Early morning sessions are the most reliable, with topwater action possible in the first hour of light. Switch to sub-surface jigs and stickbaits as the sun rises.

JDM gear for the job: Shore jigging rods in the 80 to 120g class, PE 2.0-3.0 braid, 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader, and a selection of stickbaits and casting jigs.

Bonito

Bonito remain strong through March and into May. They are arguably the most fun fish to catch on light tackle -- screaming runs, acrobatic jumps, and they will eat just about any small metal jig or minnow retrieved at speed.

Sydney Harbour breakwalls, headlands around the harbour entrance, and rock platforms along the northern and eastern beaches all hold bonito through autumn.

JDM gear for the job: Light shore jigging rod (20-60g), PE 1.0-1.5, 20lb leader, and small casting jigs like the BlueBlue SeaRide 20-30g ($12-$14) or Megabass Makippa 30g ($14).

Australian Salmon

Salmon schools push along Sydney's beaches through March, feeding aggressively on baitfish. Maroubra, Coogee, Bondi, and Cronulla are all reliable spots. Metal jigs, small poppers, and high-speed retrieved minnows all work.

Tailor

Tailor start to become more consistent through March. Look for them at dawn and dusk around rock platforms, breakwalls, and beach gutters. Metal jigs and minnow lures are the most effective artificials.

NSW regulations reminder: Tailor have a minimum size of 30cm and a daily bag limit of 10.

Squid: The Season Begins

Here is where it gets interesting for eggers. Squid numbers start improving in March as water temperatures begin their autumn decline. While it is not peak season yet, the early sessions can be productive, and the squid you find now tend to be large holdovers from the previous year's breeding cycle.

Hit the harbour wharves after dark with Yamashita Egi OH Live in glow colours, sizes 3.0 to 3.5. Clifton Gardens, Blues Point, and The Spit are all worth a session.

April: The Transition

April is the month when Sydney fishing undergoes its most dramatic shift. Water temperatures drop through 19 to 21 degrees, and the species mix changes week by week.

Kingfish Fading

April is the last month of the kingfish high season. Numbers are still there early in the month, but by late April, the big schools have moved offshore or north. Make the most of it while you can -- once they go, you will be waiting until December.

Tailor Firing

Tailor fishing hits its stride in April. Schools of legal-size tailor move along the coast, feeding hard on whitebait and small baitfish. Rock platforms, breakwalls, and beach gutters all produce. Dawn and dusk are prime, but tailor will feed through the day if conditions are right.

JDM casting jigs are deadly on tailor. The CB ONE F1 Jig in 40-60g ($17.95) or a Palms Jigaro ($17) cast from the rocks and retrieved with a fast, erratic action will draw savage strikes.

(JDM) SHIMANO DIALUNA ZM shore casting/jigging spinning rods

Squid Improving

By April, eging starts to become genuinely productive. Water clarity improves as summer algae dies off, and squid are actively feeding in preparation for the cooler months. This is the time to invest in your egi collection and start putting in regular sessions.

Bream: Consistently Good

Bream are in their high season (January to June) and feeding aggressively around harbour walls, estuary flats, and rock platform edges. For the ISO angler, light ISO gear (1.0-1.5 rated rod) in harbour settings is a brilliant way to target bream with finesse.

Luderick Starting to Show

By late April, luderick begin appearing on rock platforms in meaningful numbers. They will not peak until winter, but the first fish of the season start showing up around harbour walls and sheltered rock ledges. ISO anglers should start preparing their luderick rigs.

Pirtek Fishing Challenge: 18-19 April 2026

One of Australia's biggest fishing events, the Pirtek Fishing Challenge, returns on 18-19 April with over $336,000 in prizes including Stacer boats and a Sea-Doo FishPro. This photo-based competition allows you to fish from any location across the country, targeting 25 different species. Entry details and target species lists are available at pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au.

This is a perfect event for the JDM-equipped angler. A versatile setup covering shore jigging, eging, and ISO fishing gives you access to a wide range of target species across the two days.

May: Winter is Coming

By May, the transition is complete. Water temperatures sit at 17 to 19 degrees. Summer pelagics have departed, and the winter pattern is establishing itself.

Luderick Season Opens Properly

May marks the real beginning of luderick season. Fish are feeding on green weed along rock platforms, harbour walls, and estuaries throughout Sydney. Luderick can be targeted with traditional float setups, but the ISO technique is devastatingly effective.

A 5.0m ISO rod in 1.75 to 2.0 rating, paired with a lever-brake reel, floating mainline, and a sensitive ISO float is the complete luderick package. Bait with cabbage weed or green weed collected from the rocks.

NSW regulations reminder: Luderick have a minimum size of 27cm and a daily bag limit of 10.

Silver Trevally Peaking

May marks the start of the silver trevally peak season (May to September). These underrated fighters are excellent eating and respond well to light jigs and bait. Rock platforms, harbour reefs, and breakwalls all hold trevally through autumn and winter.

NSW regulations reminder: Silver trevally have a minimum size of 30cm and a daily bag limit of 10.

Last of the Bonito

May is the final month for bonito around Sydney (the season runs December to May). If you want one last crack at them before they disappear for the winter, target harbour entries and headlands early in the month.

Squid Getting Big

By May, the eging is genuinely firing. Squid are larger, more numerous, and feeding aggressively. Size 3.5 egi become the standard, and some truly impressive calamari start showing up. Night sessions under wharf lights are at their best.

Hairtail in the Hawkesbury

Hairtail (tachiuo) become available in the Hawkesbury River and Cowan Creek system through the cooler months. This is one of the most underrated fisheries in Sydney, and JDM tenya rigs are the ultimate way to target them. Watch for our dedicated hairtail guide coming later in the season.

JDM Technique Progression Through Autumn

One of the beauties of JDM fishing is how the techniques flow naturally with the seasons:

March: Shore Jigging Focus Pelagics are still dominant. Your shore jigging rod and casting jig collection are the primary tools. Hit the rock platforms at dawn and work metal through the water column.

April: Transition Month Shore jigging for the last of the kingfish and bonito. Eging sessions start increasing. Begin rigging your ISO gear for the winter species ahead.

May: ISO and Eging Dominate Shore jigging takes a back seat as kingfish depart. Eging becomes a primary technique. ISO rods come into heavy rotation for luderick and drummer on the rock platforms.

Gear Recommendations for the Transition

If you are heading into autumn with a JDM setup, here is what should be in your bag:

Shore Jigging Kit (March-April):

• Shore casting rod (80-120g rating)

• 4000-5000 reel with PE 2.0-3.0

• Selection of casting jigs 40-80g

• Stickbaits and poppers for topwater action

• 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader

(JDM) SHIMANO COLTSNIPER XTune 2025 Shore Casting Rods

Eging Kit (March-May, increasing):

• Eging rod 8'3"-8'9"

• 2500-3000 reel with PE 0.6-0.8

• Egi in sizes 2.5 to 3.5, day and night colours

• 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader

ISO Kit (April-May, emerging):

• 5.0m ISO rod, 1.75-2.0 rating

• Lever-brake (LBD) reel

• Floating nylon mainline

• ISO floats, sinkers, hooks

• Berley preparation tools

Regulations Quick Reference

Always verify current regulations at the NSW DPI website before fishing. A valid NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is required.

FAQ

When is the best time of the year for autumn fishing in Sydney?

Autumn is one of the best seasons for fishing sydney, with cooler water temperatures drawing species like snapper and bream into shallower areas and sand flats. Time to fish in the autumn months often yields consistent catches as fish feed actively after the warmer months; pay attention to tide changes and low tide windows, and target upper reaches of estuarine systems like the parramatta river and middle harbour for good results.

What fish species am I likely to catch during autumn fishing Sydney?

Autumn fishing sydney commonly produces snapper, bream and flathead and whiting, with mulloway (jewfish) becoming more active as they move into estuarine upper reaches. You can also encounter bigger fish such as yellowfin tuna, blue marlin or striped marlin further off the nsw coast during transitional months, and mahi mahi or mahi mahi around deeper water and reef structures when conditions suit.

Is lure fishing or live baits better for autumn in Sydney Harbour?

Lure fishing is effective in shallower water and around the rocky areas of sydney harbour fishing, using soft plastic lures for bream and flathead or metal jigs and stickbaits for snapper. Live baits and pilchard work very well for bigger species and jewfish in deeper channels and estuarine gutters; lightly weighted rigs with live prawns or pilchards can be deadly for catching big bream and mulloway.

Should I choose a land based spot or a fishing charter for autumn fishing sydney?

Both options offer fishing opportunities: land based spots like sand flats, pontoons in lane cove river or around the parramatta river can produce bream and flathead, while fishing charters give access to deeper water, fathom drops and game fishing opportunities off sydney heads. If you want to target larger fish such as bluefin tuna, striped marlin or yellowfin tuna, a charter is recommended.

What rigs, baits and lures work best for snapper and bream in autumn?

For snapper, try lightly weighted baits such as pillies and cut bait on a running sinker rig or use larger soft plastics and metal vibes in deeper water. For bream fishing in estuarine areas use small soft plastics, lightly weighted soft plastics, small hardbody lures or live prawn baits. A good bait well and fresh pilchard or prawn will help keep live baits viable when targeting both snapper and bream.

Can I catch jewfish (mulloway) during autumn in the Sydney area?

Yes, jewfish or mulloway are often caught all year round but autumn and winter months can be very productive as they move into upper reaches, gutters and structure in estuarine systems like parramatta river and middle harbour. Use live baits, larger soft plastics or slow-sinking lures around night time or during first light for the best jewies results.

Are there good fishing charters for game fishing and big fish around Sydney?

Fishing charters out of sydney heads and the nsw coast specialise in game fishing and blue marlin, striped marlin or yellowfin tuna trips, particularly in the warmer months when big fish move in. Look for charters that target deeper water and have experienced skippers comfortable with fathom drops and trolling techniques for bigger fish.

How do tides, depths and low tide affect autumn fishing success?

Tides and depth are crucial: many species move onto sand flats and shallows on incoming tides and retreat to deeper channels at low tide. Target deeper water or drop-offs at the edges of sand flats when the tide changes. For estuarine fishos, fishing the incoming tide in upper reaches and around structure often produces the best bream and flathead bites.

What are practical tips for eating fish and keeping them fresh after catching in Sydney?

To eat fish well, bleed and gut your catch quickly and store it on ice in a bait well or insulated cooler. Snapper, bream and flathead are excellent eating fish; larger species like yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi should be cleaned and iced immediately for best flavour. Local regulations and bag limits vary, so check nsw coast rules before keeping fish.

s it worth fishing rock platforms in autumn, or should I stick to harbours and estuaries? A: Both are productive, but for different species. Rock platforms offer access to kingfish, bonito, drummer, tailor, and salmon through March and April, then luderick and drummer from May onward. Harbours and estuaries are best for bream, flathead, squid, and general light-tackle work. The beauty of autumn is that almost every fishing environment in Sydney is firing.

Related Products

• Casting Jigs Collection

• Egi (Squid Jigs)

• Eging Rods

• ISO Rods

• Shore Casting Rods