Five of the best fishing trips around Australia

Whether you prefer fly fishing, beach fishing or deep-sea adventures, each state and territory has beautiful destinations waiting to be discovered within driving distance of our major cities. Get ready to pack those rods, reels, hooks and lures – here are five of the best.

Lakes Entrance, VIC

Where: 4 hours’ drive from Melbourne

Home to the nation’s largest network of inland waterways, Lakes Entrance is one of Victoria's best fishing destinations. As the name suggests, the town is located at the merging point of the Gippsland Lakes and the Southern Ocean – and is a beautiful holiday spot all year round. There are a range of accommodation options, including scenic camping grounds around the lakes and nearby Ninety Mile Beach. In the water, you can expect to catch bream, flathead, trevally, luderick, tailor and more. On land, don’t forget to sample some of that amazing seafood at one of the town’s many eateries – try Sodafish for a special meal or Wild Catch Fish and Chips for a casual takeaway.

Coffs Harbour, NSW

Where: 5.5 hours’ drive from Sydney

On the state’s mid-north coast, Coffs Harbour (home of the iconic ‘Big Banana’) is an angler’s paradise. Beach fishing on these spectacular stretches of golden sand offers species such as mulloway, flathead and bream, while offshore presents great game fishing opportunities for mahi mahi, large mackerel and tuna. There are also a number of estuaries and creeks around Coffs, home to a population of mangrove jacks. If you’re travelling with kids, it’s worth stopping in at the Solitary Islands Aquarium for a close-up look at the colourful array of marine creatures that call the Coffs Coast home, but you will need to reserve your tickets prior to your visit.

Bribie Island, QLD

Where: 2 hours’ drive from Brisbane

There’s no shortage of brilliant fishing spots in Queensland, but the Pumicestone Passage should be on every traveller's bucket list. This 35km estuary consists of tidal channels and sandbanks between the mainland and Bribie Island. It’s a picture-perfect place to kayak, jetski or stand-up paddleboard and will delight fishing enthusiasts, either from a boat or the shore. The area around Bongaree Jetty is known for mulloway, juvenile snapper, flathead, cod, parrot and Moses perch; while the canal estates are home to mangrove jack and mud crabs. The passage is also home to populations of dolphins, dugongs and turtles, but some areas have a fishing ban in place – so be sure to check a map before you cast your line.

Dundee Beach, NT

Where: 1.5 hours’ drive from Darwin

Snagging a big barramundi is top of the wish list for many fishos and the Top End is the best place to do it. Accessible from Darwin via sealed roads, Dundee Beach is a small coastal village that comes alive with anglers seeking barra, jewfish and blue salmon close to shore. Further out, coral trout and red emperor are regular catches. Generally, the months from February to April are the most popular for barramundi fishing. This is known as the ‘run-off’, when water drains from the floodplains and barra congregate in large numbers to feast on crustaceans and insects washed downstream. Local knowledge is a big asset here, so it’s a great idea to join a fishing tour or bluewater charter for an unforgettable ‘catch and dine’ experience.

Miena, TAS

Where: 1.5 hours’ drive from Launceston

In the heart of Tasmania’s chilly Central Highlands is the tiny town of Miena, surrounded by freshwater lakes that are a fly fisher's dream. Ten minutes from town, Little Pine Lagoon is Australia’s most renowned land-based fly-fishing lake. It is fed from the Little Pine River and is a shallow, weedy haven for wild brown trout, which are abundant and consistent throughout the season. One of the big drawcards here is accessibility – you can park your car not far from the grassy bank and easily wade into the whisky-coloured water. While you can’t really go wrong anywhere on the lagoon, the most popular areas are Road Shore, Untouchables Shore and Tailers Shore. There’s more trout to entice at Great Lake, Penstock Lagoon and Arthurs Lake – as well as beautiful alpine scenery to bask in.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}