Port Stephens NSW fishing forecast
Port Stephens NSW is a saltwater fishing spot in Tasman Sea, Australia. Anglers here target Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Yellowfin Bream. The most productive months are typically October, November, December, January, February, March.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #8 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
In line with this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 18.3 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 24 km/h from SSE, gusting 39 km/h |
| Wave height | 1.8 m at 7 s |
| Current | 0.06 m/s toward NE |
| Pressure | 1023 hPa |
| Depth | 6 m |
| Cloud cover | 41% |
| Chlorophyll | 1.50 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 35.7 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 34 m |
| UV index | 5 |
| Wind sea | 0.4 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 1.7 m at 7 s from S |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.06 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 1.3 °C warmer than the September average of 16.9 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 113.3 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Port Stephens NSW
Port Stephens NSW currently scores 96 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 18.3 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +7.4
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Current +6.2
- moving water concentrates bait
- Wind +5.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
What’s biting now
The model expects today: yellowtail-kingfish, australian-herring, cobbler, blue-groper-eastern, mado-sweep, crimsonband-wrasse, morwong-red, silver-trevally
Bite windows
Best months for Port Stephens NSW:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-17, 96/100
27 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
About this spot
Bays are sheltered and usually calmer than open water, offering protected fishing and holding structure for inshore species.
Approximate bottom depth: 6 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · harbor
What you can catch
-
Thunnus albacares
-
Coryphaena hippurus
-
Yellowfin BreamAcanthopagrus australis
Best months by species at Port Stephens NSW
| Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin BreamAcanthopagrus australis |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Licensing is state-level, not federal. NSW: the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee covers salt and fresh water. VIC: Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence. QLD: no general recreational licence for most saltwater fishing. WA, SA, TAS, NT: state-specific licences and permits. Bag, size and possession limits always come from the state you are fishing in., non-residents The same state rules apply to visitors, and a short-term licence can normally be bought online from the state authority before you fish.
- freshwater-recreational — residents Inland fishing usually needs a state recreational licence (NSW, VIC) or an angler permit (NT, parts of QLD). Freshwater closed seasons are separate from tidal ones — Queensland, for example, closes barramundi in fresh water and in tidal water on the same dates but publishes them on different pages., non-residents Visiting anglers must hold the relevant state licence or permit.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Australian fishing rules are set by each state and vary by zone, and this national pack shows the strictest figure we have verified rather than your state's own. Always verify with the relevant state authority (NSW DPIRD, QLD DPI, VFA, WA DPIRD, SA PIRSA, NRE Tasmania, NT Fisheries) before fishing.
Check Port Stephens NSW before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
Download on the App Store Google Play
Scan to install on your phone
Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 598 km of Port Stephens NSW.
-
Port Stephens Gamefish
Port Stephens NSW Australia
Sydney Deep Water
Port Macquarie NSW
Jervis Bay NSW
Lake Eucumbene NSW
Merimbula NSW South
Gold Coast Seaway
Lake Hume Victoria
Snowy River NSW
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Port Stephens NSW?
Anglers at Port Stephens NSW target Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi and Yellowfin Bream.
When is the best time to fish Port Stephens NSW?
The most productive months at Port Stephens NSW are typically October, November, December, January, February, March.
What is the fishing forecast for Port Stephens NSW right now?
Port Stephens NSW currently scores 96 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Port Stephens NSW from shore?
Yes — Port Stephens NSW is fishable from shore (harbor).
Is the thermocline set up at Port Stephens NSW right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Port Stephens NSW?
The scored point sits over roughly 6 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna: Chasing the Blue-Water BrawlerHow to Catch Mahi-Mahi / Dorado: Chasing the Electric-Green Ghosts of the BluewaterHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.