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 #22 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 6 points above 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 | 19.7 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 42 km/h from NE |
| Wave height | 0.9 m at 5 s |
| Current | 0.36 m/s toward SW |
| Pressure | 1016 hPa |
| Depth | 4 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.37 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 35.5 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 15 m |
| UV index | 3 |
| Wind sea | 0.7 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 0.5 m at 5 s from ESE |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.36 → 0.01 m/s |
The water here is 1.2 °C warmer than the October average of 18.5 °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 95.0 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 94 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 19.7 °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
- Current +18.0
- moving water concentrates bait
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Eddy energy +5.0
- mesoscale eddies trap nutrients and bait
- Thermal front +3.6
- temperature edges concentrate bait and predators
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: 2026-09-30, 95/100
28 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+36 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Bays are sheltered and usually calmer than open water, offering protected fishing and holding structure for inshore species.
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.
Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.
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
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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 94 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.
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.