Best Fishing Spots: Parks for Keen Anglers

There's something deeply satisfying about combining a fishing trip with a caravan or camping holiday. The early starts feel easier when you're waking up metres from the water. The fish cleaning station is right there. And there's no rush to get home, you can sit back with a cold one and watch the sunset over the water you've been fishing all day.

Australia is blessed with some of the world's best fishing, from world-class game fishing off the NSW South Coast to the legendary barramundi waters of tropical Queensland. And the best part? There's almost always a holiday park nearby that caters to keen anglers.

This guide covers Australia's top fishing destinations and the parks that put you right in the action.

Why Holiday Parks and Fishing Go Hand in Hand

Before we dive into the destinations, let's talk about why holiday parks are the smart choice for fishing trips.

Fish Cleaning Facilities

Nothing beats having a proper fish cleaning station after a successful day on the water. Many holiday parks in fishing regions offer dedicated cleaning tables, often with running water and waste disposal. No mess at your site, no complaints from the neighbours.

Boat Storage and Ramps

If you're towing a tinny or have a boat on the roof, holiday parks understand your needs. Many offer boat parking, and parks in serious fishing towns are often close to public boat ramps, sometimes walking distance.

Location, Location, Location

The best fishing parks put you close to the action. Whether that's an estuary, a river mouth, a beach, or a lake, you want to minimise travel time between your site and the water. More time fishing, less time driving.

Fellow Anglers

There's something to be said for the fishing knowledge that circulates around a good holiday park. Chat with your neighbours, and you might learn about a hot spot that doesn't appear in any guidebook.

NSW South Coast: Australia's Game Fishing Capital

The NSW South Coast from Jervis Bay to Eden is serious fishing country. This stretch of coastline offers everything from land-based rock fishing to world-class game fishing for marlin and tuna.

Bermagui - The Blue Water Mecca

Why it's famous: Bermagui has been synonymous with game fishing since Zane Grey, the American novelist and legendary big-game fisherman, put it on the map in the 1930s. The continental shelf runs close to shore here, bringing big blue water species within striking distance.

Target species:

Species	Best Time	Method
Blue Marlin	January–April	Trolling offshore
Yellowfin Tuna	February–May	Trolling, jigging
Striped Marlin	May–August	Live bait, trolling
Kingfish	Year-round	Jigging, live bait
Snapper	Year-round	Bait, soft plastics

You don't need your own boat to experience Bermagui's fishing. Charter boats run daily during peak season, and local skippers know every canyon and drop-off.

For land-based fishing, the breakwaters and rock platforms offer excellent options for kingfish, drummer, and luderick.

Narooma - Inlet Fishing Paradise

Why it's famous: The Wagonga Inlet at Narooma is one of the most productive estuaries on the NSW coast. The clear, clean water holds excellent populations of flathead, bream, and whiting, with mulloway and jewfish for those who know where to look.

Target species:

Flathead – Narooma is renowned for dusky flathead. The inlet flats on the rising tide are deadly
Bream – Year-round residents, best on light tackle around structure
Whiting – Sand flats in summer produce quality fish
Mulloway – Night fishing around the bridge and channel edges

The beauty of Narooma is accessibility. You can fish productively from shore, kayak, or a small tinny, you don't need a serious offshore rig to have a great time.

Where to Stay on the South Coast

Narooma Area

Parks in the Narooma area put you close to both the inlet fishing and offshore opportunities. Look for parks with boat ramp access and fish cleaning facilities, essentials for any serious fishing trip.

Eden Area

Eden, at the southern end of this stretch, offers excellent variety. Twofold Bay is Australia's third-deepest natural harbour and holds good populations of flathead, whiting, and kingfish. The town has strong infrastructure for anglers, including boat ramps, tackle shops, and charter operations.

Planning Tips for NSW South Coast

Best months: March–June offers the best all-round fishing, with tuna and marlin overlapping and estuary species active
Licensing: A NSW recreational fishing licence is required. Available online or from local tackle shops
Weather: The South Coast can be exposed. Check forecasts carefully before heading offshore
Gear: For estuary fishing, light spin gear (2–4kg) is ideal. Offshore, you'll want heavier tackle, 20–37kg outfits for game fish

Queensland: Barramundi Country

If there's one fish that defines Australian angling, it's the barramundi. These powerful, silver predators are the holy grail for many anglers, and Queensland's tropical north is where dreams come true.

Cairns and Surrounds

Why it's famous: The rivers, estuaries, and impoundments around Cairns offer excellent barramundi fishing. The Trinity Inlet, Barron River, and Mulgrave River all hold fish, with some genuine giants lurking in the deeper holes.

What to know:

Closed season: Barramundi have a closed season in Queensland waters from 1 November to 31 January, plan your trip accordingly
Size limits: Minimum 58cm, maximum 120cm (fish between these sizes only)
Best time: The lead-up to the wet season (September–October) often produces explosive action
Method: Lures are king in QLD: soft plastics, hard-body swimbaits, and surface poppers all work

Beyond barramundi, the Cairns region offers excellent reef fishing, with coral trout, red emperor, and various trevally species available on charter trips to the outer reef.

Where to Stay Near Cairns

For fishing-focused trips, look for parks with easy access to boat ramps and the flexibility for early departures. The region has excellent holiday park options that understand what anglers need.

Karumba - Gulf Country Paradise

Why it's famous: Karumba sits where the Norman River meets the Gulf of Carpentaria, and it's about as serious as Australian fishing gets. This is remote, genuine outback fishing, and the barramundi here are the stuff of legend.

What to expect:

Monster barramundi – The Gulf produces fish over a metre regularly. The Australian record barra came from these waters
Excellent guided options – Local guides know the tidal patterns and seasonal movements
King threadfin salmon – Often overlooked, but threadies in the Gulf run big and fight hard
Unforgettable sunsets – The Gulf has some of the most spectacular skies in Australia

Karumba is a long way from anywhere, about 2,200km from Brisbane, but for serious barramundi anglers, the pilgrimage is worth every kilometre.

Planning Tips for Queensland

Wet season: Avoid December–March. Roads can become impassable, and fishing conditions are generally poor
Licensing: A Queensland recreational fishing licence is not currently required in most waters, but check current regulations
Crocs: This is crocodile country. Never fish alone in remote areas, and be extremely cautious around river banks
Heat: Tropical Queensland is hot. Start early, take breaks during the middle of the day, and stay hydrated

Victoria: Gippsland Lakes

The Gippsland Lakes system is the largest inland waterway in Australia, and it's a fishing paradise that rivals anywhere in the country for variety and quality.

What Makes Gippsland Special

The system: Lake King, Lake Victoria, Lake Wellington, and the connecting channels create a vast network of fishable water. The mix of fresh and salt water (the lakes are technically coastal lagoons, connected to the sea at Lakes Entrance) supports an incredible diversity of species.

Target species:

Species	Best Spots	Method
Bream	Structure, channels, edges	Bait, soft plastics, surface lures
Flathead	Sand flats, edges	Soft plastics, bait
Mulloway	Deep channels, night	Live bait, large soft plastics
Australian Bass	Upper rivers, fresh sections	Lures, flies
Estuary Perch	Snaggy areas	Small lures, bait

Lakes Entrance - The Hub

Lakes Entrance is the main town for Gippsland Lakes fishing. The town itself sits at the connection between the lakes and the sea, and there's excellent fishing in every direction.

Land-based options: The rock walls at the entrance can produce mulloway, salmon, and flathead. The footbridge over the entrance channel is a popular spot for bream and flathead.

Boat fishing: With a boat, the entire system opens up. The channels between lakes hold excellent bream and flathead, while the deeper holes are where you'll find mulloway.

Where to Stay in Gippsland

Lakes Entrance and the surrounding towns have excellent holiday park options for anglers. Look for parks with:

Fish cleaning facilities (essential after a good session)
Boat parking and ramp access
Location close to the water, as some parks are right on the lakes

Planning Tips for Gippsland

Best months: Year-round fishing, but spring and autumn are peak. Summer can see heavy boat traffic from holidaymakers
Licensing: A Victorian recreational fishing licence is required
Weather: The lakes can get choppy when the wind picks up. Check forecasts and know your limits
Tides: The Gippsland Lakes are influenced by tides through the entrance. Fishing often improves on tide changes

Tasmania: Trout and More

Tasmania offers something different: world-class trout fishing in highland lakes and rivers that feel a million miles from anywhere. But don't sleep on the coastal fishing either.

The Central Highlands - Brown Trout Heaven

Why it's famous: Tasmania's Central Highlands contain some of the finest brown trout fishing in the world. The Great Lake, Arthurs Lake, and countless smaller waters hold healthy populations of wild fish that grow large on abundant food.

What to expect:

Polaroiding - The Tasmanian specialty. Stalking trout in the clear shallows, sight-casting to individual fish
Dry fly fishing - When mayflies and caddis hatch, surface fishing is exceptional
Big fish - Browns over 5 pounds are common; fish over 10 pounds are possible
Stunning scenery - The highlands are hauntingly beautiful, with bush-lined lakes and big skies

Best time: October–April is the main season. The highland lakes can be harsh in winter.

Coastal Fishing

Don't overlook Tasmania's coastal fishing:

Flathead – The state's estuaries and bays hold excellent flathead populations
Australian Salmon – Run in big schools along the east coast in autumn
Trumpeter – Tasmania's "go-to" table fish, caught offshore on reefs
Squid – Tassie calamari is legendary. The east coast produces excellent squid fishing

Where to Stay in Tasmania

For the Central Highlands, you'll need to base yourself in towns like Deloraine, Longford, or Launceston and make day trips to the lakes.

BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park makes an excellent base for exploring both the highland trout waters and the coastal fishing options of the Tamar Valley. The park's central location puts you within striking distance of Great Lake (about 90 minutes), the east coast (about an hour to St Helens), and the excellent estuary fishing of the Tamar River itself.

Why we recommend it:

Central location for accessing multiple fishing zones
Excellent facilities including fish cleaning areas
Modern amenities for extended stays
Easy access to tackle shops and local knowledge in Launceston

Planning Tips for Tasmania

Licensing: Tasmanian inland waters require an Inland Fisheries licence for trout and native species
Seasons: Trout fishing is closed in most highland waters from late April to August
Weather: The highlands can be cold and changeable even in summer. Pack layers
Gear: For trout, bring quality polarised sunglasses, as they're essential for sight fishing

Western Australia: Coral Coast and Beyond

WA offers some of Australia's most spectacular fishing, from the remote Kimberley to the accessible wonders of the Coral Coast.

Exmouth - Game Fishing and Reef Adventures

Why it's famous: Exmouth sits on the Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's largest fringing reef systems. The fishing here is extraordinary, from the flats to the blue water.

Target species:

Species	Best Time	Method
Giant Trevally	Year-round	Poppers, stick baits
Spanish Mackerel	April–September	Trolling, live bait
Sailfish	March–July	Live bait, trolling
Coral Trout	Year-round	Bottom fishing
Permit	Year-round	Fly, light tackle flats

The flats fishing at Exmouth is world-class. Wading the crystal-clear flats with a fly rod, stalking giant trevally, permit, and golden trevally, is as good as sight fishing gets anywhere on the planet.

Shark Bay - Whiting Capital

Why it's famous: Shark Bay is one of Australia's World Heritage areas, and it's also one of the best whiting fisheries in the country. The shallow, grassy flats hold enormous numbers of quality whiting, along with flathead, bream, and pink snapper.

What to expect:

Whiting – The King George whiting here are plentiful and often of excellent size
Flathead – The flats produce good dusky and bar-tailed flathead
Snapper – Pink snapper in the deeper channels, especially in winter
Mulloway – The Gascoyne River mouth holds quality fish

Where to Stay in WA

For Exmouth, RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park puts you close to the action with excellent facilities for anglers.

For Shark Bay, Tasman Holiday Parks - Denham Seaside in Denham offers a comfortable base for exploring this incredible fishery.

Planning Tips for Western Australia

Remoteness: WA is big and remote. Plan fuel stops carefully and carry spares
Licensing: A WA recreational fishing licence is required for boat fishing
Heat: The Coral Coast is hot in summer. Fish early and late, rest in the middle of the day
Reef care: When fishing around Ningaloo, be mindful of the fragile reef ecosystem

Planning Your Fishing Holiday

Fishing Licences by State

Before you wet a line, make sure you're legal:

State	Requirement	Where to Get It
NSW	Required	Service NSW, online, tackle shops
QLD	Generally not required	Check current regulations
VIC	Required	Online, tackle shops, Australia Post
TAS	Required for inland waters	Service Tasmania, online
WA	Required for boat fishing	Online, Department of Fisheries
SA	Not required for recreational fishing	N/A
NT	Not required for recreational fishing	N/A

Always check current regulations before your trip. Rules can change, and ignorance isn't an excuse.

What to Bring

Essential gear:

Rods and reels appropriate for your target species
Tackle (lures, bait, hooks, sinkers)
Quality line and leader material
Pliers, knife, and fish gripper
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, polarised sunnies)
Esky with ice for your catch

Nice to have:

Fish finder if you're boating
Landing net
Brag mat for photos (and size reference)
Filleting gear for the fish cleaning station

Finding Parks on Total Parks

When searching for fishing-friendly parks on Total Parks, use the location filters to narrow down to your target fishing area. Look for parks close to the water, as the description often mentions nearby fishing opportunities.

The interactive map is particularly useful for fishing trips. You can see exactly where parks sit in relation to rivers, lakes, and coastlines, making it easy to find the perfect base for your target fishery.

Tight Lines

There's no better way to experience Australia's incredible fishing than from the comfort of a well-positioned holiday park. Wake up, walk to the water, fish until you're satisfied, then return to clean your catch, cook up dinner, and do it all again tomorrow.

Whether you're chasing marlin off the South Coast, stalking barramundi in the tropical north, or sight-casting to brown trout in the Tasmanian highlands, there's a park waiting to be your base camp.

Pack the rods, check the tide charts, and get out there. The fish aren't going to catch themselves.