The Best Fishing Spots in Tasmania
Tasmania offers varied recreational fishing across sheltered estuaries, clear upland rivers and lakes, rocky reefs and productive offshore grounds. Anglers chase freshwater brown trout and rainbow trout in rivers and lakes, while coastal trips commonly target flathead, bream, snapper, trevally and mulloway around reefs and inshore bays. Summer and autumn bring pelagic action for tuna (including southern bluefin) and kingfish on the deeper reefs and bluewater charters. Popular methods include shore and boat fishing with lures, fly tackle for trout, and jigging or bait fishing for reef and offshore species, offering something for casual shore anglers and serious gamefish seekers alike.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Acton Park
(2 km to coast)
Austins Ferry
(3 km to coast)
Battery Point
(1 km to coast)
Bellerive
(1 km to coast)
Berriedale
(3 km to coast)
Blackmans Bay
(1 km to coast)
Bridgewater
(9 km to coast)
Brighton
(13 km to coast)
Burnie
(2 km to coast)
Chigwell
(3 km to coast)
Claremont
(2 km to coast)
Devonport
(1 km to coast)
Dodges Ferry
(1 km to coast)
Dynnyrne
(4 km to coast)
East Devonport
(3 km to coast)
Geilston Bay
(2 km to coast)
George Town
(0 km to coast)
Glenorchy
(3 km to coast)
Granton
(7 km to coast)
Hobart
(1 km to coast)
Hobart city centre
(1 km to coast)
Howrah
(0 km to coast)
Huonville
(13 km to coast)
Kingston
(3 km to coast)
Kingston Beach
(1 km to coast)
Latrobe
(12 km to coast)
Lauderdale
(1 km to coast)
Lenah Valley
(6 km to coast)
Lindisfarne
(2 km to coast)
Lutana
(0 km to coast)
Margate
(1 km to coast)
Miandetta
(4 km to coast)
Midway Point
(6 km to coast)
Montrose
(5 km to coast)
Moonah
(2 km to coast)
Mornington
(2 km to coast)
Mount Nelson
(4 km to coast)
Mount Stuart
(3 km to coast)
New Town
(2 km to coast)
North Hobart
(2 km to coast)
Old Beach
(1 km to coast)
Park Grove
(3 km to coast)
Penguin
(1 km to coast)
Port Sorell
(1 km to coast)
Risdon Vale
(4 km to coast)
Rokeby
(2 km to coast)
Romaine
(7 km to coast)
Rosetta
(3 km to coast)
Sandford
(3 km to coast)
Sandy Bay
(2 km to coast)
Shearwater
(3 km to coast)
Shorewell Park
(5 km to coast)
Smithton
(4 km to coast)
Somerset
(1 km to coast)
Sorell
(7 km to coast)
South Hobart
(4 km to coast)
Spreyton
(10 km to coast)
St Helens
(2 km to coast)
Taroona
(0 km to coast)
Tranmere
(0 km to coast)
Turners Beach
(1 km to coast)
Ulverstone
(2 km to coast)
Upper Burnie
(3 km to coast)
Warrane
(3 km to coast)
West Hobart
(3 km to coast)
West Moonah
(4 km to coast)
West Ulverstone
(3 km to coast)
Wynyard
(3 km to coast)
River Fishing
South Esk River
Derwent River
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Port Sorell
Around the Port Sorell township and estuary channels toward Hawley Beach and Shearwater , anglers find flathead, King George whiting, Australian salmon, and squid; boats drift the sand flats and drop-offs on the run-in tide, while shore fishing is excellent from beaches and jetties.
Georges Bay
At St Helens , sheltered Georges Bay is a magnet for black bream, flathead, Australian salmon, and prolific squid, with edges, channels, and oyster racks fishing best on moving water; boats drift sandy flats near Stieglitz while land-based anglers score along rock walls and jetties in town.
Coles Bay
The township of Coles Bay, gateway to Freycinet Peninsula , offers easy access to sheltered waters for flathead, Australian salmon, and prolific squid, with nearby rocky points holding wrasse and baitfish; small boats drift sandy flats inside the bay, while shore fishing around jetties and headlands is productive at dawn and dusk.
Bridport
The north coast township of Bridport has accessible beaches and rocky points producing Australian salmon, flathead, King George whiting, and in calm conditions plentiful squid; small boats explore the inshore reefs toward Waterhouse Island , while surfcasters target gutters along local beaches.
Bicheno
Bicheno’s reefs and beaches deliver Australian salmon, flathead, squid, and summer kingfish, with boat access to nearby reef edges and headlands around Diamond Island ; shore anglers work the surf gutters and rock platforms when the swell is manageable.
Pirates Bay
On the Tasman Peninsula near Eaglehawk Neck , Pirates Bay is a launch point for pelagic runs of southern bluefin tuna, albacore, and reef species like striped trumpeter, with calmer days suiting small boats offshore; from shore, headlands and beaches produce Australian salmon and squid on the right swell.
Tamar River
The wide Tamar estuary near Launceston produces snapper (summer-autumn), flathead, Australian salmon, school mulloway, and strong black bream sessions around mudflats, bridges, and rock walls; upstream edges toward Legana and Rosevears are prime on the tides, while the lower reaches toward George Town suit boat drifts and soft-plastic prospecting.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Tooms Lake
Tooms Lake in the Midlands produces chunky brown trout that patrol weed edges and flooded margins, with evening midge hatches and warm-weather beetle falls bringing confident surface takes; boats drift the northern bays while shore-based anglers work points and inlets after wind shifts.
South Esk River
Tasmania’s longest river is a reliable trout fishery with strong brown trout populations and seasonal rainbows, offering classic wading, dry-fly, and lure water from Longford to Hadspen ; deeper pools and willow-lined bends fish best during hatches and stable flows, with kayak drifts expanding access.
Lake Pedder
Set in dramatic southwest scenery, Lake Pedder offers strong numbers of brown trout with fish cruising windward shores and flooded edges; boat anglers drift long shorelines and river mouths, while shore access near Strathgordon allows wading and bank casting during settled conditions.
Great Lake
Tasmania’s highland Great Lake is a classic for sight-fishing to brown trout and summer polaroiding over rocky shores and weedbeds, with wind-lanes holding smelters and hatches drawing fish to dries; boat anglers work shorelines like Miena while waders stalk shallow bays, and cooler months favor deep presentations for solid resident trout.
Lake Burbury
Near Queenstown , Lake Burbury consistently produces numbers of rainbow and brown trout, with wind-lanes and inlets fishing well at dawn; trolling and loch-style drifting are popular from boats, while shore anglers work points and flooded margins after rain for active fish.
Trevallyn Dam
Above Launceston , Trevallyn Dam (Lake Trevallyn) provides urban-access fishing for brown trout and redfin perch, with rocky points, inflow areas, and wind-blown shores producing bites; kayaks and small boats cover drop-offs, while shore anglers cast lures and plastics along accessible banks and the dam precinct.
Four Springs Lake
Close to Launceston , this well-known water hosts quality brown and rainbow trout, excelling during gum-moth and beetle activity; boats cover the central basin and drift onto weedbeds, while shore anglers target the western and southern shores at first and last light.
Meadowbank Lake
An accessible reservoir on the Derwent system, Meadowbank Lake holds brown trout and abundant redfin perch, with points and timbered margins fishing well; boats troll the main basin and work wind-lanes, while shore anglers target the dam wall area and prominent points on light tackle.
Lake St Clair
Australia’s deepest natural lake offers pristine fishing for brown and rainbow trout, with polaroiding in clear weather and deeper tactics during cooler months; boat drifts along the western shorelines and the mouths of tributaries near Cynthia Bay are reliable, while shore access rewards careful stalking.
Arthurs Lake
Arthurs Lake is famed for hard-fighting brown trout that feed aggressively on beetles and gum-moths in summer, with weedy bays and wind-blown shorelines producing consistent action; drifting boats cover the expansive arms around Morass Bay , while shore anglers target points and slicks during insect falls.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Mersey River
Flowing to Devonport , the Mersey fishes well for brown and rainbow trout in the middle reaches and offers estuary action for Australian salmon, flathead, and bream near the mouth; wading riffles around Latrobe is productive, while the lower river suits light-tackle lures and baits from shore or small boats.
Macquarie Harbour
The vast, tannin-stained waters of Macquarie Harbour near Strahan hold sea-run and resident brown trout, Atlantic salmon, and estuary staples like Australian salmon and flathead; channels and points fish well on tide changes, with boats exploring toward Hells Gates and shore casters working wharves and beaches.
Huon River
The lower Huon around Geeveston and Cygnet mixes estuary and river fishing for black bream, Australian salmon, flathead, and seasonal escapee Atlantic salmon, while upper reaches fish well for sea-run trout in cooler months; shore access is plentiful at parks and jetties, with small boats exploring channels and flats.