Fishing Spots in TAS @ ExplorOz

Great Oyster Bay	Central Highlands
D’Entrecasteaux Channel	Article Feedback
Derwent Estuary	Related Pages

In this Article

Great Oyster Bay

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Great Oyster Bay is surrounded by the western coast of Freycinet National Park, Nine Mile Beach in the north and the historic township of Swansea to the west. The coastal shores reveals stunning countryside with white beaches, rocky headlands and low granite peaks.

Fishing Spots

Within Great Oyster Bay is the sheltered Coles Bay which is one of the most popular fishing spots in Tasmania. Coles Bay is situated at the northern edge of the Freycinet National Park and provides anglers the chance to land some nice flathead, trevally, trumpeter, Australian salmon, mackerel, cod, shark and barracouta. The waters around Coles Bay are deep and often very clear. The bay is protected from the open sea providing calm waters, although at times a howling south-westerly can arise. The channel that runs behind the coastal strip of Nine Mile Beach can be fished for bream, flathead, flounder and Australian salmon. Swansea has a nice jetty which anglers use to target flounder, garfish, flathead, whiting and mullet.

Tips

Bream are commonly found in the creeks and rivers along the coast and in particular, around the entrances after rain. There is spot behind Nine Mile Beach called Moulting Lagoon that is chock full of bait fish such as prettyfish and shrimp which can only be caught using a bait net or landing net.

D’Entrecasteaux Channel

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The D’Entrecasteaux Channel is the region of waters between Bruny Island and the southeast Tasmanian mainland. The channel extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers.

Fishing Spots

The D’Entrecasteaux Channel provides shore based anglers the chance to get amongst fish that would normally be reserved for boat anglers. The best fishing spot on the channel would be Port Esperance mainly for its diverse and abundant fish species. This spot has deep shelving waters which is accessible from the various points, wharves and jetties near Dover. Some of the predominant catches are flathead, Australian salmon, sea-run brown trout and barracouta. Flounder can be caught in the shallows, whilst trevally and trumpeter are found in the deeper waters. The two best places are the Dover jetty which is in the Dover township and straight in front of the Esperance Camp on the river.

Tips

Seek local knowledge on which fish are biting. This is particularly evident when squid are in plague proportions because as the word spreads, the jetties and wharves soon become very crowded. Another highly prized catch is the Atlantic salmon which is also farmed here. Often these fish escape the many cages around the channel and this gives recreational anglers the chance to catch them.

Derwent Estuary

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Derwent Estuary was named after the Celtic word 'clear water' in 1794 by Captain John Hayes. This estuary extends from the rural town of New Norfolk south to Iron Pot lighthouse. The Derwent estuary lies at the heart of the Hobart metropolitan area and holds around 40% of the population of Tasmania.

Fishing Spots

The Derwent Estuary is very popular for recreational anglers. Because it’s so close to the city of Hobart, the numerous jetties, enclosed bays and productive reefs are constantly in use. Some of the popular spots include Sandy Bay which is fished for flathead, whiting, flounder, Australian salmon and even small morwong. Silver trevally up to 3kgs can be taken between Droughty Point and the Tasman Bridge. At Punchs Reef which is just out from Tranmere, anglers get a chance to land some nice cod, morwong and silver trevally. A short walk from the city is where you can fish from the wharves and jetties - in particular those around Secheron Point and Selfs Point. During plentiful times, you could expect catches of mackerel, cod, barracouta, bream and warehou.

Tips

In the Autumn months, one of the most active fish in the Derwent Estuary is the warehou. Huge schools move into the estuary and can be targeted from the shore or a boat. For around two or three weeks a year, there is a nice run of good-sized trevally that enter the river. They are unpredictable in their arrival, but can be very exciting as they chase small baitfish.

Central Highlands

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The Central Highlands region of Tasmania ranges from 600 to 1200 metres above sea level. The region features high plateaus in the east, jagged mountains in the west and gentle foothills in the south. It is also dotted with numerous lakes with many stocked with prized rainbow trout, brown trout and the occasional brook trout.

Fishing Spots

Some spots are obtainable by conventional vehicles and others are only accessible by foot. Great Lake, Arthurs Lake and Lake Sorell are three of the most popular and productive trout lakes in the Central Highlands region. Arthurs Lake is said to produce the biggest overall ‘tonnage’ of trout in any Tasmanian lake. Bronte Lagoon is a popular destination for fly fishing and the technique of ‘sight fishing’ can be implemented - the phenomenon of targeting tailing trout feeding in clear waters only inches deep.

Tips

To fish at in Tasmanian inland waters, you must hold a current Angling Licence and fish with a rod, reel and line during the angling season that applies to the water. Please be up to date with the regulations in the specific area you wish to fish as there are strict bag and size limits and some waters are reserved for fly fishing only - therefore prohibiting the use of bait.

As a general rule of thumb - lure casting is better suited to rough overcast weather conditions, while fly fishing is best suited when the skies are bright and clear. Popular fly hooks include the Black Spinner which can be used on calm days, and the Red Tag which is ideally suited for sight fishing.

Topics Index
Each Topic contains a range of detailed and useful articles on products, services and issues. This section is full of practical tips, ideas, photos and factual information. [Feature Story]

Offshore Fishing
Ever wondered why some offshore boat anglers catch more quality fish than others? The main key to success lies with knowledge, experience, and of course - plenty of practice!! Like anything, developing good knowledge and habits earlier on - makes better practice.

Beach Fishing
Put on your wet weather overalls, berley up the water and cast a 70 plus metre line to get past the breakers - this is the typical lifestyle of the dedicated beach angler. With around 7000 beaches to choose from, Australia offers plenty of opportunities to target coastal fish such as tailor, salmon and mulloway.

Inland Fishing
Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent with 70% receiving between 100 and 350mm of rainfall annually. So with such little rainfall, you may wonder whether Australia has a good freshwater fishery. This article explores Australia's inland fishing possibilities and includes a general overview of what to catch, where and how.

NSW Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in New South Wales.

VIC Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in Victoria.

QLD Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in Queensland.

SA Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in South Australia.

WA Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in Western Australia.

NT Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in the Northern Territory.

TAS Fishing Rules
Fishing in Australian salt and fresh waters is governed by state rules and regulations and must be strictly followed as these laws are in place to ensure fisheries are ecologically sustainable. This guide touches on the rules and regulations for recreational fishing in Tasmania.

Fishing Spots in WA
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in Western Australia and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing Spots in SA
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in South Australia and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing Spots in NT
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in the Northern Territory and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing Spots in QLD
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in Queensland and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing Spots in NSW & ACT
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in New South Wales (including ACT) and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing Spots in VIC
Each state and territory in Australia has its own premier fishing spots and predominant fish species. Some locations may reveal abundant fish stocks of a select species whilst others may offer a more diverse range of species. This article discusses some of the popular fishing spots in Victoria and provides some helpful tips.

Fishing
Fishing is the latest new Topic to be released on ExplorOz. From this Topic Index we provide access to all the relevant site pages about Fishing. Articles include Fishing Rules and Regulations for every state of Australia.

Topics Index	Fishing Spots in WA	Offshore Fishing	WA Fishing Rules
Fishing	Fishing Spots in QLD	NSW Fishing Rules	TAS Fishing Rules
Fishing Spots in NSW & ACT	Fishing Spots in SA	QLD Fishing Rules	SA Fishing Rules
Beach Fishing	Inland Fishing	VIC Fishing Rules	NT Fishing Rules
Fishing Spots in VIC	Fishing Spots in NT