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.
Check out some of the most interesting fishing destinations in Australia created by the portal planetware.com
1. Cairns, Queensland
If it’s your dream to catch a huge black marlin, as well as just about any other Australian gamefish species you can name, this is the place to come. North Queensland, in particular the area from Cairns northwards along the Great Barrier Reef, is known as the black marlin capital of the world.
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.
2. The Top End, Northern Territory
Encompassing Darwin and Kakadu National Park, the tropical northernmost tip of the Northern Territory or “Top End,” as it’s called, is famous for some of the best barramundi fishing in Australia.
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.
Note: Be beware of saltwater crocodiles.
3. Cape York, Queensland
Cape York offers anglers the ultimate Aussie fishing adventure. Accessible only by 4WD, the remote far north tip of Australia is famous for its pristine beaches; uninhabited islands; and fish-rich tidal estuaries, lagoons, and rivers.
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.
4. Exmouth, Western Australia
Bordering World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, the world’s largest fringing reef, Exmouth is one of the most diverse fishing destinations on the planet. The crystal-clear waters surrounding this remote town, near the tip of Western Australia’s North West Cape, are famous for the hundreds of whale sharks that swim here from March through October, but they are also home to a dazzling diversity of other fish.
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.
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.
5. Central Highlands, Tasmania
Laced with more than 3,000 lakes, the Central Highland of Tasmania is one of the top spots for trout fishing in Australia. Hooking one of these fish can be rewarding, as the wild brown trout and rainbow trout here are known to be a tough match, even for experienced anglers.
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.
6. Broome, Western Australia
The remote pearling town of Broome in Western Australia offers a little bit of everything for avid anglers. You can snag a barramundi in the creeks, bays, and rivers, and fish for other species like black-spotted croaker, cod, jacks, and threadfin salmon.
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.
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.
7. Hervey Bay, Queensland
About 300 kilometers north of Brisbane in Queensland, Hervey (pronounced “Harvey”) Bay is famous for its fantastic fishing with crystal-clear subtropical waters and diverse species of Australian gamefish.
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 cruise 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.
8. Port Stephens, New South Wales
The resort area of Port Stephens, about two-and-a-half-hours’ drive north of Sydney, is a fishing hot spot and is known in particular for its fantastic game fishing. In February and March, the region hosts the Southern Hemisphere’s largest game fishing tournament, the NSW Interclub Tournament, with record catches of Australian billfish species. Local guides also offer big game fly fishing.
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 is 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.
9. Port Lincoln, South Australia
About 650 kilometers from Adelaide, Port Lincoln claims to be the seafood capital of Australia, so it’s no surprise it’s one of the best fishing destinations in South Australia.
The town lies along the lower Eyre Peninsula on the shore of Boston Bay, where the cold nutrient-rich waters of the Great South Australian Coastal Upwelling System mingle with the waters of the Great Australian Bight and Spencer Gulf, resulting in fertile fishing grounds. In particular, the area is known for southern bluefin tuna.
Note that the ocean can be rough here, so check local conditions before hitting the water.
10. Gippsland, Victoria
For diversity of habitat, it’s hard to beat Gippsland as one of Victoria’s favorite fishing destinations. A few hours’ drive east of Melbourne, Gippsland offers pristine coastal lakes; estuaries; rivers; and long, empty beaches such as Ninety Mile Beach.
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.
11. Lake Jindabyne, New South Wales
Snuggled in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, Lake Jindabyne is one of the best trout-fishing lakes in Australia. The lake sits at 930 meters and is fed by the Thredbo, Snowy, and Eucumbene rivers.
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.
12.Sydney
Surrounded by serpentine waterways, Sydney offers diverse and scenic fishing experiences. Casting from a boat in Sydney Harbour, with views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, is an unforgettable experience. Australian salmon, tailor, kingfish, yellowtail, bream, John dory, and flathead are just some of the many species you can catch here.
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.
