Fishing in Murramarang National Park

Murramarang National Park runs along the NSW South Coast between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla, protecting a stretch of coastline that mixes open surf beaches, rocky headlands, and sheltered estuaries.

The fishing here is primarily saltwater — ocean beach and rock platforms on one side, and a handful of coastal lakes and creek systems on the other. Durras Lake is the water most anglers come for. It's a shallow coastal estuary, averaging around 1.

7 metres deep with some holes reaching 7 metres, and it sits almost entirely surrounded by the park. The lake is tidal in character — it opens to the ocean during high rainfall and closes naturally in dry periods — and that cycle drives the fishing.

Bream, whiting, and flathead are the main targets, along with prawns and blue swimmer crabs when conditions are right.

Kayaks have become the practical choice here; much of the productive water is shallow and the lake's 6-kilometre length rewards anglers who can move quietly and reach the back sections.

The stretch near the lake entrance is consistently noted as one of the more productive areas of the system. Richmond Beach and Pretty Beach are both used for beach fishing, and Murramarang Beach itself sees anglers working the shore at dawn and dusk.

The rock platforms and headlands between these beaches hold fish too, though access varies by location within the park. A standard NSW fishing licence is required to fish in the Durras area — both lake and ocean.

Check current rules with NSW National Parks before you go, as conditions and any park-specific requirements can change. The park's value as a fishery comes partly from what surrounds it.

Durras Lake is largely insulated from development pressure, and that shows in water quality. Fishing here asks you to slow down — tides, lake levels, and whether the entrance is open all matter more than they would on a managed waterway.

Pay attention to those conditions and the lake tends to reward the effort.