Regulations

To fish in an inland water you must hold a current Angling Licence and fish with a rod, reel and line during the angling season that applies to the water.

Angling rules and regulations for angling season and times, bag and size limits, fishing methods and boating, apply to individual waters. Hence they vary between waters.
The general rules that apply for most waters are:
• an open season in line with brown trout waters from the first Saturday in August in any year to the Sunday nearest 31 May in the next year

• open to all methods of  angling (fly, artificial lure and bait fishing)
• a daily bag limit of 12 fish
• a minimum fish size of 220 mm in length.
The exceptions to these general rules apply to waters open all year round, waters closed to fishing at all times, waters in the Western Lakes area, National Parks and World Heritage Area as well as some additional waters which have variations to the season, method or catch limits.

These exceptions are listed in the 'Special Waters Regulations Chart' published in the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code which is updated and produced each year. A copy is provided for free with the purchase of an angling licence and is available to download via this website. Go to the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2010-11 for the 2010-11 Season or the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2011-12 if fishing after 31 July 2011 (or the Regulations Chart for details on a specific water).
A comprehensive database of inland waters together with the regulations that apply to each is available on this website. It can be searched by water name, region, species or fishing method. Click on Waters to access this search facility.

Separate licences are required for whitebait fishing and all commercial activities, including the sale of fish and possession of certain fishing equipment such as a fish trap.

You do not need an Angling Licence to fish:

• at a Registered Private Fishery;
• if you are under 14 years; or
• when fishing for bream in specified bream waters listed in the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 (ammended 2010).

Purchasing a new licence

More than 120 agents sell Angling Licences around Tasmania, including major fishing tackle and sports stores and all Service Tasmania shops. Licences are also available for purchase online on this website, go to the licence section on the main menu or click on the red box top right of this page.