Fishing in Tasmania
Australia's southern-most state, Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia by both area and by population. Widely known for having the cleanest air and some of the best fishing in the world. From the scenic riverbanks to deep-sea excursions, the region offers diverse opportunities to catch a variety of species. Whether angling for Southern Bluefin Tuna or Tasmanian Wild Brown Trout, the pristine waters and unique marine environments make Tasmania a premier destination for fishing charters and visitors from around the globe.
Tasmanian Trout:
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 Central Highlands has been called the Land of a Thousand Lakes, which undersells it – there are something like 3000 lakes!
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. The sight-casting opportunities are excellent, but these fish are elusive and smart and take some catching!
Popular lakes and rivers include Arthurs Lake, Penstock Lagoon, Nineteen Lagoons, Brumbys Creek and St Patricks River.
Trout Fishing Tasmania:
Trout, both brown and rainbow, are often associated with fly gear more expensive than the family car! While many ‘purists’ won’t allow themselves to use anything other than a fly rod, fishing for trout with a light spin rod and a handful of small lures is great fun!
Best of all, the cost of a light spin combo and a few small lures is a fraction of the cost of most fly set-ups. A light spin rod & reel combo, spooled up with 4-6lb braid or fluorocarbon, will be the perfect little weapon to take on the trout streams. Your go-to hard body lures should be:
Atomic Hardz Shiner Deep 100mm
Bassday Sugar Minnow Slim Suspending 55mm - 2.4g
Tango Shad 50mm Floating
Bream Fishing Tasmania:
Generally speaking, there are two food items that, when available, will usually have bream looking up: insects and prawns. Your go-to lures for Bream fishing are small hard bodies like:
Bassday Sugapen 70mm Floating
DUO Realis Minnow 80mm
MMD Splash Prawn 70mm
Fishing Tips:
Assist Hooks: If you find you’re getting a lot of short takes from bream - which is common - it might be a good idea to replace the rear trebles with assist hooks, which will often turn short strikes into solid hook-ups.
Cranka Crabs: This realistic crab-shaped lure is designed to mimic the movement of a crab, which is a favourite food of Bream. The first thing Bream do eating crabs is to nip the claws off. With small treble hooks cleverly embedded in the claws of the lure, this makes for effective hook-ups on the first nibble!
Fishing Addiction in Tasmania:
The Fishing Addiction crew will be joining expert fisherman, Will Thorpe, who will guide us on an unforgettable journey in the tranquil Tassie wilderness, chasing Brown Trout. It’s going to be bloody cold but amazing!
Watch all the action of Bergie's recent trout-fishing adventure in Tassie:
A Hundred Years of No Fishing | Tasmania Trout >
Watch Mark as he attempts to land a 2kg Bream on the Huon River, Tasmania:
Flying to the End of the Earth for the Ultimate Bream >
Tasmanian Weather:
The weather in Tassie has been likened to England, with 4 distinct seasons, however the climate can vary greatly, on any given day. The warmest months are December to March, with average max temperatures between 12-21°C (52.7-69.8°F). Winter runs from May to August, with max temperatures between 3-12°C (41-54.1°F).
During the winter, the island feels the southerly winds from the Antarctic and experiences some of Australia's coolest temperatures. Expect frozen lines, icy boots and pack a thermos!
Tasmanian Wildlife:
and has several mammals found nowhere else in the world, like the endangered Tasmanian devil and Pademelon - like a little round Kangaroo!
Want to WIN A Fishing Trip to Australia to catch Tasmanian Trout?