Best Fishing on Flinders Island

Of the 52 islands in the Furneaux Group, Flinders Island is the largest. Located between Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria and Cape Portland, Tasmania, Flinders Island is 75km long and 40km wide with a total land area of 1,333 sq km. Flinders Island’s thriving community produces sheep and wool, cattle, milk-fed lambs, abalone, crayfish, wallaby and wine.

It has spectacular scenery, interesting history, mix of nature, and adventure rich for those wanting an adrenalin rush from rock climbing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving among abundant marine life and shipwrecks. With guided 4WD tours or fishing tours, game shooting tours are also available for those enthusiastic about hunting.

Fishing Paradise on Flinders Island

When it comes to fishing, Flinders Island is packed with the best recreational fishing in Tasmania.

Major species; Rock lobster, flathead, couta, striped trumpeter, snapper, Australian salmon, kingfish, striped marlin, yellowfin, albacore and more.

Flinders Island is an awesome fishery. Home to just a few hundred permanent residents the fishing is some of the best to be found in Tasmania. Very big flathead can be caught from almost any shore, whilst large Australian salmon are commonplace. Kingfish are often found chasing baitfish under the jetty in Whitemark. North East River and Holloway Point are renowned salmon hot spots. Only one or two charter boats operate from Flinders, but these are kept very busy. In March of 2001 several gamefishing boats ventured to Flinders in search of striped marlin. Imagine their surprise when at one stage most of the boats had multiple hookups at the same time.

Flinders Island is a largely untapped fishery, and game fishery that offers some of Tasmania’s best fishing.

Flinders Island Fishing – Best time to go

March through May inclusive is usually the calmest time on the island however, there is excellent fishing to be had on the island from October. The best surf fishing is on the eastern side of the island and the beaches on the eastern side of the island are seaweed free due to the westerly weather.

September, October, November

Longest days and warming temperatures trigger the inshore residents into action. From the beaches and rocks, wharves and seagrass flats, lures and flies on light gear produce good catches of Silver Trevally, Salmon, Flathead, Squid to 3 kg and large Southern Garfish, and night fishing in the surf, particularly around the full moon Gummy Shark are regularly caught. Around the outer islands and reefs Gummy Shark and Flathead to 2 -3 kg are a common catch. Leatherjackets, the west coast is home to the giant Horseshoe Leatherjacket. Squid, Pike and Barracouta run in the tide rips and feed voraciously. Offshore on the edge of the continental shelf Striped Trumpeter to 16 kg. Morwong and Coral Perch are ready for baits lowered into deep water. (source: TasFish)

For those fishers who have not been to Flinders Island before, it may seem difficult to organise, and therefore we recommend our fully organised adventure deep sea boat fishing and shore fishing tour to Flinders Island. James Luddington operates the Strait Lady on Flinders Island and is the islands most experienced skipper for a wide variety of fishing experiences. We are extremely pleased to have James lead our Flinders Island Fishing tour, endorsed by the Australian Fishing Network.

Where to Fish on Flinders Island

Deep Sea Fishing

For the more adventurous fisher, James Luddington of Flinders Island Adventures is all it takes to target all of the above-mentioned mentioned species.

Squid

Whitemark and Lady Barron wharves.
Trousers Point immediately below the barbeque/camping area.
Salmon Rocks (Eastern end of Trousers Point beach).

Salmon

Although Australian Salmon can be normally taken from all of the surf fishing beaches, by far the most exciting salmon fishing is to be experienced from the large rock outcrop at the mouth of the North East River. Extreme caution should be exercised in this area due to strong tidal currents combined with unpredictable swells and slippery rocks.

Garfish

Garfish are most prevalent amongst the sea grass beds close to the shore around the Island.

Flathead

Surf fishing from the eastern beaches can be extremely productive for catching the extra large flathead the Flinders Island is renown for. Dick Davey shoal, Pot Boil Point and the entire eastern shore from the Pot Boil break out to Sellar Point near Babel Island, Patriach Inlet and North Beach on the western side of the North East River have given good results. Many of the western beaches in easterly weather will also produce flathead.   These include Tanner and Marshall Bay, Lillies Beach and Long Point.
The latter western beaches mentioned above may not look appealing due to the vast amount of weed beds and shallow water but don’t be fooled, they are superb locations for wading whilst flicking soft plastic lures.

Gummy Shark

When the moon is full it’s the time to target Gummy Shark from any of the Eastern beaches.

Yellowtail Kingfish

Lady Barron wharf in January and February can often produce excellent fishing for those intent on chasing these bullets of the sea. Red Bluff on the Eastern side can also be productive when the tide and weather conditions are right.
(Where to Fish source: TasFish)

If you think this fishing adventure is to your liking,  we invite you to our Australian Fishing Network Experience to Flinders Island