Fishing the Tasman Peninsula
calm day does come along, it might
be pleasant, but it is not always
productive as the rougher it is, the
more the tuna seem to bite. The two
most fished, and productive areas
are the Hippolyte Rocks to the east
of Fortescue Bay and Tasman Island
to the south.
Bottle fish
(over 100 lb)
although not
common are
still taken,
while fish to
25 kg are more
common. A
world record
Southern Tasmania 6233 9955
southern
bluefin of 106.5
Northern Tasmania 6323 2555
kg was taken
North-west Tasmania 6498 7755
on 15 kg line.in
1980 The best
Eastern Tasmania 6376 0555
way to target
these fish is
with one of the
professional
charter boat
operators.
Boating Weather
Think SAFETY
Phone BEFORE you go
© Stevens Publishing Pty Ltd. ABN 72 095 217 299 Ph 03 63311278
Best time to fish: All year, with best
game fishing January to June.
Getting there; One hour from
Hobart.
Major species; Flathead, striped
trumpeter, perch, southern bluefin
tuna, yellowfin tuna, morwong, squid,
mako shark, albacore, striped tuna
and increasingly yellowtail kingfish.
Other attractions; Sight seeing,
Adventure boating tours, Scuba
diving, Port Arthur and many other
attractions. The diving is world
class, suitable for all levels and
ranges from wrecks to giant kelp
forests, caves, fish schools, weedy sea
dragons, seals and more. There is a
dive centre at Eagelhawk Neck.
Tasman Peninsula is best known as
the site of Australia’s most famous
convict settlement, Port Arthur.
Tasman Peninsula as it is commonly
known is really two peninsulas
joined together - the Forestier and
Tasman Peninsulas.
Fishing
Deep water is quite close to shore
here, and with a vast topographic
underwater terrain the game fishing
can be nothing short of sensational.
With deep water close to shore
a lot of game fishers troll virtually
along the bottom of the many
spectacular cliffs. Water depths of
over 100 metres are common close
inshore.
Southern Bluefin Tuna
For gamefishers, southern bluefin
tuna are the most prized species,
and it is no surprise when you
consider there are around 8 world
records for these fish from this area.
Southern bluefin are usually caught
between the months of April to late
June.
You will need a decent sized boat to
tackle southern bluefin tuna. Big
seas with short swells and sharp
chop can pound this area. When a
There is a good launching ramp at
Pirates Bay, which gives access to the
ocean side of the peninsula. It is the
northern most ramp and is around
15 kilometres by sea from Hippolyte
Rocks and 25 kilometres to Tasman
Island. Other ramps are at Fortescue
Bay and Garden Point.
Deeper waters to the east and south
of the peninsula are home to one
of the very best table fish - striped
trumpeter. Good fish weigh up to
10 kg - often much bigger. Striped
trumpeter is highly prized by both
commercial and recreational anglers.
From the shore
In the more sheltered bays and
waters, especially Norfolk Bay,
flathead are the major target. From
the shore there is also great fishing
to be had. On the seaward (eastern)
side of the Peninsula, the coast line
is very rough, so it is simply a case of
get to the water where you can.
Much of the fishing from the shore
around this area is untouched, but
waiting to be discovered. Maps
show most tracks that lead to a
beach or the shore and it is usually
easy to find some sheltered water.
Australian salmon are often caught
from the shore at Pirates Bay,
Dunalley Canal, Wedge Bay and
Norfolk Bay. Frederick Henry and
Storm bays offer good variety of
fish from Australian salmon to squid,
flathead more.
There is some easily accessed rock
based fishing from the rocky ledge
outside Pirates Bay, but this is very
weather dependent. The jetty in
Pirates Bay can be good for squid at
times - especially evenings. Check it
for squid ink on the deck.
The jetty at Port Arthur is also
popular and a safe place to spend
some time dangling a line.
Best advice is talk to the locals - they
are friendly and will give you plenty
of good advice.
Going Fishing?
Fish for the Future!
Fish Responsibly - keep
informed with the
Recreational Sea
Fishing Guide and
use a fish
measuring ruler.
Illustration Peter Gouldthorpe
The Guides and fish measuring
rulers are available from all Service Tasmania
outlets and major tackle shops. Information can
also be found by visiting: www.fishing.tas.gov.au
10357GD
Fishing Restrictions in Tasmania
This pamphlet provides only
basic fishing information. For
more detailed information about
marine fishing rules including area
restrictions, size and possession
limits, refer to the Recreational
Sea Fishing Guide and for inland
fishing, to the Tasmanian Inland
Recreational Fishing Code.
These are available from Service
Tasmania outlets and most bait
and tackle shops. They can also
be downloaded at www.fishing.
tas.gov.au or www.ifs.tas.gov.au
respectively.
Rod and Line Fishing
You do not need a licence to fish
with a hook and line in marine
waters, including rod and line and
squid jigs. You can use any number
of lines with up to 5 hooks as long
as you are within 20 metres of your
gear or the lines are attached to the
boat from which you are fishing. A
set line licence is needed to use
a set line which is a dropline or
longline with up to 30 hooks.
Licences for Inland Waters
An Inland Fisheries licence is
required for any fishing in inland
waters which includes some river
mouths and estuaries. Inland waters
and seaward limits are described in
the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide
and the Inland Recreational Fishing
Code.
Licences for Marine Waters
In marine waters a licence is not
required for fishing with a rod and
line, squid jigs, spears, bait traps,
small nets (landing, dip, bait and
cast nets), or collection of small
shellfish such as periwinkles,
oysters, clams, cockles and
mussels. Sea fishing licences are
required when fishing for abalone,
rock lobster and scallop or fishing
with a pot, ring, graball net, mullet
net, beach seine net and set line
(a longline or dropline with up to 30
hooks).
Recreational sea fishing licences
are available from all Service
Tasmania outlets and on the internet
at www.fishing.tas.gov.au/licence
Aborigines engaged in aboriginal
fishing activities are exempt from
holding a fishing licence but must
comply with all other fisheries rules.
Useful Contacts
Recreational Sea Fishing ( Wild
Fisheries Management Branch) inc
Fishcare: 6233 7042
www.fishing.tas.gov.au
Inland Fisheries Service:
1300 463 474
www.ifs.tas.gov.au
Marine and Safety Tasmania:
6233 8801
www.mast.tas.gov.au
Marine Police and Fishwatch:
0427 655 557
Bureau of Meterology:
www.bom.gov.au
Bag and Possession Limits
Most bag and possession limits are
personal limits, although boat and on
water limits apply for some species.
Possession limits apply everywhere,
including in the boat, at sea and in
your home.
Fishwise – licence fees are used
to benefit our fisheries
The Fishwise fund is supported by
the sale of recreational sea fishing
licences. It covers the administration
of licences as well as funding
programs that support recreational
fishing. The majority of funding for
this pamphlet is from the Fishwise
Fund. Your sea fishing licence fees
at work!
Seasons and Area Restrictions
Season apply to most inland waters.
In marine waters, closed seasons
and area closure apply to taking
various species and using particular
fishing gear.
Fishcare Volunteers
Fishcare
Volunteers are
enthusiastic
individuals who
give up their
time to educate
members of the
recreational fishing community.
Volunteers are well versed in the
rules relating to recreational marine
fishing and are happy to answer
queries that you may have.
If you are interested in finding out
more about the Fishcare Tasmania
program, please visit our website at
www.fishing.tas.gov.au or call 6233
2033.