Fishing in Myall Lakes National Park

Myall Lakes National Park sits on the NSW north coast between Newcastle and Forster, protecting one of the largest coastal lake systems in the state.

The park holds a network of interconnected lakes, rivers, creeks, and ocean beach frontage — shallow estuarine water running into deeper lake basins, all draining eventually to the sea. That mix of habitat is what drives the fishing.

The main lakes — Myall Lake, Bombah Broadwater, and Two Mile Lake — are the core of it. These are broad, shallow-to-moderate-depth estuarine systems where bream, whiting, flathead, and mullet are the bread-and-butter species.

Australian salmon show up in the mix too, particularly where water moves. The Myall River connects the lake system and gives anglers a river corridor to work — tidal influence, structure along the banks, and access by boat or kayak.

Smiths Lake, at the southern end of the park, is a separate coastal lagoon with similar species. The creeks feeding the system — Boolambayte, Nerong, The Branch River, Crawford River — are worth attention when conditions push fish into the shallower water.

These are quieter, more intimate stretches that reward anglers willing to move slowly and read the water.

More than 40 kilometres of ocean beach runs along the park's eastern edge, and the rocks around Yacaaba Headland are noted by locals for beach and rock fishing. Seven Mile Beach is another stretch that gets consistent mentions.

Most of the park is only reachable by boat or on foot, which keeps pressure lower than it might otherwise be. A vehicle entry fee applies to the park, and NSW fishing regulations govern what you can take.

Check current rules with NSW National Parks before you go — access and conditions on a lake system this size can change. The fishing here is unhurried by design.

The park's scale and the limits on development mean you're often working water that hasn't seen a lure all week.