Fishing Methods

Legal angling methods are limited to fishing with rod and line using bait, artificial lure and fly. Although many inland waters allow all three methods, bait fishing is not permitted in waters reserved for artificial lure and fly fishing, and lure fishing is not allowed in waters reserved for fly fishing only. These restrictions apply to certain waters listed in the Special Waters Regulations Chart in the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2011-12.

Rods and lines
Angling is restricted to one rod and line per licence holder unless that person is licensed for two rods or when fishing for bream in specified bream (indigenous fish) waters. Lakes Mackenzie and Augusta are restricted to one hand held rod and line.
A single line must have no more than two lures or two baits or one lure and one bait or no more than three artificial flies. In waters restricted to fly fishing, generally accepted fly fishing practices apply. An angler must be within eight metres of his or her set rod and able to see it at all times, and it is illegal for a licence holder to look after another person’s rod and line at any time.

Strike indicators
Only a purpose-built strike indicator is permitted to warn of movement in the rod or line whilst set rod fishing. Plants such as willow, which is a noxious weed, should not be used as it has the ability to propagate from a strike. Bottles, jars, cans or similar objects made of plastic, glass, aluminium or any other metal are not permitted, as they create a serious litter problem.

Bait fishing
Bait fishing is not permitted in waters restricted to artificial lure or fly fishing, and in lakes and rivers in a National Park or World Heritage Area (except lakes Mackenzie and Augusta). It is an offence to use or possess bait at these waters and also to use frogs and ground bait (berley) at any inland water, with penalties up to $6,000.
The use of fish and fish products as bait is prohibited in all inland waters other than sections of rivers subject to tidal movement. The catching of live bait in tidal inland waters this season is allowed from 30/7/11 to 29/4/12 using either a hand held landing net or a seine net. The landing net must have a handle length of less than two metres, a mesh size of greater than or equal to 12 mm and an opening greater than or equal to one metre in diameter. The seine net must not be more than six metres long and one metre deep, and must have a mesh size between 12 and 30 mm.