Fishing in Bundjalung National Park

Bundjalung National Park sits on the far north coast of New South Wales, running roughly 38 kilometres of coastline between Iluka and Evans Head.

The water here is a mix of ocean beach, shallow reef, tidal estuary, and freshwater lagoon — a range that shapes what you can fish and when. The Evans River is the main estuary in the park.

Run-out tides are the productive window, and the river holds flathead and mulloway — including juveniles — along with whatever else moves through with the tide.

There's a boat ramp at Woody Head, which puts the lower river within reach, and the protected beach nearby is workable for shore-based fishing too.

Jerusalem Creek winds through the park's estuaries and is accessible by canoe as well as on foot from the Mibanbah–Black Rocks campground area near Ten Mile Beach.

Ten Mile Beach itself is the park's main surf beach stretch, and beach fishing here follows the usual north coast logic: gutters, points, and the hours around dawn and dusk.

The shallow reefs are noted for snorkelling but also worth a look for reef species when conditions allow. The Oxleyan Pygmy Perch, a small-bodied endangered fish, has habitat within the park.

It's not a target species — it's one of the reasons to be careful about where you wade and what you disturb in the freshwater systems. Standard NSW recreational fishing rules apply inside the park.

Check current regulations with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you go, particularly around any closures or conditions that apply to specific waters.

The park fishes best when you work with the tides on the estuaries and pick your beach sessions around the light. It's not complicated country — but it rewards the angler who pays attention to the water rather than the clock.