Urunga has been a popular destination with keen anglers since its beginnings as a sleepy fishing village, now having grown into a favoured holiday destination for families, groups of friends and empty nesters alike.
With the ocean, breakwall, estuary, and the two rivers of the Kalang and Bellinger to choose from, there are plenty of catches available to suit all fishing styles.
Positioned on the coast between Sydney and Brisbane, only a 25-minute drive from the tourist hub of Coffs Harbour to the north, and Nambucca Heads to the south, Urunga is the coastal gateway for the stunning Bellingen Shire known for its rolling green valleys, crystal clear streams, and sub-tropical rainforest.
The area boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the country, and the rivers, most notably the Kalang, which is the river Urunga is situated on, are abundant in a great range of fish species due to bans on commercial fishing practices.
Urunga NSW where the Bellinger (to the left) and Kalang Rivers (centre) meet the sea
Best Spots To Fish In and around Urunga
We have put together a beginner's guide for those visiting Urunga for fishing for the first time to help you snag some of the area's most popular catches, including dusty flathead, bream, whiting, and snapper, along with legal catch sizes and much more.
All along the Kalang River, fishers report sensational results with a 4.5/5 rating on www.fishingspots.com.au, and the Bellinger River at 3.8/5. Break walls, bridges, mangroves, oyster leases, sand banks and deep channels provide a range of opportunities for keen anglers.
Please ensure you have a valid NSW Fishing Licence before heading out, and always make sure you check the tides at Tideschart or Tide-forecast.com when planning your fishing trip.
We strongly recommend heading to MoTackle & Outdoors in Coffs Harbour, or chatting with the local experts to get all the best fishing advice, such as what's biting and what baits are working best, at the time of your visit,
Off The Breakwalls
1. Along the end section of the boardwalk - Easy walking access off the boardwalk and is a fantastic spot to snag mulloway, bream and luderick. There are also fish cleaning facilties at the end of the boardwalk.
2. Along the lido breakwall - An easy to get to spot from the foreshore that doesn't require the walk that the boardwalk breakwall does, and is good from bream and luderick.
3. Bellinger Northwall - Access via boat with many anglers snagging luderick. However, bream and flathead are often found here also.
4. Kalang Rockwall -.Bream and luderick.
Aerial image of the Urunga lagoon, breakwall and boardwalk by JohnCarnemolla via Canva.com
Off The Beach
1. Hungry Head - A great spot to catch bream, snapper and whiting around the rocks.
2. Wenonah Headland - A little harder to get to due to the dirt road that can easily wash away in wet weather, but a great spot if you can make it down there. There are plenty of rocks around the headland known for its bream, snapper, drummer, tailor and mulloway. This spot lies within Native Title Land and the utmost respect and care of the land must be given whilst visiting. Although there is technically 4WD beach access here at this stage, we do not recommend driving on the beach in this spot out of respect to the local custodians.
3. North Beach, Mylestom - Great fishing due to the ditches caused by sand banks with a selection of bream, tailor, mulloway and whiting. There is 4WD access with a valid permit.
North Beach and Urunga island, with the Kalang River to the left and the Bellinger River centre, photo by Gethin Coles
The Kalang River
1. Off the sand flats - Great for luring flathead from the drop-off.
2. Underneath the rail and Giinagay Way Road Bridges - Fantastic fishing in the shaded areas during the day, and at night for those wanting to join the keen anglers who fish from the Giinagay Way Bridge.
3. Kalang Jews - Where the Kalang waters split to go around Newry Island, there is a deep hole that is a prime spot for catch smaller flathead, bream, mulloway and mangrove jack.
4. Kalang drains - Plenty of flathead with the ebbing tide.
5. Newry Island Bridge - Accessed via the Kalang drains, there is a deep hole located in the waters under the bridge that is a great spot for bream, and sometimes mulloway or mangrove jack.
6. Oyster leases - The oyster leases provide shelter for the local bream and flathead.
The Kalang River, Urunga, NSW photo by JohnCarnemolla via Canva.com
Boat Ramps
1. Atherton Drive, urunga
Boat ramp accessed from the first car park along the river after Anchors Wharf and the Atherton Drove turn off when coming from out of town.
Toilet facilities nearby on the other side of the rail bridge across from Anchors Wharf.
2. Atherton Drive, Urunga
Boat ramp follows the first boat ramp across from golf course.
Picnic tables and fish cleaning facilities.
3. Bellingen Sailing Club, Atherton Drive, Urunga
A sand constructed one lane boat ramp designed for accessibility access.
No fish cleaning facilities.
Toilet facilities across Atherton Drive.
Fishing Charters
Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing
Half-day to full-day charters from Coffs Harbour.
KCs Fishing Charters
Full and half-day charters, as well as whale watching in Coffs Harbour.
Urunga Fishing Comps
Berkley Urunga Estuary Sport Fishing Flathead Tournament
Held annually on the second weekend of November.
Family-friendly catch and release comp held over three days with loads of incredible prizes.
Image from the Berkley Urunga Estuary Sport Fishing Flathead Tournament of the longest flathead
Legal Size Limits On Some of The More Popular Catches
Flathead
A popular catch within the Kalang.
Legal length: 36cm.
Bag limit: Total of 10. Only one over 70cm.
Bream
Bream is an all round popular catch around Urunga, whether you are fishing the river in town, or out on the beach.
Legal length: 25cm.
Bag limit: Maximum of 10.
Mulloway
A good catch off the beaches and the river mouth.
Legal length: 70cm.
Bag limit: Maximum of 2.
Whiting
Another good beach catch at any beach surrounding Urunga.
Legal length (Sand whiting only); 27cm.
Bag limit: Maximum of 20.
Snapper
Plenty to find in the area off the beach or out a little further by boat..
Legal length: No legal lengths for Snapper.
Bag limit: Maximum of 10.
Bait, Tackle And Everything Else
MoTackle & Outdoors
MoTackle & Outdoors is the largest fishing tackle and camping store in Australia. Located in Coffs, this is the go to for the best inside info.
Photo of Fishing Tackle by Baks via Canva.com
For those of you who use Facebook, you can join the Urunga Anglers Club where you can keep up to date with local comps and events.
And don't forget to tag #riversideholidayresort in your social posts!
Lindsays Oyster Barn
If you strike out on luck, then the closest place to head for the best local catches Lindsays next to the BP Service Station on Giinagay Way.
Photo of Oysters by dashu83 via Canva.com
Discover more things to do when visiting Urunga and the Bellingen Shire.
