Long Reef Rock Platform
New South Wales · Ocean rock platform
A classic Sydney northern beaches platform with deep gutters, heavy wash and excellent winter drummer and luderick fishing.
Fishing Long Reef Rock Platform
In New South Wales, Long Reef Rock Platform is an ocean rock platform with a reliable local following. The species most people target here are Drummer, Luderick, Bream, Salmon and Tailor, and the mix shifts through the year with water temperature and bait movement.
Swell and wash matter more than anything else off the stones. Watch a full set before committing to a ledge, and fish the white water where bait gets tumbled.
Timing matters: year-round; drummer apr–sep. Plan around that window rather than chasing a single good report.
Before you plan a trip, check the access. Walk in from Long Reef car park; the platform is exposed at low tide.
The single thing that changes results most at Long Reef Rock Platform is the detail locals take for granted — berley with bread and sand for drummer in the wash. Everything else is refinement on top of that.
Local tips
- ▸Berley with bread and sand for drummer in the wash.
- ▸Fish a float rig with green weed for luderick along the ledges.
- ▸Wear cleats and a life jacket; the platform is slippery and exposed.
Check current closures, marine park zoning and licence requirements with the relevant state fisheries authority. Conditions on tidal and offshore water change quickly — always check the forecast and tell someone your plans.
Licences and rules
New South Wales sets its own licence requirements, size and bag limits and closed seasons, and they change through the year. Confirm the current position with NSW Department of Primary Industries — Fisheries before you fish Long Reef Rock Platform.
Species guides for Long Reef Rock Platform
- Luderick — A traditional float-fishing species that rewards patience, presentation and a well-set berley trail.
- Bream — Australia's most widely fished estuary sportfish — finicky, structure-loving and endlessly rewarding on light line.
- Tailor — Schooling, razor-toothed predators that turn a quiet beach gutter into chaos in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Long Reef Rock Platform?
Long Reef Rock Platform holds Drummer, Luderick, Bream, Salmon, Tailor. A classic Sydney northern beaches platform with deep gutters, heavy wash and excellent winter drummer and luderick fishing.
When is the best time to fish Long Reef Rock Platform?
Year-round; drummer Apr–Sep. As a rule, the hours either side of a tide change and the dawn and dusk bite windows produce the most fish here.
How do you access Long Reef Rock Platform?
Walk in from Long Reef car park; the platform is exposed at low tide.
Do you need a fishing licence at Long Reef Rock Platform?
A NSW Recreational Fishing Fee must be paid by anyone fishing in salt or fresh water, with limited exemptions. Confirm current rules with NSW Department of Primary Industries — Fisheries before you fish.
Nearby waters to Long Reef Rock Platform
Closest locations in the directory if Long Reef Rock Platform is blown out or crowded.
- Nobbys Breakwall, Newcastle, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
- La Perouse and Botany Bay Rocks, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
- Forster Breakwall and Tuncurry Rocks, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
- Coffs Harbour Jetty and Breakwall, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
- Hawkesbury River, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
- Sydney Harbour, New South WalesSame state · shared target: bream
What swims here
Species profiles for the fish Long Reef Rock Platform is known for.
- BreamLight soft plastics — best tide changes at dawn and dusk
- TailorMetal slugs — best dawn and dusk in beach gutters
- LuderickFloat fishing with green weed or cabbage — best run-in tide along rock walls and washes
- King Threadfin SalmonSoft plastics — best run-out tide over mud banks and drains
- Australian SalmonMetal slugs — best dawn and dusk in beach gutters and off rocks
- Silver DrummerWeed and bread baits in the wash — best big swell, rising tide
Plan this session
- Fish Finder spot mapPlot depth, structure and access points around Long Reef Rock Platform.
- Bite times calculatorTide and moon windows for New South Wales so you fish Long Reef Rock Platform on moving water.
- Catch logLog sessions at Long Reef Rock Platform and build your own pattern over a season.
- Guided chartersLocal skippers who run New South Wales trips if you'd rather learn the water with a guide.
Where to fish for Long Reef Rock Platform right now
The Local Knowledge Fish Finder scores real Australian spots against live tide, moon phase, wind, water temperature and season, then ranks the best places to start today — with marine charts and depth contours built in.
- ▸ Ranked pins for Long Reef Rock Platform near you
- ▸ Depth contours and seamarks on the chart
- ▸ Live tide, moon, wind and water temp
- ▸ Free for 7 days, then $7.99/month
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