Brooklyn Central Marina

16/10/2026

🌊 Did you know the Hawkesbury River around Brooklyn has a human history stretching back tens of thousands of years?

Long before Brooklyn became a bustling railway town or a favorite weekend getaway, the waters around Dyarubbin (the traditional Aboriginal name for the Hawkesbury River) were home to a thriving coastal culture! 🛶✨

Here’s a look back at the incredible First Nations history right on our doorstep:

🌿 Traditional Custodians
Brooklyn sits at a vital meeting point of saltwater and freshwater. The area is rich with the history of the Guringai (Wannungine) people of the coastal reaches, alongside the Dharug and Darkinjung peoples who navigated the river corridors.

🐟 Life on the Water (Nawi)
Local clans crafted bark canoes called nawi from stringybark trees. Women fished from these canoes using shell hooks, keeping small clay fires burning onboard to cook fish fresh from the river! Men speared fish in the shallow estuaries and hunted along the sandstone ridges.

🦘 Ancient Traces in the Landscape
If you walk the trails around Brooklyn and nearby Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, you're stepping on living history:

Middens: Thick layers of discarded oyster and mussel shells marking ancient campsites along the shoreline.

Grinding Grooves: Smooth marks on sandstone rocks near freshwater creeks where stone axes were sharpened.

Rock Engravings: High on the surrounding ridges, ancestral art depicts wallabies, marine life, and spirit figures carved directly into the stone platform.

❤️ Living Connection
Colonisation brought rapid change to the lower Hawkesbury through disease and land clearing, but the enduring connection to Country remains strong. Today, Dharug, Guringai, and Darkinjung descendants continue to care for and protect these sacred sites and waterways.

Next time you’re sitting by the water at Brooklyn, take a quiet moment to remember the deep history of Dyarubbin that flows right past us. 🌏💙

16/10/2026

⚓ TALKING WATERWAY RESPECT: ARE WE LOSING THE OLD RIVER CODE? ⚓

Out here on the Hawkesbury, we’ve always prided ourselves on being a tight-knit community. Whether you're in a $100k trailer boat, an old tinny, or a kayak, there used to be an unwritten law: If you see someone in trouble on the water, you step up and help.

Lately, though, we’ve heard a few frustrating stories around Brooklyn that have got locals talking.

From boaties sitting back and watching someone struggle with a dead battery or a stuck anchor, to vessels motoring straight past a stranded boat in a ripping current without even slowing down to check if they're alright.

Out on the water, conditions change in a heartbeat. A sudden engine cut out near the Mooney Mooney bridge, a fouled prop in a channel, or taking on water on a choppy afternoon isn't just inconvenient—it can turn dangerous real fast.

🤝 WHAT GOOD WATERMANSHIP LOOKS LIKE:

• Check in on stranded boats: You don't have to put your own vessel at risk, but a quick throw of a tow rope, lending a jump-starter, or pulling alongside to ask "All good mate?" takes 30 seconds and can save someone’s day.
• Mind your wash: Plowing through narrow channels or near anchored fishers creates unnecessary hazard for smaller boats.
• Log on with Marine Rescue: Look out for your mates, but also make sure Marine Rescue Hawkesbury knows where you are so nobody has to come looking for you in the dark.

At the end of the day, we all share the same river, and we all rely on each other when things go wrong. Let’s keep the Hawkesbury tradition alive—pass on the good karma, lend a hand where you can, and teach the next generation of boaties what true water respect looks like.

👇 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:
Have you ever been saved by a fellow boatie on the Hawkesbury, or witnessed someone turning a blind eye when help was needed? Let’s talk about it below! 👇💬

15/10/2026

🌧️ WHY A LITTLE RAIN IS ACTUALLY A SECRET WEAPON FOR FISHING! 🎣

Don't let a few grey clouds or a light shower keep you off the water this weekend! Ask any seasoned Hawkesbury local, and they’ll tell you that a bit of rain often brings out the best fishing around Brooklyn.

Here’s why fishing in a light drizzle on the river can be absolute gold:

🌧️ 1. The Fish Lose Their Guard
Rain ripples the water’s surface, breaking up light and line sight. Fish like bream, flathead, and jewfish feel much safer stepping out from cover into the open, making them far more willing to strike your lure or bait!

🌊 2. Fresh Run-Off Means Easy Feeds
A bit of rain flushes nutrients, insects, and small bait out from the mangrove creeks into the main river channels. Key drop-offs around Cowan Creek and the mudflats become prime ambush zones as hungry predatory fish line up for a feed.

🚤 3. You Have the River to Yourself
Fair-weather boaties stay home! That means quieter water, less boat traffic noise, and your pick of the best fishing spots around Spectacle Island, Mooney Mooney, and Dangar Island.

🚤 READY TO EMBRACE THE DRIZZLE THIS WEEKEND?

Throw on a light raincoat, pack a thermos, and let’s get you out on the Hawkesbury!

Brooklyn Central Marina has our fleet of hire boats fueled up and ready to go for this weekend. Whether you’re chasing a quiet drift for flathead or looking to hit the pylons for bream, we’ll set you up with the right boat, local drift tips, and all the fresh bait and tackle you need before you launch.

👇 OVER TO YOU:
What’s your best catch on a rainy day around the Hawkesbury? Drop your stories or photos below! 👇💬

📞 Book your boat for the weekend: Drop into the shop or give us a call to reserve your tinnie! 20% off Tinnie Hire If you quote: I WANNA GO FISHING! when making your booking.

PH: Ph: 02 9985 8870 M:0414 969 844

15/10/2026

🐟 LOCAL GUIDE: HOW TO NAIL YAKKAS (YELLOWTAIL SCAD) AROUND BROOKLYN! 🐟

Whether you're stocking the live well for a day of kingfish/jewfish hunting or looking for a fun session with the kids, Yakkas (Yellowtail Scad) are one of the most reliable target species in the lower Hawkesbury!

Here is how, where, and when to fill your bucket or bait tank around Brooklyn:

📍 Where to Find Them
Yakkas love structure, pylons, and drop-offs where current meets cover and tiny baitfish assemble.

Brooklyn Public Wharf & Marina Pylons: Prime real estate. Yakkas congregate tightly around the timber and concrete poles out of the main current.

Mooney Mooney Railway & Road Bridge Pylons: Outstanding structure that holds massive schools on almost any tide.

Spectacle Island & Long Island Drop-offs: Great boat spots along the w**d lines and rocky edges.

Dangar Island Public Wharf: Another fantastic land-based or boat option with plenty of shade and structure.

⏰ Best Time & Tides
Tide: The slack tide (top or bottom of the tide) and the first hour of the turn are ideal. Too much roaring current makes it harder to keep your rig vertically against the pylons.

Time: Dawn and dusk are peak feeding times, but you can pull them up all day if you keep a light berley trail running.

🎣 Gear & Rigs
Sabiki / Feather Rigs: Pre-made 5 or 6-hook Sabiki rigs (size #6 to #10 hooks with small fish-skin or foil sleeves) are the fastest way to double or triple up.

Light Rod Setup: A light 1–3kg spin rod with 4lb–8lb monofilament or braid.

Weight: A small drop-sinker attached to the bottom of the Sabiki rig—just heavy enough to hold straight down in the current.

Single Hook Alternative: If they are timid, drop a single #8 long-shank hook weighted with a tiny split-shot carrying a small piece of prawn, squid, or chicken.

💡 Proven Catching Tips
Berley is Key! Throw out small handfuls of breadcrumbs mixed with crushed tuna oil or mashed pilchards. This brings the school right up under your boat or off the end of the wharf.

No Bait Needed (Usually): With a good Sabiki rig, the movement of the reflective foil is enough. Just drop it down near the pylons, gently lift and lower your rod tip, and wait for the distinctive fast tap-tap-tap.

Tip for Baiting: If they aren't striking bare hooks, place a tiny, pinhead-sized piece of squid or prawn on each hook point.

Handling for Live Bait: If keeping them alive for kingies or jewies, avoid touching them with dry hands. Use a wet towel or a fine mesh net to drop them straight into an aerated live well!

🎣 Gearing up for a session?
Stop by Brooklyn Central before you head out! We’ve got rigs, sinkers, bait, and berley ready to go to make sure your bait tank stays full!

15/10/2026

🦐 PRAWN RUN SEASON IS HERE, BROOKLYN! 🦐

Is there anything better than a feed of fresh Hawkesbury prawns you caught yourself? With the warmer weather rolling in, the iconic dark-of-the-moon runs are gearing up, and the river is buzzing!

Whether you’re heading out in the tinnie or setting up on the edge of the flats, here’s a quick local guide to bagging a feed around Brooklyn:

📍 Top Local Hotspots:
• Brooklyn Channel & Flathead Island: Prime territory as the tide drains off the mudflats.
• Cowan Creek & Jerusalem Bay: Great sheltered pockets with muddy bottoms.
• Mooney Mooney & Spectacle Island: Cracker drop-offs near the sandbanks.

🌙 The Golden Secret:
Timing is everything! Hit the water on a dark moon (new moon) during the first few hours of the run-out tide at night. That’s when the prawns drift downstream into the deeper water—just look for those glowing red eyes in your light beam!

💡 Local Tip: Remember, prawns flick backward when spooked, so always scoop from behind!

🎣 Gearing up? We've got you covered!
Before you hit the water, swing by Brooklyn Central. We’ve got all your bait, tackle, and night-prawning essentials ready to go—from torches and headlamps to the right scoop nets and buckets. Pop in to grab your gear and get the latest local word on where they're running!

👇 WE WANT TO KNOW:
What’s your go-to spot around the river, or how do you prefer to eat them—straight out of an ice slurry, or tossed on the barbie with garlic butter?

Drop your best prawn photo or local tip in the comments below! 👇💬

14/10/2026

🦑 HAWKESBURY SQUID GUIDE: How & Where to Land Calamari Around Brooklyn! 🦑

Thinking of stocking the freezer or catching fresh live bait for big mulloway? The Hawkesbury has plenty of squid if you know where to look and how to trick 'em! Here’s your quick guide to getting it done:

📍 WHERE TO FISH

Land-Based: Brooklyn Public Wharf, Parsley Bay Wharf, and the McKell Park rock walls. (Night hours under wharf lights are prime as shadow lines lock in baitfish!)

Boat & Kayak: W**d beds off Careel Bay, West Head, Juno Point kelp margins, and the drop-offs around Dangar Spit and Jerusalem Bay.

🌊 CONDITIONS & TACKLE

Tide & Clarity: Aim for high slack tide—it brings clear ocean water into the river, which squid need to hunt. If the river turns fresh and muddy after rain, push out toward Pittwater!

Gear Setup: 1–4kg rod, 2000–2500 reel, 6–8lb braid, and an 8–12lb fluorocarbon leader.

Jigs: Size 2.5–3.0. Natural colors work best in clear water; use pinks, oranges, or glow patterns for murky water and low light.

🔥 3 PRO TIPS FOR MORE SQUID

The Lift & Drop: Cast past the target, let it sink, then give the rod 2–3 sharp whips. Reel in slack and let it slowly flutter down—squid almost always strike on the drop!

Don't Strike! When you feel weight, just apply smooth, steady pressure. A hard hookset will pull right through their tentacles.

Ink Control: Hold them over the water for a few seconds before bringing them on board to save your clothes and deck! 🦑💦

🛒 NEED QUICK BAIT? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Don't have time to catch your own? Drop into Brooklyn Central! We get fresh squid delivered every few days and flash-freeze it immediately so you can grab top-tier bait and hit the water fast. 🎣❄️

💬 OVER TO YOU: Where’s your go-to squid spot around Brooklyn, and what jig color never fails you? Drop your top picks and best catches in the comments below! 👇🎣

13/10/2026

🎣 FLATHEAD SECRETS OF THE HAWKESBURY (And where to find them!) 🐊

If you’re heading out around Brooklyn this week, Dusky Flathead are well and truly active! These camouflage kings love hiding out in the sand and mud, waiting to ambushing anything that swims past.

Want to fill the esky (or land a monster release photo)? Here is where to look and a few local secrets to turn a quiet day into a session to remember 👇

📍 WHERE TO HUNT THEM AROUND BROOKLYN:

Sandbars around Dangar Island: Drift the drop-offs on a run-out tide as the bait gets flushed off the shallow flats.

Cowan Creek Entrances: Work the edges where the deep channels meet sandbanks—flats love sitting right on the transition zone.

Spector Island & Shallow Bays: Great spots to cast soft plastics or hop fresh poddy mullet along the bottom.

🤫 LOCAL FLATHEAD SECRETS:

1️⃣ Match the Tide: The last two hours of the run-out tide are prime time. As water leaves the sandflats, flathead stack up along the channel edges waiting for an easy meal.

2️⃣ Use the "Hop and Pause": Whether you’re fishing soft plastics or live bait, flathead strike on the drop! Give your lure two sharp twitches up, then let it sink back to the sand for a full 2–3 seconds.

3️⃣ Don't Cheap Out on Fluorocarbon: Flathead have tiny, needle-sharp teeth that act like sandpaper. Running a 10–15lb fluorocarbon leader prevents those heartbreaking bust-offs when a big croc turns her head!

4️⃣ Fresh is Best: Live poddy mullet or fresh local prawns beat frozen bait every single time.

Dusky Flathead (most common in the Hawkesbury)

Size Limit: 36 cm minimum to 70 cm maximum (slot limit—all fish under 36 cm or over 70 cm must be released immediately).

Daily Bag Limit: 5 per person.

Possession Limit: 10 per person.

Other Flathead Species (e.g., Sand Flathead, Bluespotted Flathead, Tiger Flathead)

Size Limit: 33 cm minimum.

Daily Bag Limit: 10 per person (combined across species other than Dusky).

Possession Limit: 20 per person.

☕️ GET READY BEFORE YOU HIT THE WATER:
Grab your ice, fresh bait, tackle, cold drinks, and a hot barista coffee from Brooklyn Central before launching your boat hire. We’ve got local updates on what’s biting every morning!

💬 COMMUNITY QUESTION FOR THE LOCALS:
What's your go-to lure or bait for Hawkesbury flathead? Are you team Soft Plastics or team Live Poddies?

Drop your favorite spot or personal best size in the comments below! 👇👇

12/10/2026

👑 Chasing the Silver Ghost: The Hawkesbury River Jewfish!
There’s no fish on the Hawkesbury that gets an angler’s heart racing quite like the mighty Jewfish (Mulloway). Elusive, powerful, and famous for their late-night strikes, landing a proper Hawkesbury "Jewie" is a true badge of honour for any fisho! 🎣✨

Whether you're a seasoned local or trying to crack the code on your first silver slab, location and timing are everything. Here are three iconic spots along our river system where big Jewies love to hunt:

1. The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge Pylons 🌉
The massive structure and swirling currents around the bridge pylons create the perfect ambush zone for big predators.

The Strategy: Anchor up on the slack tide (either high or low) and drop live Hawkesbury squid or fresh yakka right along the edge of the structure. Hold on tight—when they hit here, they’ll try to bust you off in the steel instantly!

2. Juno Point 🌊
Located right where the river meets the salt of Broken Bay, Juno Point is a legendary Jewie holdout. The deep drop-offs and heavy underwater rock bars hold serious fish throughout the year.

The Strategy: Drift or anchor near the drop-offs during the change of tide, especially during a full or new moon. Fresh squid strips or large soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom are deadly here.

3. Mooney Mooney Highway Bridge 🚤
The deep holes and shadow lines cast by the highway bridges offer prime cover for Jewies waiting for bait to wash through on the run-out tide.

The Strategy: Fish the night tides around the bridge light boundaries where live bait gathers. A slow-drifted live prawn or squid down deep is hard for a cruising Mulloway to resist!

💡 Local Tip for Success:
Jewfish are suckers for fresh, high-quality bait. If you're heading out with dead or soft bait, your chances drop significantly. Spend that extra 30 minutes jigging fresh squid or live bait before heading to your spot—it makes all the difference!

Over to you, Hawkesbury Anglers! 👇
What's your ultimate Jewie secret? Are you fishing the deep structure at night, or do you prefer working soft plastics on the change of tide?

Drop your thoughts (or your best Jewie photos!) in the comments below! 📸👇

(Need live bait rigs, fresh ice, tackle, or fuel before your night session? Swing by Brooklyn Central on your way out—we've got you covered! ☕️⚓️)

11/10/2026

09/10/2026

There’s nothing quite like dropping a line in the Hawkesbury around Brooklyn… 🎣☀️

From chasing flathead along the drop-offs and hunting jewfish in the deep channels, to snagging bream around the oyster leases, our stretch of the river is an angler’s paradise. 🚤🐟

Whether you're an experienced fisherman testing your favorite rigs or taking the kids out to catch their very first fish, a day out on the water here never disappoints.

We want to know: What’s your go-to targeted species on the Hawkesbury right now?

👇 Drop your pick in the comments:
1️⃣ Flathead on the sand flats 🌾
2️⃣ Bream around the snags and structure 🪨
3️⃣ Jewfish in the deep currents 🌊
4️⃣ Whiting, leatherjackets, or whatever’s biting! 🎣

Tell us your target species or tag your top fishing buddy below! 👇