Australia is legendary for its fantastic fishing. Thousands of kilometers of fish-rich coastline rim the country, from the cool waters of the south to the tropical Top End and the world's largest fringing and barrier reefs.
Saltwater fishing in Australia is particularly rewarding. Flats fishing, rock fishing, and beach fishing are all popular pursuits whether you fish with bait, spin a lure, or cast a fly.
Game fishing is also excellent. Marlin, sailfish, mahimahi, and tuna swim the blue waters along the coast, and the country hosts the largest game fishing tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.
You can even fish in the cities. Fishing in Sydney, Australia is an unforgettable experience, with a wide variety of species in the harbor, bays, beaches, and rivers.
Wherever you cast your line, make sure you fish sustainably take only what you need and be sure to respect seasonal closures, as well as the local size and bag limits.
Fishing licenses are required for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Once you land at your favorite fishing destination, it's a good idea to pop into a tackle shop to chat with the locals about recent catches and conditions. Find the best spot to catch the "big one" with our list of the top fishing destinations in Australia.
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns fishing can be exhilarating. According to International Game Fishing Association records, up to 70 percent of all "granders" (black marlin exceeding 1,000 pounds) are caught in these waters each year. The season runs from September through late December, and nowadays, most of the marlin are tagged and released. The tropical waters adjacent to the reef and along the continental shelf are incredibly rich in baitfish and plankton and also attract species such as yellowfin tuna, Spanish mackerel, mahi mahi (dorado), barracuda, trevally, wahoo, and sailfish. You can also cast a line from the shore or cruise the mangrove-fringed rivers for barramundi. Trolling and spearfishing are also popular.
A range of charters are available out of Cairns, from estuary fishing and inshore and offshore light tackle sports fishing to reef fishing, fly fishing, and liveaboard trips. Another bonus is that Cairns has an international airport, making it easy to access for anglers arriving from outside Australia.
The Top End, Northern Territory
The best times to fish here are during the barra build-up, from October through December, when the fish school in the local billabongs and saltwater estuaries before monsoonal rains inundate the region, and the barra run-off, from February through May when the barramundi tend to congregate at the river mouths.
The best fishing spots in the Top End include the Daly River, the Mary River at Shady Camp, and the Adelaide River. In World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, the South and East Alligator River are top spots to fish by boat. Corroboree and Yellow Water Billabong are also promising.
But the Top End is not all about barramundi. During the dry season, from May through November, reef fishing is popular, and deep-sea fishing is a possibility at any time of year when the seas are calm. You can book a guided trip, stay at a fishing lodge, or hire a boat and fish the areas independently (but beware of saltwater crocodiles). Heli-fishing is also available on some of the rivers.
Cape York, Queensland
During the wet season, the roads here become impassable, but from May through December, a stream of thrill-seeking travelers venture north into this wild and remote region, where indigenous people have lived off the land for thousands of years.
Barramundi, cobia, mangrove jack, trevally, queenfish, mackerel, king salmon, cod, giant trevally, and tuna are all top catches here. You can cast along inshore reefs for coral trout, fish for baby barramundi in the billabongs, or try your luck off a rocky headland. Top off your angling adventure by cooking your catch of the day on an open fire under a glittering night sky.
To avoid the rough multi-day drive, you can fly into Bamaga or Weipa in less than two hours from Cairns and stay in a remote fishing lodge, or book a liveaboard boat trip. However, for many anglers, the 4WD journey is part of the adventure. Always check local conditions before heading out and beware of saltwater crocodiles.
Exmouth, Western Australia
You can cast a line here for species such as milkfish, bonefish, blue bone, queenfish, cobia, permit, trevally, mahi mahi, wahoo, and tuna. The continental shelf lies only a few kilometers away from the edge of the reef, offering excellent deep-sea fishing. Gamefish found in these waters include all six of the Australian billfish species: sailfish; black, blue, and striped marlin; broadbill swordfish; and short bill spearfish.
Other fishing options include sight casting across crystalline flats for giant trevally or prowling the flats of Ningaloo lagoon for bonefish. Fly fishing, trolling, bait fishing, and lure fishing is all possible here, and guides should be booked well in advance.
Exmouth is a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Perth. Note that the Ningaloo Marine Park encompasses sanctuary zones where fishing is prohibited. Check before you head out.
Central Highlands, Tasmania
Some lakes can only be reached by foot, but this is part of their magic. The prime time for fishing is in the early Southern Hemisphere summer through mid-fall. Tasmania also has excellent ocean fishing, especially along the east coast near towns such as St. Helens. The rivers around Launceston such as Macquarie, the South Esk, and Brumbys Creek are also favorites, and the Tyenna River, with both rainbow and brown trout, is a popular fly fishing spot.
Check to make sure the river or lake is open before you head out, and dress in layers, as the weather here can change quickly.
Broome, Western Australia
Beach anglers should head to Cable Beach. Here, you can cast along the gutters or from the craggy headlands to catch dart and blue-spotted trevally. Threadfin salmon and Northern bluefin tuna can be found close to shore, too. To the left of Gantheaume Point is another great fishing spot, where you have the chance to catch queenfish and trevally.
Offshore offers even more excitement. Anglers can catch sailfish, Spanish mackerel, black marlin, cobia, mahimahi, and northern bluefin tuna in these nutrient-rich waters. Broome's harbor lacks facilities for charter boats, so the best place to launch a boat is Gantheaume Beach, south of Cable Beach, or from one of the boat ramps around town.
Broome is also the gateway to the rugged and remote Kimberley region, with some of the best fishing in Australia for a variety of species. It's difficult to access this rugged region, but that's a big reason why fishing here is so rewarding.
Hervey Bay, Queensland
Sheltered by neighboring Fraser Island, the planet's largest sand island, the nutrient-rich waters off the coast usually offer calm nooks to fish, even on windy days. In particular, the area is famous for its beautiful golden trevally, which cruises the crystalline flats, but you can also cast for different kinds of tuna, giant trevally, cobia, sailfish, and marlin (striped, blue, and black).
For those seeking to catch a meal, tuna, whiting, tailor, flathead, and snapper are found in these waters, and beach fishing for bream is also popular.
Thanks to the protection of nearby islands, humpback whales often calve in these waters during winter. Charter options from Hervey Bay include sports fishing trips, guided saltwater fly fishing, and multi-day liveaboard excursions. You can also cast off the two-kilometer-long pier into deep waters during high tide to catch flathead, tuna, and kingfish.
Port Stephens, New South Wales
Besides chasing Australian game fish, anglers can also fish the brackish waters of the extensive Myall Lakes system; cast in the Karuah River; or fish the flats along Nelson Bay, where you can wade, kayak, or explore by boat. The best times to fish these weed-strewn shallows are during the rising or falling tide.
Frequently-caught species in the region include bream, dusky flathead, sand whiting, snapper, luderick, tailor, mulloway, and kingfish. Lure fishing in this region is especially rewarding. Note that some areas of the Great Lakes Marine Park are designated sanctuary zones, so be sure to check before heading out.
Port Lincoln, South Australia
You can cruise the blue waters by boat or cast a line off the beach. Jetty fishing and rock fishing along the rugged coastline are also popular things to do. Frequently caught species here include snapper, salmon, snook, whiting, garfish, and squid.
Primetime for tuna is late summer and autumn, while kingfish swim these waters in late spring and summer. Marinas are at Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay, and boat ramps are at both of these locations as well as Taylor's Landing, North Shields, Port Neill, Mt. Dutton Bay, and Coffin Bay. Note that the ocean can be rough here, so check local conditions before hitting the water.
Gippsland, Victoria
In this region, along the southern coast of Australia, you can cast a line in a clear mountain stream for brown and rainbow trout; fish one of the rivers or lakes for redfin, eel, carp, and Australian bass; or cast in the coastal waters for species such as King George whiting, silver trevally, bream, Australian salmon, gummy sharks, and snapper.
Top spots include the popular vacation hamlet of Lakes Entrance, where the Gippsland lakes connect to the Bass Strait, with many inland channels and rivers. The Avon River is also a popular spot for brown trout, bass, and redfin, while Blue Rock Lake, with brown trout and redfin, is famous for its fly fishing.
Inverloch and Corinella are also top spots along the coast, with sheltered beaches and plenty of fish, while Mallacoota and Tamboon are known for their dusky flathead. The mild climate of this scenic region makes for excellent fishing conditions most of the year.
Lake Jindabyne, New South Wales
Anglers can catch brown, brook, and rainbow trout here, as well as Atlantic salmon. All types of fishing are permitted, including bait, spinning, trolling, and fly fishing. Prime spots are usually around the lake edges. Fish early or late in the day for the best results.
In the township of Jindabyne, anglers can organize boat charter and rental, hire guides, and rent fishing equipment. If you're planning to visit during the popular winter season, from June through October, book accommodation well in advance.
In addition to the lakes, the region's streams and rivers also offer excellent fishing especially the Thredbo River but check for seasonal closures before you go. Jindabyne is also home to the Gaden Trout Hatchery, where you can learn about the region's fish breeding before you cast your line.
Sydney
Fishing at one of Sydney's beautiful beaches is also rewarding especially at Coogee, Bondi, and Palm Beach.
Many anglers also like to try rock fishing along the coast, but beware of rogue swells unsuspecting anglers are swept off the craggy headlands around Sydney's bays and beaches every year.
Another one of the best fishing spots in Sydney is the Parramatta River, Sydney Harbour's main tributary. Its many waterways offer excellent fishing for bream, blackfish, tailor, luderick, and flathead. You can also cast a line from Gladesville Wharf and Cabarita Wharf, but it's better to fish for fun rather than food along this river due to pollution.
Botany Bay is another fishing hot spot, where you can catch species like bream, tailor, whiting, salmon, blackfish, and flathead, and if you want to catch big game species, book an offshore fishing charter. Favorite catches include yellowfin, bluefin, and albacore tuna; mahimahi; striped, black, and blue marlin; as well as many shark species. You can also fish the offshore reefs and wrecks for snapper (September through March), mulloway, leather jacket, and kingfish.
Written by Karen Hastings View the top 10 beaches to visit in Australia
