Tasman Peninsula and Dunalley fishing spots

From the Dunalley canal and Blackman Bay to Eaglehawk Neck, Fortescue Bay and Port Arthur, the peninsula mixes calm bays with some of the state's most exposed coast. Calamari, salmon and couta come off the jetties, Blackman Bay and the east side still allow sand flathead, and Pirates Bay is the launch point for tuna and mako out wide.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

9 spots here: 8 fished from land and 1 reached only by boat or kayak. Seasons follow our Hobart & South-East 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: Tasman Peninsula and Dunalley
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Dunalley jetties & Denison Canal	Channel	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
2. Blackman Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Marion Bay spit (Marion Narrows)	Channel	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
4. Pirates Bay jetty, Eaglehawk Neck	Jetty	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
5. Fortescue Bay	Bay	Land-based and boat	Ocean coast	–
6. Port Arthur & Carnarvon Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
7. White Beach jetties (Wedge Bay)	Jetty	Land-based and boat	Bay, estuary or river	–
8. Taranna & Little Norfolk Bay	Bay	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
9. Eaglehawk Bay	Bay	Boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Dunalley jetties & Denison Canal

Type: Channel · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. A 20 m concrete wharf by the canal next to the main road, and the Dunalley jetty (working wharf with lights).
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern calamari, southern garfish, yelloweye mullet and barracouta. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026).
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered spots on one side or the other in most winds.
Note: Current through the canal and the working jetties hold salmon, mullet and squid. Sand flathead: closed on the Dunalley Bay side.
Safety: Working wharf and canal traffic: keep lines clear of boats and the swing bridge.
Zone: Dunalley Bay is in the Frederick Henry and Norfolk Bays Shark Refuge Area and the sand flathead closure; the canal and Blackman Bay side are a separate refuge outside the closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -42.91010, 147.80370 · Open in Google Maps (position: Dunalley Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Blackman Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Shoreline access around Dunalley, Boomer Bay and Marion Bay; small boats and kayaks from local ramps.
What's good here: In season in October: southern sand flathead, Australian salmon, southern garfish, southern calamari and yelloweye mullet. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026).
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Shallow bay that chops up in strong winds; best in light conditions.
Note: One of the few south-east bays still open for sand flathead (eastern-zone limits: bag 5, 35-40 cm). Drift the sand for flathead and salmon; squid on the weed.
Safety: Very shallow in places: watch the falling tide in a boat.
Zone: Blackman Bay and Dunalley Canal Shark Refuge Area (sharks, skates and rays protected). Excluded from the sand flathead closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -42.86050, 147.85820 · Open in Google Maps (position: Blackman Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Marion Bay spit (Marion Narrows)

Type: Channel · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Walk-in along the beach to the spit at the Blackman Bay entrance; no facilities.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern sand flathead, yelloweye mullet and southern garfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Best in westerlies; easterly swell breaks across the entrance.
Note: Salmon patrol the entrance and surf; flathead sit on the sand edges of the channel (eastern-zone limits apply).
Safety: Strong tidal flow through the narrows: never try to wade or swim the channel.
Zone: Blackman Bay Shark Refuge Area; outside the sand flathead closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -42.84630, 147.88250 · Open in Google Maps (position: Marion Narrows, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Pirates Bay jetty, Eaglehawk Neck

Type: Jetty · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Large concrete jetty, lit along its length, beside the boat ramp towards the south end of Pirates Bay; sealed car park and toilets. The pin marks the bay, about 1.5 km from the jetty.
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, Australian salmon, southern sand flathead and barracouta. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026). Out of season now: southern bluefin tuna and shortfin mako shark.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in westerlies; easterly swell and wind blow straight in. Faces E.
Note: Lit jetty that is a known calamari spot at night. Boats launch here for bluefin tuna and mako out wide; sand flathead are open on this side (eastern zone).
Safety: Offshore trips: seaworthy boat, EPIRB, and log on with Tas Maritime Radio. Easterly swell surges at the ramp and jetty.
Zone: Outside the shark refuge areas and the sand flathead closure. Eaglehawk Bay refuge is about 1 km west across the Neck. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.02180, 147.93770 · Open in Google Maps (position: Pirates Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Fortescue Bay

Type: Bay · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based and boat. Gravel road into Tasman National Park (parks pass); concrete boat-ramp jetty, large car park, toilets and camping.
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, Australian salmon, bluethroat and purple wrasse, barracouta, southern sand flathead, jackass morwong and tiger flathead. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026).
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in southerlies and westerlies; north-easterlies blow in. Faces NE.
Note: Clear water for squid off the jetty, salmon and wrasse along the rocks; boats fish outside for morwong and tiger flathead in good weather.
Safety: Remote coast below big cliffs: check swell before going outside the bay.
Zone: Outside the shark refuges and the sand flathead closure (eastern zone). The Waterfall-Fortescue Marine Conservation Area nearby allows fishing under the normal rules; Commonwealth marine park no-take zones are far offshore. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.13420, 147.96680 · Open in Google Maps (position: Fortescue Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Port Arthur & Carnarvon Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Public foreshore around Carnarvon Bay; much of the inner shore is the Port Arthur Historic Site.
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, Australian salmon, barracouta and bluethroat and purple wrasse. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026). Out of season now: Gould's squid.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered from most winds except southerlies up the inlet.
Note: Deep, sheltered inlet: squid and couta from the shore, salmon on lures. Boats head out past the heads for bottom fish in calm weather.
Safety: Southerly swell at the heads: check conditions before leaving the inlet.
Zone: Outside the shark refuge areas; inside the sand flathead closure (none may be kept). Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.17460, 147.87220 · Open in Google Maps (position: Port Arthur, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

7. White Beach jetties (Wedge Bay)

Type: Jetty · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and boat. Two short jetties beside the boat ramps on Apex Point Road and Batchelor Street.
What's good here: In season in October: southern calamari, Australian salmon, southern garfish, barracouta and yelloweye mullet. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026).
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in easterlies; south-westerlies blow in from Storm Bay. Faces WSW.
Note: Family jetties for squid, garfish and mullet. Wedge Bay is open to Storm Bay, so salmon and couta show up when bait is around.
Safety: Wild shellfish alert: do not eat shellfish from White Beach or Nubeena.
Zone: Outside the shark refuges; inside the sand flathead closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.12470, 147.73130 · Open in Google Maps (position: White Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

8. Taranna & Little Norfolk Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Foreshore around Taranna; small boats and kayaks.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern calamari, southern garfish and yelloweye mullet. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026). Out of season now: elephantfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered water in most winds.
Note: Quiet bay water: elephantfish on the sand in summer (the one shark-like fish you may keep in a refuge), plus salmon, garfish and squid.
Safety: Cold, shallow water: kayakers dress for immersion.
Zone: Inside the Eaglehawk Bay / Norfolk Bay Shark Refuge Areas and the sand flathead closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.03700, 147.85460 · Open in Google Maps (position: Little Norfolk Bay, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

9. Eaglehawk Bay

Type: Bay · bay, estuary or river
Access: Boat and kayak. Mostly fished from small boats and kayaks.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon, southern calamari and southern garfish. Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026). Out of season now: elephantfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Sheltered in easterlies; westerlies blow down the bay.
Note: Known for Maori octopus, which you may take recreationally here; salmon, squid and garfish make up the rest of the catch.
Safety: Keep a lookout for other boats in the narrow bay.
Zone: Eaglehawk Bay Shark Refuge Area and sand flathead closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check fishing.tas.gov.au.
Map: -43.01760, 147.91310 · Open in Google Maps (position: Eaglehawk 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 Tasman Peninsula and Dunalley in October: black bream, gummy shark and sea-run brown trout. Of the 26 species our Hobart & South-East list has for this part of the coast, 3 peak in October 2026 and 12 more are in season.

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

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

In closed season now (no take): striped trumpeter (1 September to 31 October).

Closing soon: southern calamari (closes 15 Oct; closed 15 October to 14 November 2026).

Closed now in part of the area: southern sand flathead in South-eastern zone, Whale Head to Cape Pillar: the Derwent, D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Bruny Island, Huon, Frederick Henry, Norfolk and Storm bays and Port Arthur (not Blackman Bay, nor the Tasman Peninsula's east coast north of Cape Pillar), until further notice (since 1 March 2026).

Out of season in October: elephantfish (best Dec–Mar); Gould's squid (best Feb–May); southern bluefin tuna (best Mar–Jun); shortfin mako shark (best Dec–Mar); yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); albacore (best Jan–Apr); blue warehou (best Dec–May).

Seen now and then, so not rated: southern bluespotted flathead, silver trevally and King George whiting.

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 Tasman Peninsula and Dunalley

Sand flathead closed south and west of Cape Pillar (Port Arthur, White Beach, Norfolk and Frederick Henry bays); Blackman Bay, Pirates Bay and Fortescue Bay are eastern zone (bag 5, 35-40 cm).
Frederick Henry, Norfolk, Eaglehawk and Blackman bays are Shark Refuge Areas (elephantfish excepted).
Wild shellfish health alert (Oct 2026): do not eat shellfish from White Beach or Nubeena.
Calamari and squid closed 15 Oct-14 Nov 2026 here (south-east closure): no squid jig on a line.
Garfish closed 15 Nov-14 Dec 2026 in southern waters.
Commonwealth marine parks (Tasman Fracture etc.) offshore have no-take zones: check the zoning before fishing deep water.

Marine parks and no-take zones

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

Safety at Tasman Peninsula and Dunalley

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.
The ocean coast from Eaglehawk Neck to Cape Raoul has huge cliffs and big swell: only take a boat out with a good forecast, an EPIRB and a log-on.
Marine farm leases in Norfolk Bay and around the peninsula: keep clear of pens.

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

Pittwater and Frederick Henry Bay (about 28 km north-west)
Hobart and the Derwent (about 46 km west)
Bruny Island and D'Entrecasteaux Channel (about 55 km south-west)
Swansea, Coles Bay and Great Oyster Bay (about 99 km north)

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 (Dunalley Canal, Marion Bay Spit, Pirates Bay Jetty, Fortescue Bay, Port Arthur, White Beach, Taranna), species, octopus in Eaglehawk Bay, gamefishing from Pirates Bay, refuges, shellfish alert); fishing.tas.gov.au (Sand flathead closure boundary (Blackman Bay excluded)); fishing.tas.gov.au (Calamari: Pirates Bay listed among popular spots; ink on platforms marks well-used spots); fishing.tas.gov.au (Elephantfish move into inshore bays to breed in late summer); australianmarineparks.gov.au (Commonwealth marine parks off south-east Tasmania); parks.tas.gov.au (Parks pass for Tasman National Park (Fortescue Bay)); services.thelist.tas.gov.au (LIST WildFisheries layers used for the zone check and jetty descriptions); tasmaritime.au (Logging on with Tas Maritime Radio (VHF 16)); mast.tas.gov.au (MAST lifejacket rules and advice).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.