Australia is home to numerous types of fish and many areas in which to participate in the rewarding and relaxing sport of fishing. Home to hundreds of beautifully scenic areas, Australia is also home to fish such as South Australian Cobbler, Queensland Lungfish, Flathead, Barramundi, Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Black Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, and Rainbow Fish. These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of fish available in Australia.

Melbourne, with its population of four million people, offers many opportunities for line fishing. Snapper is quite common around Melbourne, as it comes into Port Philip Bay as early as September and stays until March. Flathead and Whiting are also plentiful here. Enjoy setting off into the Bay on a boat tour with friends and snagging your dinner of Whiting, Snapper, Small Shark, or Pinkies.

Port Stephens, north of Sydney, and Cairns, in north Queensland, offer many opportunities for big-game fishing. Port Stephens is known as a “blue water paradise” and boasts gorgeous bays and white, sandy beaches. Heavy tackle game fishing, light tackle sport fishing, and freshwater or saltwater lure and fly fishing are all popular activities in both Port Stephens and Cairns. Blue Marlin up to 600 pounds have been caught here, and if you depart from Cairns you can enjoy the Great Barrier Reef as well. Fishing reels, fish finders, charters, and all of your tackle needs are available at these amazing tourist destinations.

Cressy in Tasmania is a historically significant town that came into existence in the 1850s. It is a lively trout town about 200 kilometers north of Hobart and is known for its fly and lure fishing. Here you can enjoy fishing competitions, cooking demonstrations, and displays of books and fishing and camping gear.

The Shoalhaven River is less than two hours south of Sydney and is a beautifully scenic area in which to fish for Flathead, Bream, Whiting, Flounder, and Luderick. Pig Island, Grants Rocks, and Old Graveyard are all great places to enjoy fishing along the Shoalhaven.

Some of the best dusky flathead around is available in East Gippsland in Victoria, several hours from Melbourne. With few human inhabitants, East Gippsland is home to ancient forests, estuaries, and two areas that are great for fishing for flathead: Mallacoota and Tamboon. Flathead up to four kilograms and even five kilograms have been caught in East Gippsland, and its mild climate and beautiful scenery make for a remarkable fishing experience. It is also known for its pleasurable water sports, mild climate, mountain plateaus, red gum plains, coastal plains, and fertile river valleys.

Arguably the most beautiful and picturesque river in Australia is the Hawkesbury River, which is about an hour north of Sydney. The river’s tributaries provide some of the best bass fishing in Australia and, because the tributaries are inaccessible to all but small boats, the landscape remains untouched and much like it was centuries ago. According to the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, the Hawkesbury River is the second largest commercial coastal fishery of fish, oysters, and estuary prawns in New South Wales.