Fishing in Tasmania

Tasmania’s Central Highlands has arguably the purest strain of wild brown trout on Earth swimming through its rivers and lakes.

Fly-fishing champions travel from all over the world to fish here, in one of the world's great trout fisheries.

The sight-casting opportunities are excellent, but these fish are elusive and smart and take some catching – challenge accepted?

Meanwhile, the seas offer game fishing or simply a chance to dangle a line for flathead and Australian salmon.

Best fishing trips

All about trout

The Central Highlands has been called the Land of a Thousand Lakes, which undersells it – there are something like 3000 lakes up here. Trout were introduced to its waters in the 1860s, and they're now restocked with wild trout, which are shrewder and stealthier than fish from hatcheries. Popular lakes and rivers include Arthurs Lake, Penstock Lagoon, Nineteen Lagoons, Brumbys Creek and St Patricks River.

Fishing lodges and guides

For tour and fishery information, check in with Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania (TGALT), Tasmania’s peak trout guiding body. It has information on accredited guides, accommodation and private fisheries.

Trout season

The brown trout season opens on the first Saturday in August, and runs until the start of May. The best fishing is from mid-October to mid-April.

Game fishing

Tasmania’s game-fishing waters stretch from Flinders Island in the far north-east to Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south – the proximity of the continental shelf means that, in places, it’s only 20min from shore to the fish. St Helens is considered Tasmania’s saltwater sport-fishing capital, making it a good place to arrange a professional fishing charter. Highly prized species include yellowfin tuna, striped marlin, albacore, striped tuna and mako shark.

Fishing charters

Fancy a day on the water, casting a line for dinner? There are plenty of charter boats around the state, from Hobart to Strahan to King and Flinders islands.