The NSW mid north coast towns of Forster and Tuncurry are a true fishing Mecca.
Sitting some 320 kilometres north of Sydney on the shores of Wallis Lake you will find the coastal twin towns of Forster and Tuncurry. Linked by a rather long bridge with Tuncurry on the northern side and Forster on the southern these twins have a truly great fishing reputation. Now although they offer a wide range of species to be targeted it’s the bream fishing that has truly put these “fishing twins” on the angling map. Yellowfin bream just seem to thrive in these waters and some truly big bream call Forster/Tuncurry home. With a lake that is always open to the ocean and with the large Wallis Lake and its feeder rivers offering a mixture of sandbanks, weed beds and oyster leases, the marine environment is well set up. I believe that Forster has the largest area under oyster leases on the NSW coast and these numerous leases are perfect for bream both as a food source and for the cover and protection they offer.
However it’s not just all bream with the ”fishing twins” you can also expect to catch flathead, jewfish, whiting and luderick and a host of other species. Throw in the fact that the region has a very good prawn run during spring and summer and that there are plenty of blue swimmer crabs on offer, then you have a seafood smorgasbord at your fingertips.
Now given that Wallis Lake is rather large in size then a small boat is a very handy way to fish and explore all the many leases and channels that are on offer. However if that is not an option for you then there is still plenty of shore based fishing in the area. At the ocean end of Wallis Lake you have two breakwalls which give land based fishermen a platform for some top class fishing. The tides do run strongly through this entrance so best to work the slack water periods, both at the top and bottom of the tides, also the use of a float is not a bad choice given the rough bottom that you can encounter. These breakwalls see some really good fish caught each year with big jewfish (mulloway) the prize catch, but plenty of bream and luderick are also a chance. Other shore base locations can be found around the Forster Bridge and the many wharves and smaller breakwalls that are found scattered around the two town’s CBD area.
If you do have a boat or fishing kayak then the water ways, river and creeks are a true goldmine of fishing options, with the acres and acres of oyster leases the prime territory. Most people seem to fish between the Forster Bridge and Wallis Island, this region offers many channels and weed beds as well as the leases. Bait fishing and working lures are both proven methods with the oyster racks always a winner. The biggest problem with fishing the racks is always how to stop the bream before they cut you off on the oysters, as I said this place has some monster bream swimming around but hooking and landing them are two very different acts. With the daily tide changes, the water clarity near the lake entrance is often gin clear and with a pair of good sunglasses you can see plenty of big fish swimming around, bream and luderick in particular. It does your head in sometimes seeing all these fish but not getting a bite; the only real option is to fish light lines and little or no sinker and hope for the best.
Aside from the lake system the Forster region has some brilliant beach and rock fishing on offer, again the target species list is long with bream, tailor, whiting and drummer the main ones. Beaches can be found both north and south of the twin towns and access to the sand is usually easy with just a short walk from your vehicle in most cases. Best time of year on the beaches is summer through autumn, while on the rocks autumn into winter is good.
The area is not just about fishing with plenty of other attractions on offer not least is its weather. Winter in particular is a great time to visit with a very mild climate and few crowds. To the south of Forster is another location well worth the visit in Seal Rocks. Well known for its fishing but also just a very beautiful stretch of coast with its famous lighthouse, I recommend it highly. The towns of Forster and Tuncurry offer all the services you could need with plenty of good shopping choices and some very good eating spots. Accommodation choices are almost unlimited with a number of great caravan parks to choose from and plenty of holiday letting options. If you are looking for that something a little different, why not think about renting a houseboat to fish and explore the lake system. Simply park the caravan or camper for a day or three and spend a few nights on the water.
The twin towns are reached by turning off the Pacific Highway onto Lakes Drive just north of Bulahdelah (if coming from the Sydney direction), with top class facilities and top class fishing they are a true Travelling Angler destination well worth trying.
Good luck with those oyster racks…..