Fishing & boating in Port Stephens
With a bay more than twice the size of Sydney Harbour and rich offshore grounds beyond the heads, Port Stephens is a water-lover's dream. It's a renowned fishing and game-fishing destination, a sheltered playground for boating, sailing and kayaking, and home to one of the finest shore dives in NSW. Here's how to make the most of the water.
Fishing & the Interclub
Fishing here spans every style — flick a line in the estuaries and off the beaches, or head offshore for marlin, tuna and kingfish. The bay's reputation is sealed by the NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament (2026: 19–22 February), one of the Southern Hemisphere's biggest, which packs Nelson Bay with hundreds of boats and 500-plus anglers. Charters run year-round for both bay and offshore fishing — remember your NSW fishing licence.
Boating, sailing & kayaking
The vast, protected bay is made for getting afloat. Hire a boat, join a sailing charter, or paddle a kayak across the calm shallows at Soldiers Point or Shoal Bay. Each autumn the bay hosts Sail Port Stephens, one of the country's largest regattas, when hundreds of yachts fill the water. Whether you want a lazy paddle or a day under sail, Nelson Bay is the place to launch.
Diving & snorkelling at Fly Point
Port Stephens hides a superb underwater world. The Fly Point – Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve at Nelson Bay is a protected sanctuary and one of NSW's best shore dives and snorkels — think sponge gardens in every colour, curious blue gropers, wobbegong sharks and seahorses, all a short swim from the beach. It's a no-take reserve (no fishing or collecting), and boat dives to the offshore islands add bigger marine life. A wetsuit is worth it outside summer.
Fishing & boating: your questions
Outstanding. The bay, its estuaries and the offshore grounds make Port Stephens one of the best fishing destinations on the NSW coast — from relaxed estuary and beach fishing to serious game fishing for marlin and tuna offshore. It hosts the NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament, one of the largest game-fishing events in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing 500-plus anglers to Nelson Bay each February.
The NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament is held at Nelson Bay, with the 2026 event running 19–22 February. It's one of the biggest game-fishing tournaments in the Southern Hemisphere, with hundreds of boats and anglers chasing marlin, tuna and other pelagics off Port Stephens. Even if you're not fishing, the marina is a lively spectacle during the event.
Absolutely — the huge, sheltered bay is a boating paradise. You can hire boats, join a sailing charter, or bring your own; the calm waters are ideal for cruising, sailing and kayaking. Port Stephens also hosts Sail Port Stephens, one of Australia's largest sailing regattas, each autumn. Nelson Bay marina is the hub for charters and hire.
The standout is the Fly Point – Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve at Nelson Bay — a protected sanctuary zone regarded as one of the best shore dives and snorkels in NSW, with sponge gardens, blue gropers, wobbegongs and seahorses. It's a "no-take" reserve, so no fishing or collecting is allowed there. Boat dives to the offshore islands are also excellent.
Yes — recreational anglers in New South Wales generally need a NSW recreational fishing fee/licence (available online), whether fishing from boat, beach or estuary. Note that the Fly Point sanctuary zone and other protected areas of the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park are no-fishing zones, so check the marine-park maps before you cast.