Devonport and Port Sorell fishing spots

Around the Spirit of Tasmania's home port, the Mersey, Don and Forth river mouths and the Port Sorell estuary give easy shore fishing. Big Australian salmon patrol the beaches and headlands, flathead and mullet are everywhere, and Port Sorell has an emerging fishery for King George whiting, snapper and kingfish. Port Sorell is a shark refuge.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here: 8 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat or kayak. Seasons follow our North Coast & Bass Strait species list for Tasmania. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

9 spots: Devonport and Port Sorell
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Turners Beach & Forth River mouth	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Don Heads	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
3. Mersey Bluff	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
4. East Devonport & Mersey mouth	Estuary	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
5. Moorland Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Hawley Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Port Sorell foreshore (Freers Beach)	Estuary	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Squeaking Point jetty	Jetty	Land-based	Bay, estuary or river	–
9. Port Sorell estuary (boat & kayak)	Estuary	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Turners Beach & Forth River mouth

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach and river mouth at Turners Beach with parking.
What's good here: Peak in October: sea-run brown trout. Also in season: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead and yelloweye mullet.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies; northerlies push swell in. Faces N.
Note: Salmon along the beach and at the river mouth; sea-run trout chase bait at the mouth in spring (trout above the seaward limit need an IFS licence).
Safety: River-mouth currents after rain.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. The Forth River above its seaward limit is inland water. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.15820, 146.23950 · Open in Google Maps (position: Turners Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Don Heads

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Headland and beach at the Don River mouth west of Devonport.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead, yelloweye mullet and bluethroat and purple wrasse.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies. Faces N.
Note: Rocks and sand at the Don mouth: salmon on metals, wrasse in the rocks, flathead off the sand.
Safety: Rocks are slippery; keep off in big northerly swell.
Zone: Don River net restrictions only; no refuge or reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.16010, 146.33280 · Open in Google Maps (position: Don Heads, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Mersey Bluff

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Rocky bluff by the lighthouse at Devonport with roads and parking close by.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, bluethroat and purple wrasse, barracouta and southern sand flathead. Out of season now: blue warehou.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in southerlies; northerlies send swell onto the rocks. Faces N.
Note: Big salmon off the rocks, wrasse close in, and couta and warehou when schools pass in summer and autumn.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket; waves can wash over low ledges.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.15980, 146.35530 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mersey Bluff, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. East Devonport & Mersey mouth

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Beach at the river mouth; the Reg Hope Park jetty upriver in East Devonport has a handrail and toilets.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally and southern sand flathead.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in easterlies.
Note: Mersey mouth: salmon, mullet and trevally move in with the tide; family jetty fishing upriver.
Safety: Spirit of Tasmania ferries and shipping: keep clear of the channel.
Zone: Mersey River net and spear restrictions; no refuge or reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.17190, 146.37190 · Open in Google Maps (position: East Devonport Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Moorland Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach east of Devonport off the coast road.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead and yelloweye mullet.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies. Faces N.
Note: Bass Strait beach that regularly turns up big salmon; flathead on the sand.
Safety: Surf rips in northerly swell.
Zone: No refuge or reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.16170, 146.43090 · Open in Google Maps (position: Moorland Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Hawley Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach at Hawley near the Port Sorell entrance.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead and King George whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies.
Note: Salmon and flathead on the beach; whiting move along the sand edges near the estuary entrance.
Safety: Currents near the estuary entrance.
Zone: Just outside the Port Sorell Shark Refuge Area; no reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.14490, 146.54380 · Open in Google Maps (position: Hawley Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Port Sorell foreshore (Freers Beach)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Beach and town foreshore; the floating pontoon and the Panatana Rivulet footbridge (fish around high tide) are further into the estuary.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, southern sand flathead, Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet and southern garfish.
Best tide: Higher tides; the town pontoon can sit on the sand at low tide (official site note).
Best wind: Sheltered in most winds.
Note: Shallow estuary water: whiting and flathead on the sand, garfish and mullet under floats.
Safety: Pontoon tilts when it sits on the sand at low tide.
Zone: Port Sorell Shark Refuge Area: sharks, skates and rays protected (elephantfish excepted); no gillnets. No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.15610, 146.54250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Freers Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Squeaking Point jetty

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based. Jetty at Squeaking Point in the Port Sorell estuary.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, southern sand flathead, Australian salmon, southern garfish and snapper.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in most winds.
Note: Easy estuary jetty for whiting and flathead; snapper are an emerging catch in Port Sorell.
Safety: Shallow at low tide.
Zone: Port Sorell Shark Refuge Area: sharks, skates and rays protected (elephantfish excepted); no gillnets. No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.18890, 146.57210 · Open in Google Maps (position: Squeaking Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Port Sorell estuary (boat & kayak)

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Launch from local ramps around the estuary.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, southern sand flathead, silver trevally, snapper and Australian salmon. Out of season now: yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered estuary; strong northerlies against the tide make the entrance rough.
Note: Emerging whiting, snapper and kingfish fishery on top of flathead and trevally. Drift the channel edges with baits and soft plastics.
Safety: Shallow banks and a tidal entrance: watch the tide.
Zone: Port Sorell Shark Refuge Area: sharks, skates and rays protected (elephantfish excepted); no gillnets. No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.18240, 146.57620 · Open in Google Maps (position: Port Sorell, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

No Tasmanian boat ramp dataset with an open licence was found, so we don't list ramps here yet; the spots' access notes say where a ramp sits beside a jetty.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Devonport and Port Sorell in October: sea-run brown trout, black bream and gummy shark. Of the 27 species our North Coast & Bass Strait list has for this part of the coast, 3 peak in October 2026 and 14 more are in season.

Peak in October: sea-run brown trout, black bream and gummy shark.

Also in season: southern sand flathead, Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet, King George whiting, silver trevally, southern garfish, snapper, bluethroat and purple wrasse, barracouta, tiger flathead, southern bluespotted flathead, jackass morwong, greenback flounder and bearded rock cod.

In closed season now (no take): southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026); Gould's squid (1 September to 31 October 2026); striped trumpeter (1 September to 31 October).

Out of season in October: yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); blue warehou (best Dec–May); elephantfish (best Dec–Mar); shortfin mako shark (best Dec–Mar).

Seen now and then, so not rated: striped trumpeter, tailor, southern bluefin tuna and albacore.

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Tasmania's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

Rod and line (incl. squid jigs) in marine waters: no licence. Licence for rock lobster pot/ring/dive, abalone, scallop, set line and graball, mullet or beach seine nets: 1 Nov 2026-31 Oct 2027 $68.60 first licence, $9.80 each extra; concession $39.20 (Rules Update, 21 Sep 2026). Until 31 Oct 2026 the 2025-26 fees apply ($66.85 first licence, $9.55 each extra, concession $38.20); a rock lobster licence bought before 12 Oct 2026 expires 31 Oct 2026. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Tasmania's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Devonport and Port Sorell

Port Sorell is a Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted); no recreational gillnets.
Calamari and squid closed 1 Sep-31 Oct 2026 on the north coast, including here: no squid jig on a line.
Sand flathead: north-coast limits, bag 10, 35-40 cm.
Garfish: northern waters were closed 15 Jan-14 Feb in 2026; the seasons page doesn't list a 2027 closure yet, so check it before January.
Mersey, Forth and Don above their seaward limits are inland waters: IFS licence for trout.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Devonport and Port Sorell

Tasmanian water is cold all year: a fall in quickly brings on cold shock, so wear a lifejacket on rocks, breakwalls and in small boats.
Bass Strait swell and wind change quickly: check the forecast before fishing rocks or launching.

Tasmania: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Tas coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: Tasmania boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Must wear in a recreational motor boat or tender under 6m while under power; under-12s in any motor boat under power (not in a cabin); and in kayaks, canoes, SUPs and dinghies.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Tas Maritime Radio (volunteer coast station network). Log in with Tas Maritime Radio: give your location and intentions and advise when you're back. Radio room staffed 0700-1900 daily; after hours for urgent/emergency calls.

Marine parks and closed areas: Tasmanian marine reserves (state waters), Fishing Tas app / area restrictions and Australian Marine Parks (six around Tasmania).

Cold water: Sea temperatures are 8-18 C, and a fall into cold water makes drowning much more likely. Wear a lifejacket. More.

Tasmania's official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Tamar River and George Town (about 33 km east)
Stanley and the north-west coast (about 89 km west)
Strahan and Macquarie Harbour (about 149 km south-west)
St Helens and Georges Bay (about 156 km east)

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Tasmania · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates

Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0 and ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
Research sources: fishing.tas.gov.au (Spots (Squeaking Point and Port Sorell jetties, Reg Hope Park, Mersey Bluff, Don Heads, Turners Beach, Moorland Beach), species, emerging fishery, refuge and gillnet rules); fishing.tas.gov.au (Official Devonport and Port Sorell fishing map); fishing.tas.gov.au (Seaward limits and inland waters); fishing.tas.gov.au (North coast calamari and garfish closures); services.thelist.tas.gov.au (LIST WildFisheries layers used for the zone check and jetty descriptions (Port Sorell pontoon, Panatana Rivulet, Reg Hope Park)); mast.tas.gov.au (MAST lifejacket rules and advice).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.