Fishing in Kooraban National Park

Kooraban National Park sits on the far south coast of New South Wales, roughly 15 kilometres southwest of Narooma, where the ranges behind the coast give way to creek country draining toward the sea.

The park protects the upper catchment of Dignams Creek, a major tributary of Wallaga Lake, and it is this network of small, forested freshwater streams that defines the fishing here.

The Tuross River also runs through the area, with camping spots alongside it where fishing, swimming, and kayaking are all part of the picture.

The creeks inside the park — Dignams Creek, Red Bank Creek, Jimmys Creek, Sam Woods Gully, and Dogtrap Gully — are the kind of water that rewards patience and quiet movement more than gear.

These are tight, shaded runs in steep country, not wide accessible rivers. Access is limited by the terrain and the park's road network, so expect to walk to find the better water.

Because Dignams Creek feeds Wallaga Lake downstream, what happens in the upper catchment matters beyond the park boundary. That connection is worth keeping in mind when you're deciding whether to keep or release.

Standard NSW recreational fishing rules apply inside the park. Check current regulations with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you go — the Merimbula office manages this park and can answer questions about what applies on the water here.

The fishing in Kooraban is incidental to a landscape the park was set aside to protect. Go in with that understanding and you'll find the creeks on their own terms.