Kate Shelton - Bay Explorer Fishing

02/09/2026

31/08/2026

🎣 A new chapter for Bay Explorer Marine Services

We wanted to share a bit of an update with everyone who has followed and supported Bay Explorer Marine Services over the years.

Our priorities have changed, and with that comes the decision that we’ll no longer be making deep drop fishing rigs.

We’ve genuinely loved doing it and we can’t thank everyone enough who bought our rigs, recommended us, shared our posts, stopped for a chat or simply supported what we were doing. It’s been a great part of our journey and one we’re very proud of.

But while the rigs are coming to an end, the fishing side of things certainly isn’t!

Kate will continue writing her weekly fishing reports for local News of the Area papers, keeping anglers up to date with what’s happening on the water. She’ll also continue representing recreational fishers as a committee member on the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council (RFTAC).

You’ll notice a few changes to this page in the near future, including a new name. Kate’s aim is to keep the page going as a place to share local fishing and maritime news, fishing reports, information and issues that matter to anglers across the Mid North Coast.

So this isn’t really goodbye, just a change of direction.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Bay Explorer Marine Services and our rigs. We hope you’ll stick around for the next chapter. 🎣⚓

24/08/2026

🦀 Crab fishos – free trap swap!

Bring your old witches’ hats or rectangular traps along and swap them for FREE new crab gear. 🎣

📍 North Haven – 4 Sept, 2–4pm
📍 Westport – 14 Sept, 8:30am–12:30pm

Good chance to upgrade the gear before crabbing season gets going! 👍

23/08/2026

A Little Rain, a Little Shine and Plenty of Fish

Over the past week, the coast received a much-needed drenching, with plenty of rain and a welcome hint of spring’s warmer weather. The combination of these conditions has resulted in a bit of a mixed bag for anglers. As we edge closer to spring, it’s also a timely reminder for all boaters to give their safety gear a thorough check. Now is the perfect time to service life jackets, inspect safety equipment and carry out essential trailer maintenance, so you’re ready to hit the water before spring.

Down south, the Camden Haven River region has been a hotspot for anglers, with local fishers reporting some impressive catches. Dunbogan Beach has been particularly productive, with good numbers of salmon being encountered. However, last weekend proved challenging for those venturing offshore, with conditions less than ideal for a successful fishing trip.

In the Hastings River, luderick have slowed slightly in the lower reaches, although the breakwalls are still worth a try, particularly for anglers using green w**d or sea cabbage. On a more positive note, bream fishing has improved, with Limeburners Creek producing some quality fish. Yabbies and mullet gut have both been effective baits in the area. For rock fishers, Point Plomer, Big Hill and Queens continue to produce some quality tailor. Closer to home, the area below the Lighthouse has also accounted for a few decent bags of tailor. Bream fishing from the rocks has been reasonable too, with anglers getting out for early dawn sessions enjoying the best results.

Further north in the Macleay region, the river continues to be a reliable option for luderick and bream, with some good-sized fish being landed around the local wharfs and breakwalls. Along the beaches, there is still plenty of bream action, along with the occasional dart. Tailor have been a little patchy, but Gap Beach is still worth a look at first light. Casting metal lures or pilchards has been a productive approach, particularly around the early morning bite period.

Photo - Local Lake Cathie legend John Robbins with a fantastic catch! John is a proud member of the Lake Cathie Fishing Club and puts in countless hours of his time and effort supporting the club and our local fishing community. Thank you, John, for being such a valued and dedicated asset to our local fishing community!

17/08/2026

Plenty of Fish In Wet Weather

The Camden Haven region continues to deliver for anglers, with a great mix of beach, estuary, rock and offshore fishing on offer. Despite some unsettled conditions, anglers have been making the most of the opportunities whenever the weather allows. Beach anglers have enjoyed the occasional excitement of fast-moving salmon schools, with small metal lures proving the weapon of choice for these hard-fighting fish. A few tailor have also been getting in on the action, providing some extra excitement for those casting from the sand. Dunbogan and North Haven have both been consistent producers of bream, with whiting also making an appearance. Offshore, snapper numbers continue to be strong across most reefs, with plenty of plate-sized fish being caught, along with some larger models on the reefs off Lake Cathie. Soft plastics have been working well, while traditional anchoring and burley techniques have also been successful. In fact, since the large swell a few weeks ago, we have seen some of the best snapper fishing in years. Game Fishing anglers heading further offshore have encountered increased numbers of slimy mackerel with a few striped marlin hooked last weekend for a great start of the season.

The Port Macquarie area continues to impress with consistent bream fishing from the rocks. From the Lighthouse around Port Macquarie through to Crescent Head, anglers have been enjoying good success on this popular species. For those looking for a more local option, Rocky’s and Miners have also been producing good results. Prawns and strips of mullet remain the preferred baits, although worms and pipis have also been effective. Luderick numbers are holding steady, with Shelley’s and Big Hill continuing to provide reliable opportunities for anglers chasing these popular winter fish. Tailor fishing has been a little sporadic, with only the occasional quality fish being landed. Mulloway anglers have also found some success around Miners and the Lighthouse, with both bait and lures producing fish. Offshore conditions have been ideal when the weather has allowed, giving anglers the opportunity to explore the inshore reefs. Snapper, kingfish and leatherjackets have been among the more common catches, while water temperatures hovering around 19 to 20 degrees are a promising sign for those heading wider in search of tuna.

Overall, the Camden Haven and Hastings River regions are experiencing a productive period, with plenty of options for anglers whether you're fishing from the beach, exploring the estuaries, chasing luderick and bream from the rocks or heading offshore. Unfortunately, the weather isn't looking particularly promising for the weekend, with showers expected, and the current forecast is also pointing towards a wet week ahead. Hopefully conditions improve as we get closer to the weekend, giving anglers a window to get out on the water before the rain settles in. For those who do get the opportunity, there is certainly plenty of fish around to make the effort worthwhile.

01/08/2026

Reel Winter Magic

The Mid North Coast has delivered another beautiful winter week in paradise, with ideal weather conditions, combined with the full moon, creating the perfect fishing experience.

Camden Haven remains the go-to destination for offshore action, with local anglers continuing to enjoy consistent snapper catches. The shallow grounds off Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie have been particularly productive, with soft plastics proving to be the lure of choice. However, plenty of anglers have also found success by anchoring up, establishing a burley trail and presenting lightly weighted pilchards. For those chasing a more challenging target, drummer continue to test the skills of dedicated rock fishers. Tailor have also been making their presence known around prominent headlands such as Grants Head and Point Perpendicular, while the breakwalls have been producing quality bream, particularly during the evening. The beach between Lake Cathie and Middle Rock have continued to provide reliable catches of bream, whiting and flathead, with a handful of lucky anglers also landing mulloway on light tackle.

The Hastings River has seen a noticeable improvement in water clarity, making it an excellent time to target luderick. The southern breakwall has been a reliable location, with cabbage and w**d proving difficult for the fish to resist. Port Macquarie's waterfront has also been producing quality bream, with evening sessions using strip baits or prawns delivering consistent results. The recent run of night-time high tides has generated plenty of excitement among local anglers, with several impressive mulloway exceeding 15 kilograms landed over the past week. Flathead fishing has been a little inconsistent, with periods of hot action followed by quieter days. Offshore, anglers who ventured out this week were rewarded with exceptional snapper catches. Game fishers heading offshore last weekend and again during the week encountered schools of yellowfin tuna. If you're planning a tuna trip, it pays to do some homework on the ocean currents. Sunday's forecast is looking ideal for offshore fishing, so it's no surprise many anglers are eagerly planning another trip to sea.

Further north, the Macleay River has continued to provide plenty of excitement, with rock anglers enjoying thrilling encounters with kingfish. Reports of larger schools cruising the coastline have only added to the anticipation. Offshore, snapper have been biting well on the inshore reefs, with soft plastics remaining highly effective. Those venturing wider have been rewarded with impressive kingfish, with live baits and knife jigs proving to be the most productive techniques.

Ben Hill enjoyed a memorable session at Hat Head recently, landing a quality bag of bream along with this impressive drummer.

31/07/2026

26/07/2026

Share via: Facebook X (Twitter) THE Mid North Coast has continued to produce excellent fishing across a wide range of locations and species, with anglers enjoying consistent success despite some recent challenging weather. Rock anglers have found drummer to be a popular target, although catches have...

15/07/2026

05/07/2026

Mid North Coast Anglers Enjoy Quality Winter Fishing

The Camden Haven region has been producing quality fish across a range of locations. Rock anglers have enjoyed consistent success with drummer around Perpendicular Point and Camden Head, while nearby headlands are also worth a look. Mulloway have been reported from both the rocks and offshore reefs, with Lake Cathie continuing to produce some impressive school fish, particularly after dark and around the high tide. Along the beaches, schools of salmon have been appearing, eagerly smashing small metal lures, with the odd tailor travelling alongside them. North Haven Beach and Rainbow Beach continue to produce reliable catches of bream and flathead. For the boaties, inshore reefs snapper are responding to soft plastics, vibes and fresh baits. Further offshore, kingfish remain a standout target, with live baits and knife jigs proving highly effective, while bar cod, pearl perch and bass groper continue to reward those prepared to venture into deeper water.

Further north around Port Macquarie, beach fishing should improve as the swell eases as predicted for this week. Tailor and bream are biting well along the beaches, particularly during dawn and dusk run-in tides using fresh bait. The Hastings River has been producing improving numbers of quality bream, with Limeburners Creek proving particularly productive on prawns and mullet gut. Surface lures and soft plastics have also been accounting for plenty of fish around the top of the tide. Flathead numbers remain steady throughout the system, while tailor have been active around Point Plomer, Queens and the Lighthouse area. Mulloway continue to make occasional appearances along the breakwalls, rewarding patient anglers fishing live bait or lures. Offshore, Port Macquarie anglers are reporting increasing numbers of kingfish, although leatherjackets are starting to become a nuisance on the deeper reefs. Snapper continue to be caught consistently, particularly by anglers casting soft plastics and other lures over the shallow reefs.

Macleay River continues to fish exceptionally well, with consistent catches of luderick, bream and flathead around the wharves and breakwalls. Beach anglers are also finding quality bream and the occasional larger flathead, while offshore snapper fishing remains outstanding for both bait and lure fishers. Kingfish, bar cod and pearl perch have been reliable on the deeper reefs, with deep-dropping also producing some quality blue-eye cod for those making the trip offshore.

Callum and Dylan Gunner proudly display the impressive mulloways they caught in the Hastings River at Port Macquarie.