Port Jackson shark in New South Wales
A harmless, horn-finned shark that gathers in large numbers on the southern NSW and Victorian coast in late winter to breed.
Heterodontus portusjacksoni
The Port Jackson shark is a small (to 1.6 m), blunt-headed bottom-dweller with a harness pattern on the back and a spine in front of each dorsal fin, common from southern Queensland around to Western Australia. It is nocturnal, resting in caves and gutters by day, and from July to October it aggregates in shallow water to mate, laying spiral egg cases that it wedges into rock crevices. The Gutter at Bass Point, Jervis Bay, Sydney's Harbour and Botany Bay sites and the Mornington Peninsula piers see dozens at a time in season.
Field notes
How to find port jackson shark on the dive
- Depth
- 3–25 m.
- Habitat
- Rocky reef and caves along the NSW, Victorian and South Australian coasts; they aggregate to breed in winter and spring in the shallows of Jervis Bay, Sydney's reefs and Port Phillip Bay.
- The tell
- A small shark with a blunt pig-like head, dark harness markings and a spine on each dorsal fin, resting on the bottom in groups of ten or twenty under ledges in winter. The spiral egg cases are wedged into cracks nearby.
- Behaviour
- Harmless and lethargic by day. They come inshore in numbers from July to October, then the females lay the spiral eggs and the adults move offshore for summer.
- Etiquette
- Do not lift or handle them, and leave the egg cases in their cracks; they take up to a year to hatch.
Season heat map
When port jackson shark sites are in season
Share of the 91 port jackson shark sites in New South Wales with a stated best season that includes each month.
Stated season: Year-round, most numerous July–October.
Port Jackson shark sites in New South Wales170 sites
Ordered by how regularly the site is dived and how well it is documented. The species is listed in each site's recorded marine life; sightings are never guaranteed.
All other sites recording port jackson shark
- Murrays Beach · Max 12 m · Jervis Bay
- Old Man's Hat (North Head) · Max 26 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Point Perpendicular Sponge Gardens · Max 34 m · Jervis Bay
- Shelly Beach / Cabbage Tree Bay (Manly) · Max 16 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Latitude Rock · Max 15 m · Forster & Seal Rocks
- North Head Sponge Gardens · Max 26 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- The Waterfall (North Head) · Max 22 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Bare Island – 15 Metre Reef · Max 16 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bare Island – Deep Wall · Max 19 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bubble Cave (Black Rock) · Max 21 m · Batemans Bay
- Burrill Rocks · Max 24 m · Ulladulla
- Dee Why Wide (Advanced) · Max 30 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Drum and Drumsticks · Max 30 m · Jervis Bay
- Freshwater (Harbord) · Max 18 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Green Point (Camp Cove) · Max 19 m · Sydney Harbour
- Long Reef Wall · Max 24 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Martin Island · Max 30 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Red Indian Point · Max 23 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- SS Royal Shepherd wreck · Max 30 m · Sydney Harbour
- The Apartments (Long Reef) · Max 21 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- The Arch (Black Rock) · Max 20 m · Batemans Bay
- The Arch (Jervis Bay) · Max 40 m · Jervis Bay
- The Tunnel (Black Rock) · Max 21 m · Batemans Bay
- TSS Wandra · Max 28 m · Jervis Bay
- Adamson Sponge Gardens · Max 24 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Cabbage Tree Bay (Norah Head) · Max 9 m · Central Coast
- Fairfax Lookout (North Head) · Max 30 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Fifeshire Reef (North Avoca) · Max 21 m · Central Coast
- Home Bommie (Ulladulla) · Max 26 m · Ulladulla
- Lighthouse Bay (Montague Island) · Max 16 m · Narooma & Montague Island
- South Broulee Cave · Max 15 m · Batemans Bay
- Ten Fathom Dropoff · Max 40 m · Jervis Bay
- The Temple (Moon Island) · Max 20 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Under the Tube (Moon Island) · Max 22 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Gorgonia Grove (North Head) · Max 26 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Outer Flagstaff (North Head) · Max 20 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Ray Alley (North Head) · Max 20 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Runway 36 (North Head) · Max 27 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Bass and Flinders Point (Cronulla) · Max 6 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Black Rock Drift · Max 20 m · Batemans Bay
- Cathedral Cave · Max 23 m · Jervis Bay
- Indian Point (Congwong Bay) · Max 16 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Kiama Gutter · Max 17 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Lighthouse Sponge Gardens · Max 22 m · Ulladulla
- Long Bay (Malabar) · Max 10 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Lous Reef – Bass Point Island North · Max 26 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Mahon Pool (North Maroubra) · Max 24 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Parsley Bay · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Pistol Crack (Cape Banks) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- South Maroubra · Max 15 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- SS Duckenfield wreck · Max 23 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- SS Tuggerah wreck · Max 49 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Arch (Bass Point) · Max 26 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Windy Point (Cronulla) · Max 12 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bawley Point · Max 13 m · Ulladulla
- Blacksmiths Shallows · Max 7 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Catherine Hill Bay shore dives · Max 9 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Desoto Inlet Drift · Max 16 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Flagstaff / Moon Island Bay (Swansea Heads) · Max 8 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Flagstaff Point · Max 12 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Garden Bay (Malua Bay) · Max 10 m · Batemans Bay
- Haycock Point · Max 18 m · Merimbula
- Pretty Point · Max 10 m · Batemans Bay
- Short Point (Merimbula) · Max 12 m · Merimbula
- Snapper Point / Bongon Beach (Munmorah) · Max 12 m · Central Coast
- Swansea Coal Loader / SS Wallarah remains · Max 11 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- The Bull / Bull Rocks (Norah Head) · Max 22 m · Central Coast
- Wobbegong Bay (Durras) · Max 15 m · Batemans Bay
- Blue Moon (North Head) · Max 28 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Checkpoint Charlie (North Head) · Max 26 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Delwood Beach (Fairlight) · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Forresters Reef · Max 30 m · Central Coast
- Latitude Reef · Max 16 m · Forster & Seal Rocks
- Little Hyams Beach · Depth not published · Jervis Bay
- Manly Bommie · Max 14 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- PJ Cove (Entrance Bommies) · Max 18 m · Central Coast
- Short Point Bommie · Max 20 m · Merimbula
- Spoon Bay Reef (Wamberal) · Max 17 m · Central Coast
- The Ledges (Montague Island) · Max 18 m · Narooma & Montague Island
- Wonderland (Merimbula) · Max 35 m · Merimbula
- Barrens Hut (Royal National Park) · Max 28 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Cape Banks / Cruwee Cove · Max 30 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Cape Solander – Whale Watching Platform · Max 23 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Hump One · Max 36 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Hump Wall · Max 34 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Hungry Jacks (Jibbon) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Maccas Reef (Jibbon) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Marley Point North (Royal National Park) · Max 21 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Marys Reef (Royal National Park) · Max 24 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Middle Ground (Cronulla) · Max 33 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Minmi Trench · Max 26 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- MV Bellubera wreck · Max 46 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Osborn Shoal (Cronulla) · Max 24 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Osborn Shoal East · Max 22 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Osborn Shoal South West · Max 18 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Osborn Shoal West · Max 17 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Six Fathom Reef (Port Hacking) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- SS Annie M. Miller wreck · Max 46 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- SS Birchgrove Park wreck · Max 51 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- SS Centennial wreck (Taylors Bay) · Max 15 m · Sydney Harbour
- SS Dee Why (ferry) wreck · Max 48 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- SS Hilda wreck (Cape Baily) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Cutting (Royal National Park) · Max 22 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Gullies / Underwater Wilderness · Max 22 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Split (Royal National Park) · Max 28 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Wanderers (Bate Bay) · Max 46 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Tumbledowns (Royal National Park) · Max 24 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Voodoo (Kurnell) · Max 28 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Wattamolla Point (Royal National Park) · Max 27 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Whale Watching Rockfall (Cape Solander) · Max 26 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Yellow Rock (Malabar) · Max 26 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Angourie Point / Green Point reef · Max 14 m · Yamba & Iluka
- Broulee Island · Max 20 m · Batemans Bay
- Bypass Reef (Cape Banks) · Max 33 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Dobroyd Head / Reef Beach · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Forty Baskets Beach · Max 10 m · Sydney Harbour
- Lighthouse Reef (Norah Head) · Max 19 m · Central Coast
- Little Bay – 4th Hole · Max 12 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Manly Beach (South Steyne – Queenscliff) · Max 8 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Middle Head (Cobblers Beach and Obelisk Beach) · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- North Curl Curl · Max 20 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Obelisk Beach (Middle Head south) · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Pink Floyd (Botany Bay) · Max 26 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Potato Point · Max 12 m · Narooma & Montague Island
- Red Flag (Long Bay Rifle Range) · Max 23 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- SS Osprey wreck · Max 42 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- SS Shamrock wreck (Catherine Hill Bay) · Max 6 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Tabbagai Gap · Max 29 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Cutting North Reef · Max 21 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Yena Wall (Kurnell) · Max 18 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Austinmer · Max 12 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Avalon (Little Av) · Max 10 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Barrenjoey Head / Palm Beach · Max 22 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Bellambi Point · Max 17 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Bilgola Beach (northern headland) · Max 15 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Bongin Bongin Bay (Mona Vale Basin) · Max 15 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Bradleys Head (shore reef) · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Bunga Head · Depth not published · Bermagui & Tathra
- Castle Rock Beach / Grotto Point (Clontarf) · Max 10 m · Sydney Harbour
- Collins Flat Beach (Spring Cove) · Max 8 m · Sydney Harbour
- Dee Why Point / Dee Why to Curl Curl reef (northern end) · Max 14 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Dolphin Point · Max 12 m · Ulladulla
- Doubt Reef · Max 45 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Golf Course Reef · Max 25 m · Ulladulla
- Jeffs Reef · Max 22 m · Central Coast
- Lennards Island · Max 25 m · Eden & Green Cape
- Lion Island (Broken Bay) · Max 18 m · Central Coast
- Lobster Bay · Max 6 m · Shoalhaven Coast
- Long Reef Aquatic Reserve (shore) · Max 12 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Mewstone (Eden) · Depth not published · Eden & Green Cape
- Mona Vale Headland · Max 15 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Palm Beach (ocean side – rock pool and Kiddies Corner) · Max 16 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Point Upright · Max 20 m · Batemans Bay
- Sandon Point · Max 6 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Snapper Point (Merry Beach) · Max 18 m · Ulladulla
- Towradgi Point · Max 15 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Tura Head · Depth not published · Merimbula
- Warang Point · Max 25 m · Eden & Green Cape
- Werri Point · Max 10 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Windang Island · Max 12 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- Wyargine Point (Edwards Beach, Balmoral) · Max 10 m · Sydney Harbour
Frequently asked questions
How do I find port jackson shark on a dive?
Rocky reef and caves along the NSW, Victorian and South Australian coasts; they aggregate to breed in winter and spring in the shallows of Jervis Bay, Sydney's reefs and Port Phillip Bay. A small shark with a blunt pig-like head, dark harness markings and a spine on each dorsal fin, resting on the bottom in groups of ten or twenty under ledges in winter. The spiral egg cases are wedged into cracks nearby.
Where is the best place to see port jackson shark in Australia?
Bass Point; Jervis Bay; Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay; Mornington Peninsula; Rottnest.
When is the best time to see port jackson shark?
Year-round, most numerous July–October.
How should I approach port jackson shark?
Do not handle the egg cases and do not pick the sharks up; the dorsal spines are sharp.