South west rocks fishing offshore winter 2014

[wetryin]

We are a group of 5 guys with two boats that go away for a week of fishing, both boats 5.5m. Thinking of heading to South West Rocks NSW but don't really know much about offshore fishing or the bar. Have heard the bar gets nasty, but would like comments if anyone chooses to reply. We all go thru the Tweed Bar regularly so don't know how this compares. With fishing we all have electrics so intend fishing 300m+ and what fish we could possibly get. We chose swr as its the closest destination that the shelf is off the coast.
Any help appreciated

[Aussie123]

That is a great part of the world that you are heading too.
The river bar can be bad with an Easterly or Northerly swell and wind on it but it is quite sheltered in a Southerly unless you have a ground swell running.
Like any bar it is best on the run in tides but if there is little swell it is quite safe on any tides.
Often you an duck out around the end of the North wall and run along the beach and pop out into clean water so keep an eye on that option as it is good for most sized boats.
Never go south of the South wall,that is suicide down that side of the bar.
Generally you will head out along the South wall and go straight out or slightly in a Northerly direction, depending on where the channel is at the time as it moves a lot.
Back creek is another good option if the tides are right for your days fishing.
If the swell is up you can also beach launch in behind the Jail wall.
Offshore deep dropping is good off the Rocks with a ton of ground out there.
East of the Jail is a wreck in 95 fathoms with produces good bar cod,kings and other fish.
You will lose gear on it though, especially if you drop onto the front deck of the ship as it has huge holes rusted through it and your gear will end up inside the ship.
Lots of good cod inside it but deadly on your lines.
You have 3 main depth lines to fish off the Rocks.
100fm, 200fm and 300fm.
The 100-120fm is prime for Bar Cod,Snapper,Morwong,Nannygai and Kings, the 200fm for Bass Groper,Gemfish and smaller Blue Eye Trevalla and the 300fm is mostly larger Blue Eye and the odd Bassy.
There is tons of ground in all depths between Nambucca and Hat Head.
You will catch plenty of Bar Cod anywhere from 60 fathoms out to 120 fathoms.

[wetryin]

thanks Aussie, your info has confirmed it will be a great fishing trip
Wetryin