The Shoalhaven River is a magnificent 327-kilometre perennial river system rising from the Southern Tablelands at an elevation of 864 metres and flowing through some of New South Wales' most spectacular landscapes before emptying into the Tasman Sea near Shoalhaven Heads on the South Coast. With a catchment basin of over 7,000 square kilometres and an average discharge of 63.1 cubic metres per second near its mouth, this is a substantial and diverse river system offering anglers an extraordinary range of fishing experiences — from freshwater bass and trout in the upper reaches and impoundments to estuary perch, mulloway, flathead, bream, and tailor in the tidal lower sections. The Shoalhaven and its major tributary, the Kangaroo River, have a storied history as one of Australia's premier native fish fisheries, and while the system has faced significant environmental challenges over the decades, ongoing conservation and restocking efforts continue to support quality angling throughout the system.