Tasmanians love to fish, and the State has something for every fishing taste, in lowland rivers or highland lakes, all easily accessible from Launceston Tamar Valley. Troll for big, sea-run trout and salmon – or head for blue water and test your game fishing skill against tuna and marlin.

The Tamar Estuary is an excellent location for chasing silver trevally; a list of accredited sportsfishing guides and charters is available at www.discovertasmania.com

From novice to pro:  learn to fish at Old Mac's Farm and Fishery, minutes from Launceston city. The fishery features large numbers of rainbow trout weighing up to 6 kg. Catch and release or purchase the fish you catch and take it home for dinner. Take a fly fishing or spinning lesson, have a barbeque, and take in the animal nursery filled with creatures great and small. Or there’s Launceston Lakes, just 20 minutes from the City with five trout filled lakes set amongst 900 acres of native bush. Beginners can practice their fly casting technique under the watchful eye of trained guides. Sheltered BBQ's near the large lake and the adjacent popular wildlife park ‘Devils Heaven’ provide an excellent location for family outings.

Fishing charters, available around the Tamar region through Seal and Sea Adventure Tours, will show you where Yellow Tail King Fish may be landed in season, along with Flat Head, Barracuda, Pike and Salmon. Kelpies (Corral Trout) are fun to catch and release, and Gummy sharks are a year round catch in the Tamar River and can be caught in water as shallow as a metre. Local fisherman Damon Sherriff cites Swan Bay, south of Hillwood, as the best spot for gummys.

Currie River Lake, Arthur’s Lake, Great Lake (Tasmania’s best freshwater ‘winter fishery’), Brumby’s Creek, MacQuarie River, St Patricks Head, and Lake Barrington are all achievable day-long trips from Launceston. And you can sea fish within easy reach at Port Sorell, the River Tamar, the Pipers River mouth and Anderson Bay, Bridport.

The Essential Fly Fisher Shop in York Street Launceston is a good first port of call. To book a guide, contact Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania, who are dedicated to Tasmania’s exceptional wild trout fishery www.troutguidestasmania.com.au

Tasmania’s Angling Guide & The Recreational Sea Fishing Guide are both available from local Visitor Information Centres. Click here to order a copy.