Stanley and the north-west coast fishing spots

From Burnie's rocky points west to Rocky Cape, Stanley and the Smithton inlets, the north-west coast mixes Bass Strait beaches, headlands and big tidal flats. Australian salmon and blue warehou run the coast in the warmer months, with Stanley wharf famous for its December warehou. King George whiting, flathead and calamari fill the bays, and there are no shark refuges on this stretch.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

10 spots here: 9 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

10 spots: Stanley and the north-west coast
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Cooee Point, Burnie	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Doctors Rocks	Rocks	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
3. Boat Harbour Beach	Bay	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
4. Sisters Beach	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
5. Rocky Cape	Headland	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
6. Godfreys Beach, Stanley	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
7. Stanley wharf (The Nut)	Wharf	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
8. Tatlows Beach (Sawyer Bay)	Beach	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
9. East Inlet	Estuary	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
10. Duck Bay, Smithton	Bay	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Cooee Point, Burnie

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Rocky point between Burnie and Cooee, close to the coast road.
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 push swell onto the point. Faces N.
Note: Close-to-town rocks for salmon and warehou when schools pass, wrasse in the rocks and flathead off the sand.
Safety: Rock fishing: wear a lifejacket and watch for washes in northerly swell.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.03740, 145.87610 · Open in Google Maps (position: Cooee Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Doctors Rocks

Type: Rocks · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Rocky shore between Wynyard and Somerset off the coast road.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, bluethroat and purple wrasse and barracouta. Out of season now: blue warehou.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies. Faces N.
Note: Rock platform for salmon and couta on lures and wrasse on baits.
Safety: Low rocks wash over in northerly swell: lifejacket and grippy shoes.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -41.01290, 145.78500 · Open in Google Maps (position: Doctors Rocks, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Boat Harbour Beach

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Sheltered beach and rocks at Boat Harbour Beach township.
What's good here: In season in October: King George whiting, southern sand flathead, Australian salmon and southern garfish. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026).
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in southerlies; northerlies blow in. Faces N.
Note: Clear, sandy cove: whiting and flathead on the sand, squid over the weed (outside the spring closure), salmon off the rocks.
Safety: Rocky ends are slippery.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.92870, 145.62120 · Open in Google Maps (position: Jacobs Boat Harbour, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Sisters Beach

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Long beach at Sisters Beach township beside Rocky Cape National Park.
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: Walk the beach for salmon gutters; flathead on baits.
Safety: Surf rips in northerly swell.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.91480, 145.57450 · Open in Google Maps (position: Sisters Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Rocky Cape

Type: Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Rocky Cape National Park (parks pass needed); short walks to the rocks.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, bluethroat and purple wrasse and barracouta. Out of season now: blue warehou.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies; northerlies make the rocks dangerous. Faces N.
Note: Rugged headland water for salmon, couta and warehou on lures; wrasse on baits close in.
Safety: Remote rock fishing: lifejacket, tell someone your plans.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve; national park rules apply on land. Guide only, not for navigation: check parks.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.85710, 145.50790 · Open in Google Maps (position: Rocky Cape, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Godfreys Beach, Stanley

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach on the northern side of Stanley beside The Nut.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead, King George whiting and yelloweye mullet.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in southerlies.
Note: Sandy beach for salmon and flathead, with whiting in calmer weather.
Safety: No gill or mullet nets on this beach.
Zone: Godfreys Beach net restrictions only; no refuge or reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.75580, 145.29550 · Open in Google Maps (position: Godfreys Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. Stanley wharf (The Nut)

Type: Wharf · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Wharf on the eastern side of The Nut, reached by a gravel road to a TasPorts car park; working port.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, barracouta and southern sand flathead. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026). Out of season now: blue warehou.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in westerlies; easterlies blow onto the wharf. Faces E.
Note: Known for its December blue warehou run (small baits drifted with no sinker) and as an ink-stained calamari spot outside the spring closure.
Safety: Working wharf: give way to vessels and keep clear of lines and machinery.
Zone: No shark refuge or marine reserve here; Sawyer Bay and The Nut have net restrictions. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.76370, 145.30290 · Open in Google Maps (position: Circular Head, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Tatlows Beach (Sawyer Bay)

Type: Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Beach on the southern side of Stanley.
What's good here: In season in October: southern sand flathead, Australian salmon and King George whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in north-westerlies; south-easterlies blow in. Faces SSE.
Note: Calmer side of Stanley for flathead and whiting on baits; salmon on the tide.
Safety: Shallow sand flats extend a long way at low tide.
Zone: Sawyer Bay net restrictions; no refuge or reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.77050, 145.28540 · Open in Google Maps (position: Tatlows Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. East Inlet

Type: Estuary · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Tidal inlet just south of Stanley.
What's good here: In season in October: southern sand flathead, Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet and King George whiting.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in most winds.
Note: Tidal inlet: flathead and whiting on the sand channels, salmon and mullet at the entrance.
Safety: Soft mud and fast-rising tide on the flats.
Zone: East and West Inlet net restrictions; no refuge or reserve. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.80560, 145.27850 · Open in Google Maps (position: East Inlet, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

10. Duck Bay, Smithton

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Boat access from Smithton.
What's good here: Peak in October: gummy shark. Also in season: King George whiting, southern sand flathead, Australian salmon and yelloweye mullet.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered water in most winds.
Note: Large tidal bay: drift the channels for whiting and flathead; gummy sharks in deeper water (no refuge here).
Safety: Big tidal range and drying flats: plan around the tide.
Zone: Duck Bay net restrictions; no shark refuge or reserve. Robbins Passage nearby bans seine and gill nets. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -40.80440, 145.09420 · Open in Google Maps (position: Duck Bay, 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 Stanley and the north-west coast in October: gummy shark, black bream and sea-run brown trout. 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: gummy shark, black bream and sea-run brown trout.

Also in season: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead, King George whiting, yelloweye mullet, barracouta, bluethroat and purple wrasse, southern garfish, tiger flathead, southern bluespotted flathead, silver trevally, jackass morwong, greenback flounder, snapper 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: blue warehou (best Dec–May); yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); 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 Stanley and the north-west coast

Calamari and squid closed 1 Sep-31 Oct 2026 on the north coast, including here: no squid jig on a line.
Sand flathead: north/west 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.
Net restrictions at Godfreys Beach, Sawyer Bay, East and West Inlet, Duck Bay and Robbins Passage.
Bastard trumpeter and rock lobster regions: west of Point Sorell is the Western Region.

Marine parks and no-take zones

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

Safety at Stanley and the north-west coast

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 winds swing fast and the north-west has big tides and drying flats.

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

Devonport and Port Sorell (about 89 km east)
Tamar River and George Town (about 118 km east)
Strahan and Macquarie Harbour (about 150 km south)
St Helens and Georges Bay (about 243 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 (Cooee Point, Doctors Rocks, Boat Harbour, Sisters Beach, Rocky Cape, Stanley Wharf, East and West Inlet, Godfreys Beach, Duck Bay), species, salmon and warehou runs, Robbins Passage nets); fishing.tas.gov.au (December blue warehou run off Stanley wharf); fishing.tas.gov.au (Calamari: Stanley Wharf listed among popular spots; closure); fishing.tas.gov.au (North coast calamari and garfish closures); parks.tas.gov.au (Parks pass (Rocky Cape National Park)); services.thelist.tas.gov.au (LIST WildFisheries layers used for the zone check (net restriction areas) and Stanley wharf description); mast.tas.gov.au (MAST lifejacket rules and advice).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.