Early November Fishing Guide: Tilligerry Peninsula & Port Stephens

Spring has flipped the switch. Water is warming, bait is moving up the creeks and every estuary species is feeding harder than it was in winter. Here’s our local read on the next fortnight around the Tilligerry Peninsula and Port Stephens, from our counter at Lemon Tree Passage.

1. Conditions: warm water, spring tides and sea-breeze afternoons

Expect estuary water around 20–22°C and a bay a degree or two cooler. That’s a big step up from August and it wakes up flathead, whiting and kingfish. Our usual early-November pattern is calm, clean mornings, then a north-easter building from late morning that chops up the open bay by afternoon.

The new moon falls around 9 November, which brings the biggest tide runs of the fortnight (check your tide tables). Strong flow means fish feed hard on the run, but it also means more weed and drift, so go a little heavier on jighead weight.

2. Dusky flathead: the fish of the fortnight

• Where: weed edges and sand drop-offs through Tilligerry Creek, the north end of Fenninghams Island, Soldiers Point flats, and the sandy margins around Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay.
• When: the last two hours of the run-out and the first of the run-in. Keep drifting and cover ground.
• How: hop 3–4" soft plastics along the bottom on a 1/8–1/4oz jighead, or drift live poddy mullet and strips of fresh squid or brined bait.

3. Whiting: sand and trumpeter fire up on the flats

• Where: Soldiers Point, Taylors Beach shallows, the western side of One Tree and Shag Islands, and the sandy flats through the Tilligerry system.
• When: rising tide, first light through mid-morning. Whiting push up onto the flats as the water floods.
• How: light sinker, long fluorocarbon leader and a bait that drifts naturally. Yabbies are king, with fresh prawn, worms or a Gulp 2" Sandworm as back-ups. Berley lightly.

Soldiers Point is traditionally a standout for whiting from November through to January, so this is the start of the run. Get there early, before boat traffic builds.

4. Bream and luderick: structure fishing at its best

Bream remain a reliable target on the oyster racks around Bobs Farm Creek, the rock walls through Tilligerry and the Nelson Bay Breakwall. They’re edgier in warm water and boat traffic, so fish the first two hours of daylight and the dusk bite.

• Lures: 1–2" soft plastics hopped slowly, small blades, and shallow hard-body cranks bounced off the rock.
• Bait: yabbies, fresh prawn, striped tuna or pilchard strips and brined baits on a small hook with minimal weight.
• Luderick: still a good option on weedy walls and wharves on the run-in. Use green weed or cabbage under a quill float, and berley lightly.

5. Low-light specialists: mulloway, kingfish and a few surprises

Mulloway: the peak winter window is closing as the water warms, but resident fish are still around the deep holes and channel edges of Tilligerry on the tide change after dark. Slow-roll a 5–6" ZMan SwimmerZ or StreakZ on a 3/8–1/2oz jighead, or fish a live yellowtail or fresh mullet on the bottom. Expect fewer fish than in July, but they’re often quality.

Kingfish: numbers build through spring. Target the Nelson Bay Breakwall and the wharf pylons around Sally Shores at sunrise and sunset with stick baits, poppers and live slimy mackerel or yellowtail.

Also worth a cast: tailor and salmon at dawn around the headlands, squid on the weed beds in clear water, and the odd snapper or pelagic for boats heading outside on a calm morning.

6. What to buy before you go: fresh brined baits and local lure picks

• Baits: uFish fresh brined baits are firm, hold on the hook and keep their scent in warm water. They’re ideal for bream, whiting, flathead and kingfish. Add fresh yabbies, prawns and live bait to cover every option. Ask in store what’s freshest this week.
• Flathead: ZMan 4" MinnowZ or StreakZ on TT HeadlockZ jigheads. Natural colours in clear water, brighter ones when it’s stained.
• Bream: small ZMan GrubZ or Slim SwimZ, blades and shallow cranks, with 6–8lb fluorocarbon leader.
• Whiting: Gulp 2" Sandworm and small surface lures over the shallow sand flats.
• Jew & kings: ZMan 6" SwimmerZ (White Pearl, Sexy Mullet), stick baits and poppers, plus 60–80lb fluorocarbon.

7. Boat prep and the Lemon Tree Passage ramp

Spring means more boats and more breakdowns. A few quick checks now will save your weekend:

• Engine: flush with fresh water after every trip, check fuel for water or age, and carry spare plugs.
• Battery & electrics: test the battery under load, and check nav lights and bilge pump operation.
• Safety gear: lifejackets accessible, flares in date, fire extinguisher charged and VHF tested.
• Trailer: bearings, lights, tyre pressures and winch strap. Hot-bearing breakdowns on the way home are a classic.
• Bungs in before the boat touches the water. Every time.

Lemon Tree Passage boat ramp: it’s our favourite launch for Tilligerry Creek, with quick access to the creek’s deep holes, weed edges and island flats. Weekend mornings get busy, so arrive early and prep your boat in the staging area, not on the ramp. Mind the tide, as the ramp is much easier on a mid to high tide and low water can limit launching for deeper-draught boats.

Conditions, tides and regulations change quickly. Check the BOM marine forecast, tide tables and current NSW DPI fishing rules (including Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park zones) before every trip.