Rod and line
In Tasmania,
you don't need a licence for rod and line fishing in marine waters. Anyone can fish with:
- a rod and line (any number of lines, with up to 5 hooks per line); and
- squid jigs (up to 3 jigs per line).
You must be within 20 metres of the gear, or have lines attached to the boat from which you are fishing. The same rules apply if you are using an electric reel.
Other scalefish fishing gear types
Unless gear is specified here, it cannot be used. A licence holder must personally set and retrieve scalefish fishing gear. Another person can assist them if needed, for example, to haul the net.
Landing net
A landing net is a hand-held net that:
- can only be used to land fish;
- is attached to a frame no larger than 600mm across; and
- has mesh of any size.
Dip net
A dip net
is a hand held net that:
-
can be used to take fish including prawns;
-
is attached to a frame no larger than one metre across; and
-
has a mesh larger than 20mm.
Hauling and cast nets
Bait net
You can use one bait net. A bait net is an encircling net:
- no longer than 6 m;
- no deeper than 2 m; and
- with mesh no more than 20 mm.
Cast net
You can use one cast net. The net must be:
- circular or oval net with a leaded footline around the outside; and
- not exceed 6 m in diameter.
Beach seine net
A beach seine net licence allows you to possess and use one beach seine net.
A beach seine net must:
-
be an encircling net that does not exceed 50 m in length;
- have a bag or bunt or a panel that forms a bunt with a mesh of at least 30 mm;
-
not be pursed or drawn through rings into the shape of a bag; and
- be emptied while in the water.
Gillnets
Graball nets and mullet nets, including flounder nets, are types of gillnet
.
-
No more than three gillnets may be carried on, or used from a single boat.
-
A gillnet cannot be used as an encircling net, eg. as a beach seine net.
Graball net
One graball net (includes flounder nets) can be used and a licence is required. A graball net is a single mesh net:
- mesh must be between 105 mm and 140 mm; and
- must not be deeper than 33 meshes or longer than 50 metres.
Mullet net
One mullet net can be used and a licence is required. A mullet net:
- is a single mesh net;
- mesh must be between 60 mm and 70 mm;
- must not be longer than 25 metres; and
- must not be set over rocky bottom or reef.
Gillnet buoys
Gillnets, including mullet, graball and flounder nets (a type of graball net) must be marked with two white buoys, one at each end of the net, both that:
- are marked only with the licence number and 'G' for graball or 'M' for mullet net in figures not less than 70 mm high and 12 mm wide;
- are at least 195 mm in diameter; and
- are specifically designed as a buoy and float on the surface of the water.
Additional buoys can be used for visibility.
Rules for gillnet use
- Gillnets cannot be used in Macquarie Harbour.
- Gillnets can be set for a maximum of two hours.
- Licence holders must be within 50m of their net at all times when setting in Shark Refuge Areas.
- Gillnets cannot be used in waters deeper than 20m or further than 250m from shore.
Weighting your net
All gillnets must be weighted in one of the following ways in order to prevent drift:
- a weight of at least 2 kilograms tied to the bottom line at each end of the net; or
- a weight of at least 4 kilograms tied to the bottom line at one end of the net; or
- the net has a minimum weight, when dry, of at least 13 kilograms for a 50 metre net.
How to measure net mesh
Stretch mesh until upper and lower knots touch
Measure mesh at full stretch
Set lines (longlines and droplines)
A set line is an unattended line, either a dropline
or a longline with up to 15 hooks. A licence is required to
use this gear and area restrictions apply. The licence holder must be present when the line is set and retrieved.
-
A person can only use one set line at a time.
-
In waters shallower than 150 metres, set lines can be joined to one other line on a boat provided no person uses more than 15 hooks and not more than a total of 30 hooks are used.
-
In waters deeper than 150 metres, set lines can be joined to up to three other lines on a boat, provided no person uses more than 15 hooks or more than a total of 60 hooks are used on the combined line.
-
Not more than 4 set lines are permitted on a boat.
-
Set lines cannot be set at night. Night is defined as from one hour before sunset to one hour before sunrise.
A
dropline is set vertically with one end weighted and a marker buoy attached to the other. When droplines are joined together, each fisher must have a separate marker buoy attached. A
longline is set horizontally, weighted at both ends and with a buoy attached at each end. When longlines are joined together, each fisher must have a separate marker buoy on each end of the line.
Set line buoys
Set line marker buoys must be:
- marked with your licence number and either the letters 'LL' for longline or 'DL' for dropline;
- at least 195mm in diameter; and
- specifically designed as a buoy and float on the surface of the water.
-
shark refuge areas;
- no netting areas; and
- no fishing areas e.g. marine reserves and some research areas.
Kites and shore-based longline gear
Auxiliary fishing gear, which includes gear such as kites, balloons and kontikis:
- Can be used to deploy or retrieve not more than 200 metres of fishing line with 5 hooks or less.
- Is not permitted in rivers or shark refuge areas.
- Can not be used within 100 metres of swimmers or any vessel or within 400 metres of a boat ramp, jetty or mooring.
- Can be used on a boat.
- If using auxiliary fishing gear from land you must remain within 20 metres of the gear and not use it more than 20 metres from the high water mark.
Auxiliary gear does not include electric reels, capstans or haulers used for set lines.
Gaffs (gaff hook)
You can use gaffs to take scalefish, other than bream and boarfish, but not rock lobster or abalone.
Spear guns and hand spears
Hand spears and spear guns can be used to take any scalefish except bream and boarfish. Taking rock lobster or abalone with this gear is prohibited. Spears cannot be used in the Mersey, Leven or Inglis rivers, other than to spear flounder.
Bait traps
One bait trap per person can be used. The trap must comply with the following dimensions:
- no larger than 500 mm x 350 mm x 250 mm
- not have more than two entrances not larger than 65 mm
- mesh between 10 mm and 40 mm.
Unattended bait traps must have a buoy or tag attached marked with BT and the user's surname, initials, year of birth and postcode.
Opera house traps are not legal gear in Tasmania. Traps that are modified to meet the specifications of a bait trap can be used.
Bait pumps
A hand-operated bait pump with a barrel of less than 85 mm may be used.
Rock lobster fishing gear
See
Rock Lobster Gear and How to Mark it
Lost, stolen and irretrievable gear
If you leave your net in the water for longer than allowed due to bad weather conditions, illness or theft, contact the Marine Police on 1300 720 647 or your nearest Police Station and provide them with your licence number.