Tamar River and George Town fishing spots
The kanamaluka / Tamar is a long, deep estuary from Launceston to the Bass Strait heads at Low Head and Greens Beach. Pontoons and jetties at George Town, Beauty Point and Deviot give easy shore access to salmon, mullet, trevally and couta, with elephantfish, snapper and King George whiting by boat. The whole river is a shark refuge and a north-coast squid closure runs to 31 Oct.
Updated
9 spots here: 8 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat. 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
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bellbuoy Beach, Low Head | Beach | Land-based | Ocean coast | – |
| 2. East Beach, Low Head | Beach | Land-based | Ocean coast | – |
| 3. Low Head pilot station (Pilots Bay) | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 4. George Town pontoons (York Cove) | Jetty | Land-based and boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 5. Long Reach (boat) | River | Boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 6. Deviot pontoon & foreshore | Jetty | Land-based and boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 7. Beauty Point wharf | Wharf | Land-based and boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 8. Kelso jetty | Jetty | Land-based | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 9. Greens Beach | Beach | Land-based | Ocean coast | – |
1. Bellbuoy Beach, Low Head
- Type
- Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Beach east of Low Head with road access.
- 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; northerlies push Bass Strait swell onshore. Faces NNE.
- Note
- Bass Strait beach for salmon in the gutters and flathead on the sand (north-coast limits: bag 10, 35-40 cm).
- Safety
- Surf beach with rips.
- Zone
- Outside the Tamar Shark Refuge Area; no marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.03950, 146.84230 · Open in Google Maps (position: Bellbuoy Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. East Beach, Low Head
- Type
- Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Beach beside Low Head with car parking.
- 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; northerlies bring swell. Faces NNE.
- Note
- Salmon off the beach on metals or baits; flathead on the sand when the surf is small.
- Safety
- Surf beach with rips; rocks at the ends are slippery.
- Zone
- Just outside the Tamar Shark Refuge Area; no marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.06210, 146.80880 · Open in Google Maps (position: East Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Low Head pilot station (Pilots Bay)
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Jetty and foreshore at the historic Low Head pilot station.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian salmon, barracouta, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally and bluethroat and purple wrasse. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026).
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered in easterlies; westerlies blow across the river mouth. Faces W.
- Note
- River-mouth jetty: salmon, couta and trevally on lures and baits, and squid at night outside the spring closure.
- Safety
- Strong river-mouth currents and passing shipping.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.06600, 146.79760 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pilots Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. George Town pontoons (York Cove)
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Two floating pontoons with fish-cleaning stations on the George Town foreshore; good parking.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally and barracouta. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026). Out of season now: elephantfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered in most winds.
- Note
- Easy access to deep water: mullet and trevally on small baits with berley, salmon and couta on lures, and summer elephantfish from boats nearby.
- Safety
- Pontoons move and get slippery; supervise children.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.10910, 146.82430 · Open in Google Maps (position: York Cove, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
5. Long Reach (boat)
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat. Boat access from George Town or Beauty Point.
- What's good here
- In season in October: snapper, Australian salmon, barracouta and King George whiting. Out of season now: elephantfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered from most winds; northerlies against the tide raise chop.
- Note
- Deeper mid-river water for summer elephantfish on squid or fish baits, emerging snapper, and whiting on the sand edges.
- Safety
- Ship channel: keep clear of large vessels around Bell Bay.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.15890, 146.91140 · Open in Google Maps (position: Long Reach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
6. Deviot pontoon & foreshore
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Public floating pontoon a short way north of Rowleys Beach, plus foreshore.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: black bream. Also in season: snapper, Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet and silver trevally.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered in westerlies; waves can break over the pontoon in strong winds. Faces E.
- Note
- Upper-middle river: snapper are an emerging Tamar catch from boats, with bream, mullet and trevally year round from the pontoon.
- Safety
- Pontoon gets washed by waves in strong wind.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.23640, 146.93520 · Open in Google Maps (position: Rowleys Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
7. Beauty Point wharf
- Type
- Wharf · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Jetties and wharf area at Beauty Point township.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet, silver trevally and barracouta. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026). Out of season now: elephantfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered in westerlies; easterlies blow across the river. Faces E.
- Note
- One of the river's best-known jetty spots for salmon, mullet, trevally and couta.
- Safety
- Working wharf area: give way to boats.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.15870, 146.82410 · Open in Google Maps (position: Beauty Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
8. Kelso jetty
- Type
- Jetty · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based. Jetty on Kelso Bay on the western shore near the river mouth.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead, southern garfish and yelloweye mullet. Closed season now: southern calamari (1 September to 31 October 2026).
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Sheltered in westerlies. Faces E.
- Note
- Near the heads: salmon and flathead on the sand, garfish under floats, squid outside the closure.
- Safety
- River-mouth currents.
- Zone
- kanamaluka / Tamar River Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted). No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.11030, 146.79230 · Open in Google Maps (position: Kelso Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
9. Greens Beach
- Type
- Beach · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based. Beach at the western side of the Tamar heads.
- What's good here
- In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead and southern garfish.
- Best tide
- Not confirmed for this spot yet.
- Best wind
- Best in southerlies. Faces NNE.
- Note
- Salmon cruise along the beach and into the river mouth; flathead on the sand.
- Safety
- Strong currents at the river mouth: no wading near the channel.
- Zone
- Edge of the Tamar River Entrance Shark Refuge Area. No marine reserve nearby. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
- Map
- -41.08170, 146.75550 · Open in Google Maps (position: Greens Beach, 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 Tamar River and George Town in October: black bream, gummy shark 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: black bream, gummy shark and sea-run brown trout.
Also in season: Australian salmon, yelloweye mullet, southern sand flathead, silver trevally, barracouta, southern garfish, snapper, King George whiting, bluethroat and purple wrasse, 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: elephantfish (best Dec–Mar); yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); blue warehou (best Dec–May); 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 Tamar River and George Town
- The Tamar is a Shark Refuge Area: no taking or targeting sharks, skates or rays (elephantfish excepted).
- Calamari and squid closed 1 Sep-31 Oct 2026 on the north coast, including here: no squid jig on a line.
- Do not eat wild shellfish from the Tamar estuary (heavy metals).
- 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.
- Above the seaward limit the Tamar is inland water: 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 Tamar River and George Town
- 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.
- Large ships use the Tamar: keep clear of the channel and berths at Bell Bay and Beauty Point.
- Wind against tide at the heads can raise steep waves.
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 33 km west)
- Stanley and the north-west coast (about 118 km west)
- St Helens and Georges Bay (about 124 km east)
- Swansea, Coles Bay and Great Oyster Bay (about 158 km south-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 (Greens Beach, Kelso Jetty, Beauty Point Wharf, Deviot Pontoon, George Town, Low Head Pilot Station), shore/jetty/boat species, refuge and shellfish advice); fishing.tas.gov.au (Official Tamar fishing map: jetty species at Beauty Point and Low Head, boat species); fishing.tas.gov.au (Snapper: an emerging species in Tasmanian waters); fishing.tas.gov.au (Derwent and Tamar shellfish always unsafe to eat (heavy metals)); fishing.tas.gov.au (Elephantfish move into inshore bays to breed in late summer); fishing.tas.gov.au (North coast calamari closure, garfish closure); services.thelist.tas.gov.au (LIST WildFisheries layers used for the zone check and pontoon descriptions (George Town, Deviot)); mast.tas.gov.au (MAST lifejacket rules and advice).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.