Fishing Bicheno & Coles Bay
The regional marine system is protected from heavy westerly weather, creating glassy sea conditions across Great Oyster Bay. Summer and autumn bring an influx of Yellowtail Kingfish, Striped Marlin, Southern Calamari, and Sand Flathead. The rich kelp beds surrounding Governor Island Marine Reserve and Coles Bay foreshore hold dense schools of table fish year-round.
Land-based anglers can work the deep granite ledges at The Gulch in Bicheno, Redbill Beach rocks, and Coles Bay jetty. Casting size 3.0 or 3.5 squid jigs off the granite rock platforms at high tide yields giant Southern Calamari. Soaking pilchard slabs or fresh squid from the Gulch breakwall produces quality Sand Flathead and nocturnal Gummy Sharks.
Boaters launching from Bicheno Gulch or Coles Bay enjoy safe access to sheltered bay waters and offshore oceanic drop-offs. Trolling shallow-diving minnow lures around Schouten Island and Cape Tourville targets Yellowtail Kingfish and Australian Salmon. Drifting across the shallow weed flats of Great Oyster Bay produces limit bags of Sand Flathead, Calamari, and King George Whiting.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- BICHENO GULCH LEDGES: Deep granite channel ledges at the port entrance offering direct access to ocean current. Cast size 3.0 or 3.5 squid jigs over dark kelp patches during a rising tide for giant Southern Calamari. Casting 28g metal spinners into the current wash pulls schooling Australian Salmon and Snook.
- COLES BAY JETTY: Public timber jetty sitting over clear water and ribbon weed patches in Great Oyster Bay. Drop light patternoster rigs baited with peeled prawns beside pylons for Silver Trevally and Leatherjackets. Cast size 2.5 squid jigs along dark weed margins at dusk for Southern Calamari.
- REDBILL BEACH ROCKS: Granite outcrop at the northern end of Bicheno beach facing open water. Cast 3-inch soft plastics or small hardbody minnows parallel to the rock ledges for Australian Salmon and Flathead. Early morning light windows deliver quiet, active fishing before beachgoers arrive.
- FRIENDLY BEACHES SURF WASH: Expansive white sand ocean beach flanked by granite headlands. Set up surf rod stands and cast double-hook patternoster rigs baited with fresh squid strips beyond the shore break for Sand Flathead. Overcast days provide ideal conditions for beach anglers.
- MUIR'S BEACH FORESHORE: Sheltered sandy foreshore inside Coles Bay featuring shallow weed gaps close to shore. Wader fishers cast fresh sand worms or pipis on light running sinker rigs into sandy gutters for King George Whiting. High tide during late afternoon produces consistent feeding activity.
Offshore
- GREAT OYSTER BAY FLATS: Vast sheltered bay basin sitting in 4 to 12 meters depth packed with sand gaps and weed beds. Drift across clear sand holes casting double-hook patternoster rigs baited with squid strips for limits of Sand Flathead. Using a sea anchor slows your drift speed and keeps baits fishing effectively.
- SCHOUTEN ISLAND PASSAGE: Deep oceanic channel separating Freycinet Peninsula from Schouten Island in 20 to 40 meters depth. Troll large 120mm deep-diving hardbodies or down-rig live squid around reef pinnacles for Yellowtail Kingfish. Watch tidal current seams closely as fish gather to feed on passing bait.
- CAPE TOURVILLE DROP-OFF: Sheer underwater granite cliffs plunging into 50+ meters of water off the lighthouse headland. Anchor up-current of marked rock ledges, deploy a continuous pilchard berley trail, and drop heavy rigs for Striped Trumpeter and Gummy Sharks. Heavy 80lb monofilament leader is essential for sharp rock edges.
- GOVERNOR ISLAND MARGINS: Kelp-covered granite reefs surrounding the marine reserve in 6 to 15 meters depth outside protected boundaries. Drift over clear weed gaps casting size 3.0 squid jigs or light whiting rigs for Southern Calamari and King George Whiting. Clear water days with light winds deliver ideal visual sight-casting.
- SLEEPY BAY OFFSHORE REEFS: Deep granite reef patches sitting in 15 to 30 meters depth east of Coles Bay. Bottom-bounce fresh squid strips or fish fillets on heavy rigs for limits of Sand Flathead and Pinkie Snapper. The sheltered waters of the peninsula provide comfortable drifting conditions.
Hot Spots
- Bicheno Gulch: Famous granite ocean channel offering premier land-based casting for giant Calamari and Salmon.
- Coles Bay Jetty: Accessible timber platform providing consistent land-based Trevally, Squid, and Flathead fishing.
- Schouten Island Passage: High-current ocean channel renowned for trophy Yellowtail Kingfish and pelagics.
- Great Oyster Bay Flats: Vast sheltered bay producing limit bags of Sand Flathead and King George Whiting.
- Cape Tourville Drop-off: Deep underwater granite wall holding heavy Striped Trumpeter and Gummy Sharks.
Local Bait Tips
- SOUTHERN CALAMARI: Caught off Bicheno Gulch ledges or over Coles Bay weed beds using size 3.0 squid jigs. Slice fresh tubes into thin fluttering strips for Flathead bait or use whole live squid for offshore Kingfish.
- BLUE MUSSELS: Hand-scraped from sub-surface granite rocks around Bicheno Gulch below the low-tide mark. Thread soft mussel meat onto fine wire hooks for targeting Silver Trevally and King George Whiting.
- PIPIS: Gathered along the sandy intertidal wash zone on Friendly Beaches at low tide by foot-twisting in wet sand. Thread two whole pipis onto long-shank hooks for Sand Flathead and Whiting.
- SHORE CRABS: Collected by turning over loose granite rocks along Bicheno intertidal rock platforms at low tide. Thread whole crabs onto snelled hooks as lethal bait for big Black Bream and reef fish.
Boat Ramps
- Bicheno Gulch Boat Ramp:
Bicheno Gulch Boat Ramp is located off Esplanade at The Gulch in Bicheno, managed by MAST and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council. The oceanic facility features a concrete launching ramp equipped with a boarding pontoon inside a sheltered granite gulch, providing direct vessel access to open Bass Strait waters and offshore reefs. Amenities include paved trailer parking, public restrooms, and nearby port services.
- Coles Bay Boat Ramp:
Coles Bay Boat Ramp is located off Esplanade at Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula, managed by MAST. The facility features dual concrete launching lanes equipped with a floating boarding pontoon, offering sheltered all-tide vessel launching into Great Oyster Bay and Schouten Island channels. Amenities include a large paved car-trailer carpark, public restrooms, fish cleaning station, and lighting.
Bait and Tackle
- Bicheno Auto & Tackle: 47 Foster St, Bicheno TAS 7215 - Ph: (03) 6375 1200
- BCF Launceston: 2/120 Hobart Rd, Kings Meadows TAS 7250 - Ph: (03) 6344 1100
- Shell Bicheno Express (24/7): 2 Burgess St, Bicheno TAS 7215 - Ph: (03) 6375 1120
Basecamp & Accom
- BIG4 Iluka On Freycinet Holiday Park: 12 Esplanade, Coles Bay TAS 7215 - Ph: (03) 6257 0115
- Bicheno Cabin Park: 4 Cambridge St, Bicheno TAS 7215 - Ph: (03) 6375 1117
- Diamond Island Resort Bicheno: 69 Foreshore Rd, Bicheno TAS 7215 - Ph: (03) 6375 0100
Emergency & Safety
- Freycinet Volunteer Marine Rescue (Freycinet VMR): 76A Maria St, Swansea TAS 7190 - Ph: 0400 329 973 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67
