Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Australia (Complete Guide)
Australia has some of the best fishing in the Pacific & Indian oceans. Understanding the best times to fish in these rich waters of this nation can make a huge difference in your fishing success.
The best time to fish in Australia is from March through May but great fishing can be found year-round in this country. The fishing season for most species is from November through May.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in Australia |
| Barracuda | January-February & July to December are the best times. |
| Barramundi | January-March & September to December are the best times. |
| Black Marlin | October through December is the best fishing window. |
| Coral Trout | April through October is the best fishing window. |
| Giant Trevally | October through December is the best fishing window. |
| Mahi-Mahi | September through January is the best fishing window. |
| Pink Snapper | September through December is the best fishing window. |
| Spanish Mackerel | December through March is the best fishing window. |
| Yellowfin Tuna | October through March is the best fishing window. |
Australia is a huge island that offers more than 60000 kilometers of coastline where anglers can enjoy fishing. The region is home to more than 5000 fish species. So, fishing opportunities in the country are always great.
Best Time to Fish Australia
Fishing in Australia is possible year-round. So, you’ll always have something to catch in the region. The best time to fish in Australia depends on such factors as the time of the year and the fish species that you are targeting.
A fishing season starts in Australia in November and finishes in May. The best months to go fishing in the country are March-May. The vast majority of species are active during this time of the year. It’s a period of time when anglers can try different fishing techniques.
Snapper bites well in Australia during the spring months. Also, anglers can target whale sharks in the spring. Blue marlin are active in Australia in summer. The chance to catch a big bluefish is high during the summer months.
Fall fishing is very productive in Australia. September–November is a great time of the year to target marlin.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cairns, check out this guide.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Australia
These Australia-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Whitsunday Fishing–Reel Deal | Airlie Beach, Queensland |
| All Tackle Sportfishing | Cairns, Queensland |
| Top Gear Fishing Charters | Gold Coast, Queensland |
| Sydney Harbour Fishing Tours | Sydney |
| Tropical Sportfisher | Cairns, Queensland |
| Fishing Tin Can Bay | Airlie Beach, Queensland |
| Find Fish Fast – Fishfinder | Sydney |
| Sublime Sportfishing Adventures | Port Douglas, Queensland |
| Best Sydney Fishing Charter | Sydney |
| Out N About Sportfishing | Port Douglas, Queensland |
| Gone Fishing Cairns | Cairns, Queensland |
| Adrenaline Charters | Cairns, Queensland |
| Fishing Smooth Water – Mooloolaba | Mooloolaba, Queensland |
Australia Species Breakdown: Best Times & Seasons
Barracuda
It’s possible to fish for barracuda in Australia year-round. The season to catch barracuda is high between January and February and between July and December.
Barracuda bites well in the early morning or late evening. Cairns is the place that provides anglers with great barracuda fishing opportunities.
Barramundi
Barramundi is active in Australia year-round. Fishing for barramundi in Australia is the most productive between January and March and between September and December.
Barramundi bites well in the early morning or late afternoon. Visit Kakadu National Park to catch barramundi during your fishing adventures in Australia.
Black marlin
Fishing for black marlin in Australia is good between the late fall and the early winter. The best months to target black marlin in the region are October – December. Noosa is the place that provides anglers with excellent black marlin fishing opportunities.
Cobia
The best time of the year to fish for cobia in Australia is between the late fall and the late winter. Oftentimes, anglers get bites of cobia in the middle of the day. The Gold Coast is the ideal place to fish for cobia in the region.
Coral trout
The coral trout fishing season starts in April and finishes in October. Fishing for coral trout in Australia is the best during the summer months. Darwin is the right time of the day to target coral trout.
Giant trevally
The season to fish for giant trevally in Australia starts in the early fall and finishes in the early spring. The best months to experience giant trevally fishing are October – December.
The evening is the best time of day to catch giant trevally in Australia. A lot of giant trevally can be found near Cairns.
Mahi-mahi
The Australia mahi-mahi fishing season starts in July and ends in March. The best months to target mahi-mahi in Australia are September-January. Mahi-mahi bites well early in the morning. Exmouth is one of the best places to fish for mahi-mahi in Exmouth.
Pink snapper
A pink snapper season in Australia starts in the late spring and ends in the early winter. The best months to target pink snapper are September – December.
Oftentimes, pink snapper bites well at first light and last light. Go to Darwin if you would like to catch a pink snapper during your fishing trip.
Spanish mackerel
Fishing for Spanish mackerel in Australia is the most productive between December and March. Spanish mackerel bites well in the region at the first light. It’s recommended to fish for Spanish mackerel near Cairns.
Yellowfin Tuna
Fishing for yellowfin tuna in Australia is good at any time of the year. However, fishing is the most productive between October and March.
The best time of the day to fish for yellowfin tuna is between dusk and dawn. It makes sense to target yellowfin tuna near the Gold Coast.
Australia Regions: Best Fishing Times
Queensland
Fishing in Queensland is best between January and February.
New South Wales
The best months to go fishing in New South Wales are February and March.
Western Australia
Fishing in Western Australia is the most productive between December and March.
Northern Territory
Fishing season in the Northern Territory starts in October and ends in December.
Victoria
The best time of the year to fish Victoria is between September and December.
South Australia
It’s recommended to fish in South Australia between January and December.
Tasmania
The fishing season in Tasmania starts in October and finishes in April.
Best Time of Day to Fish Australia
It’s incredibly important for anglers to go fishing in the right place and at the right time. Anglers should select the time of day depending on such factors as the time of the year and the species that they are targeting. Also, fishermen should take into account weather conditions.
Go fishing in the morning between December and February when the weather is hot in Australia. However, it would be better to fish in Australia between March and November when the weather is cold.
When planning fishing adventures in Australia, anglers need to decide what fish species they want to target. After that, they need to study the bite times of their favorite fish species carefully. Fishermen need to plan their trip for the time of the day when their targeted species are the most active.
Australia Fishing & Tidal Impacts
There is a link between tides and bite times. Tides affect fish feeding behavior. When planning fishing adventures in Australia, anglers need to know when tides are high and when tides are low in the region. But most importantly, fishermen should plan their fishing adventures in Australia with tides in mind.
It would be better to go fishing during the incoming tides. Fish activity increases during the rising tides. Oxygen-rich waters are brought to the area and fish begin to search for food actively. So, anglers find it easy to do fishing and can catch more fish during rising tides.
Is Winter Fishing Bad in Australia?
Summertime starts in Australia in December and finishes in February. It’s the time of the year when many fish species are active. That’s why fishing is very productive during the winter months. So, it makes a lot of sense to go fishing in Australia in the winter.
Among the fish species that anglers can target in the waters of Australia in winter are barracuda, barramundi, black and striped marlin, bonito, cobia, giant trevally, mahi-mahi, sailfish, tiger shark, snapper, tuna as well as wahoo.
Top 7 Fishing Spots in Australia
Cairns
Cairns are one of the most popular fishing destinations in Australia. Fishing in nearshore waters is very productive. This place impresses anglers with its fish abundance.
Here, it’s possible to target such species as barracuda, black marlin, blue marlin, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, trevally, sailfish as well as wahoo.
Darvin
Darvin is a small city that’s located in the northern part of the country. It’s a very interesting fishing spot. Several rivers merge into the Timor Sea near Darvin and the ideal fishing conditions are created.
The opportunities are very diverse. Anglers can experience fishing in the sea, bay, and rivers. The main target here is barramundi. Among other species that you can catch here are: coral trout, golden trevally, snapper, and tuna.
Exmouth
Exmouth is located in the western part of Australia. It is a popular fishing and travel destination. More than 300,000 travelers visit the area annually. Exmouth is well-known among anglers due to the Ningaloo Reef. There are lush rainforests in the region.
So, anglers will be able to enjoy great natural views while fishing in the area. Top catches in Exmouth include bonefish, giant trevally, mahi-mahi, permit, sailfish, snapper, tuna, wahoo as well as blue and white marlin.
Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln is located in the southeastern part of Australia. The area provides anglers with easy access to South Australia’s Boston Bay. Anglers can also enjoy fishing in the waters of Spencer Gulf.
There are many beach fishing spots as well as rock fishing spots in the area. Bluefin tuna is the main target in the waters near Port Lincoln. Besides bluefin tuna, it’s possible to target such fish species as snapper, garfish, and gummy sharks.
Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance is the ideal place for family fishing in Australia. Here, it’s possible to experience both inshore and offshore fishing. During a fishing trip, anglers can catch different fish species such as bream, perch, salmon, snapper, gummy sharks, swordfish, and tuna.
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is the ideal fishing spot for nature lovers. The park gives anglers an opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of nature during their fishing adventures.
It’s a great idea to fish near the reefs around the mouth of the rivers. Kakadu National Park is well-known for its breathtaking waterfalls. The main target here is barramundi. Other species include black jewfish, golden snapper, etc.
The Gold Coast
Many anglers choose to visit the Gold Coast during their fishing adventures in Australia and they do this for a good reason. There are beaches as well as entertainment parks in the area. The Gold Coast is the perfect place for surfers.
But most importantly, fishing on the Gold Coast is exciting. Fishermen can target amberjack, cobia, blue marlin, black marlin, bream, kingfish, mahi-mahi, sailfish, snapper, Spanish mackerel, trevally, yellowfin tuna, and other species during their trips.
Booking Guides & Charters in Australia
– Best season to go
As we have already said, fishing in Australia is very good between November and March. However, December – February is a high travel season in the country.
A lot of people prefer to visit Australia during the winter months. That’s why booking a charter can be hard in the winter. High demand increases the price of fishing charters. So, it can be expensive to fish in Australia during these months.
It’s worth noting that September–November, and March-May are often overlooked times of the year. Nevertheless, fishing in Australia is quite good during these months. The demand for fishing is lower and, therefore, fishing charters are cheaper in the fall and spring.
– Morning vs. afternoon
Many anglers give a preference to morning fishing in Australia. It makes sense to go fishing in the early morning between December and February.
It’s summertime in Australia and the weather is hot during these months. However, the water cools down in the morning and fish begin to search for food actively.
That’s why morning fishing in Australia is very productive in the summer. Fishing in the morning is comfortable and allows anglers to avoid the summer heat.
On the other hand, fishing in the morning has its own drawbacks. It’s necessary to wake up early if you want to go fishing in the morning.
It would be great to fish in Australia during the afternoon hours between March and September. The weather is cold in Australia during these months.
So, the water heats up in the afternoon, and the activity of fish increases. That’s why fish bites well during the afternoon hours.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Half-day fishing trips last 8 hours. Such trips are worth considering for beginners, who want to get a taste of fishing and develop basic skills. Anglers on a budget can also consider booking 1/2 fishing trips. Half-day fishing trips are a good option for those anglers who are planning to fish in inshore waters.
On the other hand, 1/2 day trips are not suitable for anglers who want to explore remote fishing spots. Such trips are not recommended for professional anglers, who are interested in catching trophy fish during their Australia fishing adventures. Experienced anglers usually want to spend more time fishing.
Full-day trips provide anglers with more time than they can spend on fishing. A chance to catch a trophy fish increases during full-day trips. Full-day trips are longer than half-day ones and they increase angler’s chance to catch a trophy fish. However, full-day trips are more expensive compared to half-day ones.
Avid anglers may need to spend more time fishing. So, they can consider booking multi-day charters. Multi-day trips give anglers a better chance to catch trophy fish.
Anglers can fish in the morning, afternoon, and evening during multi-day charters. It’s also important to note that if you book a multi-day charter, you’ll manage to visit more fishing spots in Australia during your trip.
