Long periods of barrier closure of ICOLLs make larval fish recruitment difficultfrom adjacent surf zones. By comparing assemblages of both environments it could be determined that certain fish do enter ICOLLs via various processes while using adjacent surf zones as accumulation areas. This study determined if there were any spatial or temporal variation between four ICOLLs and surf zone areas on the NSW central coast. Bimonthly, low tide, night sampling of surf zone areas adjacent, ~100m north and ~100m south of the mouth of ICOLLs as well as in the mouths of ICOLLs occurred from April 2006 to March 2007 using a larval seine net with 1mm mesh. Larval along with small adult and juvenile fish were collected. Clupeidae and Leptoscopidae were the most abundant families collected in surf zones while Ambassidae, Atherinidae, Eleotridae and Sparidae were the most abundant families collected in ICOLLs. Significant differences in fish numbers were found over time between ICOLLs and also between surf zone regions and adjacent, north and south areas. A difference in the families of fish collected between the two environments has shown that central NSW coast ICOLLs are not replenished by surf zone areas.