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South West Rocks - Trial Bay
Bay·New South Wales·Australia·
Field notes
Sheltered north-facing bay with the gaol headland and inshore reefs producing snapper, kingfish and mulloway. The Macleay River mouth nearby holds jewfish and flathead. Pelagics including cobia and mackerel push in through summer.
Current conditions
Wind
8 kt N
Gusts 21.2 kt
Waves
2.7 m
Period 8.8 s
Swell
2.5 m
Period 7.8 s
Sea temp
22.9°C
Air 24.2°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
8 N
2.7m
14:00
6.6 NNW
2.6m
15:00
6 WNW
2.6m
16:00
6.3 W
2.5m
17:00
6.5 SW
2.5m
18:00
3.8 SSW
2.5m
19:00
4.4 WSW
2.4m
20:00
7.3 W
2.4m
21:00
7.5 W
2.3m
22:00
6.8 WSW
2.3m
23:00
7.8 WSW
2.2m
00:00
7.9 WSW
2.2m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: South West Rocks ↗ (6.4 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Coffs 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. Winds: Southwesterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Swell: Northeasterly 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Wednesday 20 May. Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Coffs Coast Winds: South to 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 1.5 to 2.5 metres around midday. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres, tending easterly 2 metres during the morning, then decreasing to 1.5 metres around midday. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: Southerly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 2.5 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 2 to 2.5 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 35 knots. Seas: 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↑ 06:30↓ 17:00
Moon↑ —↓ 19:02
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:04 – 07:30
- 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
Bay
Region
New South Wales, Australia
Fishing style
estuary fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds flats 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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