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Bass Point - Shellharbour
Headland·New South Wales·Australia·
Field notes
Bass Point is a classic Illawarra rock-fishing platform with deep water right at the toe and a known kingfish ledge. Salmon, bonito and tailor smash baitfish on the surface through summer; drummer and groper in the suds in winter.
Current conditions
Wind
3.5 kt SW
Gusts 7.4 kt
Waves
1.9 m
Period 9.3 s
Swell
1.9 m
Period 7.9 s
Sea temp
20.5°C
Air 17.7°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
3.5 SW
1.9m
14:00
5.5 WSW
1.9m
15:00
7.5 SW
1.9m
16:00
10.3 SW
1.9m
17:00
7.3 SW
1.9m
18:00
2.5 SW
1.9m
19:00
2.4 SW
1.9m
20:00
6.2 SW
1.9m
21:00
4.5 W
1.9m
22:00
4.5 W
1.9m
23:00
5.3 W
1.8m
00:00
4.3 W
1.8m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Port Kembla ↗ (13.4 km · primary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Illawarra CoastIssued at 10:00 pm EST on Tuesday 19 May 2026
Situation. A trough is crossing the coastal waters, with a low pressure system forming within the trough off the south coast. The low will then head further offshore and remain over the Tasman Sea for the next several days, whipping fresh to strong southerly winds and large powerful waves to the coastline mid to late this week.
Tuesday 19 May until midnight. Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Illawarra Coast Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: East to northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: South to southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Wednesday 20 May. Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Illawarra Coast Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 30 knots decreasing to 20 to 25 knots in the middle of the day then tending southerly 20 to 30 knots in the evening. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 2 metres inshore, increasing to 2 to 3 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore in the late afternoon and evening.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots decreasing to 20 to 25 knots in the early afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers.
Friday 22 May. Winds: Southerly 20 to 25 knots turning southeasterly 15 to 20 knots during the afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 2 metres, tending southeasterly 2 to 3 metres during the afternoon or evening. 2nd Swell: Northeast to southeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. Caution: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 06:46↓ 17:01
Moon↑ —↓ 18:59
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:19 – 07:46
- Dusk16:01 – 17:28
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:47↓ 17:01
Moon↑ 10:23↓ 20:08
PhaseWaxing crescent 19%
Best windows
- Dawn06:20 – 07:47
- Dusk16:01 – 17:28
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Headland
Region
New South Wales, Australia
Fishing style
rock fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds washes, points and drop-offs — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the New South Wales fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
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