Fishing Strahan & Macquarie Harbour
The harbour is a unique two-tiered water system where a dark, organic tannin-stained freshwater surface layer (from the Gordon and King rivers) floats over dense marine salt water entering through Hell's Gates. Spring and summer deliver fast-paced fishing for sea-run Brown Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Sand Flathead, and Southern Calamari. The wild ocean beaches of Ocean Beach and Henty River mouth produce heavy schools of Australian Salmon year-round.
Land-based fishers can work Strahan wharf, Macquarie Heads sandspits, and Henty River mouth beaches. Casting 3-inch soft plastics or small hardbody minnows off the main town jetty yields hard-fighting sea-run Brown Trout and escaped Atlantic Salmon. Setting up surf rod stands on Ocean Beach using heavy patternoster rigs baited with fresh squid produces giant Australian Salmon.
Boaters launching from Meredith Street or Mill Bay can explore vast harbour reaches, salmon farm margins, and Gordon River channel entries. Trolling shallow-diving minnow lures along the tannin water edges targets trophy sea-run Brown Trout averaging 2kg to 5kg. Heading out through Hell's Gates from Macquarie Heads ramp on calm weather days allows experienced skippers to drift ocean sand ridges for Sand Flathead and Gummy Sharks.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- STRAHAN TOWN WHARF: Historic timber wharf sitting over deep harbour water near the town center. Cast size 2.5 or 3.0 squid jigs along dark pylon margins at dusk for Southern Calamari. Casting 3-inch paddletail soft plastics parallel to the wharf face pulls sea-run Brown Trout and escaped Atlantic Salmon.
- HENTY RIVER MOUTH BEACH: Wild ocean beach entrance north of town where fresh dark water empties into heavy surf wash. Cast 28g to 40g metal spinners or white soft plastics into current seams for schooling Australian Salmon and sea-run Brown Trout. Sturdy footwear and caution are required near fast-moving surf currents.
- MACQUARIE HEADS SANDSPIT: Sandy point guarding the narrow entrance at Hell's Gates facing strong tidal currents. Cast running sinker rigs baited with fresh squid or bluebait into deep water gaps for Sand Flathead and Gummy Sharks. Early morning low-light windows yield the most consistent bites.
- LITTLE HENTY RIVER BRIDGE: River bridge access north of Strahan featuring quiet tea-tree bends and clay drop-offs. Float live freshwater shrimp or earthworms under a bobber float near submerged log laydowns for Black Bream and Brown Trout. High tide brings feeding fish right up into the river bends.
- OCEAN BEACH SURF WASH: Expansive 34-kilometer ocean surf beach facing wild Southern Ocean swell, famed as Tasmania's longest. Set up heavy surf rod stands and cast double-hook patternoster rigs loaded with squid strips beyond the shore break for Australian Salmon and Sand Flathead. Overcast days with light easterly winds offer ideal beach conditions.
Offshore
- MACQUARIE HARBOUR SALMON FARMS: Commercial aquaculture leases holding massive schools of escaped Atlantic Salmon and wild trout. Anchor legally 50 meters outside yellow boundary buoys and drift unweighted fish slabs or soft plastics for large Atlantic Salmon. The rich food environment attracts trophy fish year-round.
- HENTY RIVER OUTFLOW CHANNEL: Deep estuarine river bed reaching 4 to 8 meters depth winding upstream from the coast. Slow-troll small 60mm shallow-diving minnows or pitch micro soft-vibes along outer clay bends for sea-run Brown Trout. Keep your lure swimming close to bottom snags to trigger strikes.
- HELL'S GATES PASSAGE: Narrow high-current entrance connecting the harbour to open ocean water. Troll 90mm shallow-diving hardbody lures at slow idle speed along channel rock walls for Australian Salmon and sea-run Brown Trout. Watch tidal current seams closely as fish gather to feed on passing bait.
- GORDON RIVER MOUTH ENTRY: Sheltered wilderness entrance where the Gordon River flows into the southern harbour. Drift slowly using an electric trolling motor casting soft plastics or wet flies along flooded tree edges for wild Brown Trout. The deep tannin water provides cover for fish feeding close to the surface.
- OFFSHORE SAND RIDGES (HELL'S GATES OUTSIDE): Open ocean sand flats located in 15 to 30 meters depth outside the harbour entrance. Drift across open sand using double-hook patternoster rigs baited with fresh squid strips or bluebait for limits of Sand Flathead. Only cross the outer bar during calm weather and high tide windows.
Hot Spots
- Strahan Town Wharf: Accessible central platform offering premier land-based casting for sea-run Brown Trout and Squid.
- Macquarie Harbour Salmon Farms: Aquaculture leases famous for producing trophy escaped Atlantic Salmon and trout.
- Henty River Mouth: Wild ocean river exit offering explosive land-based spinning for Australian Salmon.
- Hell's Gates: High-current ocean entrance channel renowned for trolling sea-run Brown Trout and Salmon.
- Ocean Beach: Massive 34km surf beach providing world-class surf casting for Australian Salmon and Flathead.
Local Bait Tips
- SOUTHERN CALAMARI: Caught off Strahan town wharf or over shallow harbour weed beds using size 2.5 or 3.0 squid jigs. Slice fresh tubes into thin fluttering strips for Flathead bait or use whole heads for channel Gummy Sharks.
- FRESHWATER SHRIMP: Collected using fine-mesh shrimp traps submerged along riverbank roots and reed beds in the Henty River, baited with soap or meat. Keep alive in an aerated bucket as top-tier bait for Black Bream and Brown Trout.
- BLUE MUSSELS: Hand-scraped from sub-surface wharf pylons around Strahan harbour below the low-tide mark. Thread soft mussel meat onto fine wire hooks for targeting Silver Trevally and Black Bream.
- SAND WORMS: Digged using a small hand-fork from moist sand flats near Macquarie Heads at low tide. Wrap in damp newspaper to keep lively for light-tackle Bream and Flathead fishing.
Boat Ramps
- Meredith Street Boat Ramp, Strahan:
Meredith Street Boat Ramp is located off Meredith Street in Strahan, managed by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and West Coast Council. The facility features a single-lane concrete launching ramp equipped with an adjacent heavy-duty boarding pontoon and 3 white navigation lights, offering reliable all-weather and all-tide vessel access to Macquarie Harbour. Amenities include paved car-trailer parking and public lighting.
- Mill Bay Boat Ramp, Strahan:
Mill Bay Boat Ramp is located off The Esplanade at Mill Bay in Strahan, managed by MAST. The facility features a single-lane concrete launching ramp with an adjacent walkway, providing easy vessel launching into central harbour reaches. Amenities include paved trailer parking, public restrooms, fish cleaning table, and nearby town services.
- Macquarie Heads Boat Ramp, Strahan:
Macquarie Heads Boat Ramp is located off Macquarie Heads Road near the harbour entrance at Hell’s Gates. Managed by MAST and West Coast Council, the high-capacity facility features a 3-lane concrete launching ramp equipped with an adjacent boarding walkway, providing direct vessel launching for boats accessing Hell’s Gates and offshore waters on calm weather days. Amenities include unpaved trailer parking and foreshore camping reserves.
Bait and Tackle
- Strahan Supermarket & Outdoor Kiosk: 1 The Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468 - Ph: (03) 6471 7132
- BCF Burnie: 1/13-15 Mount St, Burnie TAS 7320 - Ph: (03) 6431 8200
- BP Express Queenstown (24/7): 12 Orr St, Queenstown TAS 7467 - Ph: (03) 6471 1200
Basecamp & Accom
- Strahan Beach Tourist Park: 1 Beach St, Strahan TAS 7468 - Ph: (03) 6471 7468
- Strahan Village: 24 West Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468 - Ph: (03) 6471 4200
- Macquarie Heads Campground: Macquarie Heads Rd, Strahan TAS 7468 - Ph: (03) 6471 5822
Emergency & Safety
- Tasmania Police Marine Division / MAST Strahan: The Esplanade, Strahan TAS 7468 - Ph: (03) 6471 7111 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / 67
