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Hat Head
Headland·New South Wales·Australia·
Field notes
Headland village south of South West Rocks with rock platforms either side and a sandy creek mouth in between. Tailor and salmon off the rocks at dawn, jewfish in the gutters either side of the creek on the run-in.
Current conditions
Wind
7.5 kt N
Gusts 20.6 kt
Waves
2.4 m
Period 8.8 s
Swell
2.3 m
Period 7.7 s
Sea temp
23°C
Air 24.7°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
7.5 N
2.4m
14:00
6.6 NNW
2.3m
15:00
7.3 WNW
2.3m
16:00
7.6 W
2.3m
17:00
5.1 S
2.3m
18:00
3.8 SW
2.2m
19:00
5.2 WSW
2.2m
20:00
6.6 W
2.2m
21:00
6.7 W
2.1m
22:00
7.6 WSW
2.1m
23:00
8.8 WSW
2m
00:00
8.5 SW
2m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: South West Rocks ↗ (18.4 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Macquarie 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 Macquarie Coast Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore south of Crowdy Head. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northeasterly 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm south of Crowdy Head.
Wednesday 20 May. Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Macquarie Coast Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres, tending easterly 1.5 metres around midday. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 2.5 to 3 metres. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the early morning.
Friday 22 May. Winds: Southerly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 2.5 to 3 metres. Swell: Southerly 2.5 to 3 metres, increasing to 4 to 5 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Cloudy. 95% 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↑ 06:31↓ 17:00
Moon↑ —↓ 19:01
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:05 – 07:31
- Dusk16:00 – 17:26
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:31↓ 16:59
Moon↑ 10:02↓ 20:10
PhaseWaxing crescent 18%
Best windows
- Dawn06:05 – 07:31
- Dusk15:59 – 17:25
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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