Fishing in Australia – Get the Gear to Catch a Giant

Living on an island continent, Australian people are surrounded by rich fertile ocean. From the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean to the delicate intricacies of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia has arguably the best fishing on earth.

The country is home to five thousand species of fish, a quarter of which are endemic – only to be found in Australian waters.

The rich fertile ocean waters, although overfished, are still home to some amazing, unique species of fish. Because of the vast expanse of ocean, many people forget that there are still freshwater fish to be found in the lakes and rivers of this vast continent.

The Right Fishing Gear for the Job

To ensure you have the best chance of catching fish, it’s smart to give some thought to your gear. Having a thorough range of fishing gear in Australia can significantly improve your chances of catching dinner. Examples of equipment to buy include:

• Rod and reel – these can range from a few dozen bucks up to thousands, so think about your budget and how often you are planning on using your rod and reel. For the occasional angler, anything around a couple of hundred bucks will do. For those more serious, the sky’s the limit.

• Line – With a fishing line, you also get what you pay for. Consider buying biodegradable fishing line, which can save an animal’s life if it gets attached and you release the fish. Ensuring the continued biodiversity of the oceans is vital for everyone.

Freshwater Fishing in Australia – Living off the Land

Australia is a dry place overall. With such a vast desert interior, it is easy to understand that there aren’t as many rivers and lakes as other countries. Although suffering regular drought, many lakes and rivers are home to some species of freshwater fish that are popular with anglers. Two widespread species include:

• Murray Cod – The biggest freshwater fish is Australia, this predator is entirely unrelated to the northern hemisphere cod. As in many places around the world, since European settlement, numbers have drastically declined, and now the Murray cod is considered a threatened species.

• Australian Bass – A medium-sized fish found in the rivers along the eastern coast, this species became very popular with anglers after its name was changed to Australian Bass in the 1970s

Both these species can be caught if camping or living off the land throughout Australia.