Coles Bay to Orford

Restrictions on netting and the use of set lines apply in some areas around Tasmania, mainly in rivers and estuaries to protect vulnerable species or sensitive habitats. Check for any restrictions in your area before you go fishing.

Net and Line Area Restrictions

Moulting Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth, including the waters of King Bay and Pelican Bay to where the Swan River enters King Bay. Note: bait nets are allowed.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps


Freshwater Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Saltwater Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Great Oyster Bay

Is a Shark Refuge Area and, as such, the taking of shark, skate and rays is prohibited. The use of set lines and mullet nets is also prohibited.

Northern end - North of a line from Waterloo Point at Swansea to The Fisheries at Coles Bay. Beach seine nets are not allowed in Coles Bay from Hepburn Point to The Fisheries.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet or graball nets


Southern end - North of a line from Seaford Point to Weatherhead Point to a line from Waterloo Point at Swansea to The Fisheries at Coles Bay. Beach seine nets are not allowed in Promise Bay.
Map icon - no specialist lines or mullet nets



Meredith River

Upstream from the mouth to the main road bridge.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Bryans Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Lisdillon River

Upstream of a line from the southern tip of Lisdillon Beach and west to the opposite shore.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Mayfield River

Upstream from the mouth.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Troyheleener Lagoon

Upstream of the Tasman Highway (A3) road bridge.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Buxton River

Upstream of a line from the south-eastern tip of Horrels Point to Penquite Point to the posts marking the tidal limit.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Little Swanport Estuary and Little Swanport River

Upstream of a northerly line from Limekiln Point to the opposite shore to the downstream side of the Tasman Highway bridge. Bream fishing area to posts approximately 800 metres above the downstream side of Tasman Highway bridge.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



East Coast Waters

The East Coast Waters area is a Shark Refuge Area and the taking of shark, skates and rays is prohibited. The use of set lines and mullet nets is also prohibited.

Within three nautical miles of the coast between Seaford Point south to Cape Bougainville.
Map icon - no specialist lines or mullet nets



Okehampton Lagoon

Upstream from the mouth.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Net and Line Area Restrictions

Prosser River

Upstream from the mouth to the seaward limit at the downstream side of the A3 road bridge.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Mercury Passage

Mercury Passage is a Shark Refuge Area and the taking of shark, skate and rays is prohibited. The use of set lines and mullet nets is also prohibited.

Mercury Passage includes the area bounded in the north by a line from Cape Bougainville to Cape Boullanger and in the south by a line from Cape Bernier to Cape Peron, further than 200 m from the shoreline.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet or graball nets


Mercury Passage shoreline waters - the area within 200 m of the low water mark. Graball nets may be used except in areas closed to fishing such as reserves.
Map icon - no specialist lines or mullet nets



Earlham Lagoon (south of Rheban)

Upstream of the mouth of the lagoon to where the Sandspit River enters the lagoon at grid reference 576279/5277769.
Map icon - no specialist lines, mullet, graball or other nets and bait traps



Reserves and Research Areas

Maria Island Marine Nature Reserve: includes all waters up to 1 kilometre offshore from the north-eastern point of Fossil Bay to Return Point and covers 1,500 hectares. Click here for a map of this area.

No fishing or setting of fishing gear is allowed in the reserve between Cape Boullanger in the north and Return Point in the south. Recreational fishing is permitted in the north-eastern section of the reserve.


More information about Marine Reserves and Fisheries Research Areas.

Shark Refuge Areas

The taking of shark, skate and rays is prohibited as is the use of set lines and mullet nets in the following areas:

Great Oyster Bay: north of a line from Seaford Point to Weatherhead Point on Freycinet Peninsula. Click here for map of this area.

East Coast Waters:
those waters within three nautical miles of any part of the coast between Seaford Point and Cape Bougainville. Click here for map of this area.

Mercury Passage: bounded in the north by a line from Cape Bougainville to Cape Boullanger and in the south by a line from Cape Peron to Cape Bernier. Click here for map of this area.


Find out more about shark refuge areas.

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    Contact us

    Recreational Fishing

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    Hobart TAS 7000

    Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

    Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries Licensing

    Level 1, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: fishing.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au