Fly Fishing Australia: Trout, Barramundi, Murray Cod, Seasons and Tips
Location Details / Australia
Fly Fishing Australia: Trout, Barramundi, Murray Cod, Seasons and Tips
Australia fly fishing splits by latitude: wild brown trout in Tasmania's Central Highlands lakes from August to early May, Murray cod on topwater flies in the south outside the September to November closure, and barramundi across the tropical north, where Northern Territory locals favor the March and April run-off. Each state sets its own license rules.
Australia is the one country where I can tell you to pack a 4-weight for wild brown trout and a 10-weight for barramundi, and mean the same trip.
The best snapshot of that range in our archive comes from Josh Hutchins of Aussie Fly Fisher, on Guided Episode 13 of the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast, published June 26, 2020. Josh guides trout and Murray cod and runs northern saltwater trips. He described a film road trip that started with wild browns in Tasmania, crossed to the mainland for yellowtail kingfish under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, found Murray cod in the New England region, then worked north past Gladstone and onto a mothership on the Great Barrier Reef before finishing with barramundi on Cape York. The only target species that beat them was the anak permit. He also said southerners and northerners still argue over whether Murray cod or barramundi is the national fish.
Angus Line, who runs a fly shop in Perth, filled in the west on our episode The Various Locations and Their Species in Western Australia (podcast feed, January 23, 2025). With about 2 million people in the whole state, he said, the northern flats see little pressure; he once walked 26 km in a day to reach fish.
Top species
Brown and rainbow trout, Murray cod, barramundi; GTs, permit, tuskfish and blue bastards on the northern flats
Best months
Tasmania trout August to early May; NT barramundi run-off March and April; Murray cod outside the September 1 to November 30 closure
Top waters
Tasmania's Central Highlands lakes; Lake Jindabyne and Eucumbene Dam (Snowy Mountains); Daly and Mary rivers (NT); Exmouth and Ningaloo (WA)
License and regs
Set by each state: Tasmania inland angling license, NSW fishing fee, Victoria fishing license; no license in the Northern Territory
Nearest airports
Hobart (HBA) and Launceston (LST) for Tasmania; Darwin (DRW) for the Top End; Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) for the southeast
Season note
Seasons are reversed; the tropical north runs on wet and dry seasons, not winter and summer
Where to Fly Fish in Australia
Pick a region first, then a season.
Tasmania: Central Highlands Lakes and Wild Brown Trout
Josh calls Tasmania a beautiful place to catch wild brown trout. The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) opens brown trout waters from the first Saturday of August to the Sunday nearest April 30; for 2026-27, that is August 1, 2026 to May 2, 2027. Yingina / Great Lake in the Central Highlands is open all year except Canal Bay (November 28, 2026 to March 28, 2027). Inflows to Great Lake and Arthurs Lake are closed, as are the Penstock Lagoon canals above the white posts. Designated rainbow waters run October 3, 2026 to May 30, 2027. The IFS warns that Central Highlands opening weekends can be cold, wet and windy. Anglers 14 and over need a license: AUD $29 for 48 hours, AUD $96 for an adult season.
Snowy Mountains and the Victorian High Country
In New South Wales, the 2026 trout stream closure ran from June 9 to the October long weekend (October 3), while Lake Jindabyne and Eucumbene Dam in the Snowy Mountains stayed open. Victoria closed rivers and streams June 9 to September 4, 2026; its lakes have no closed season. Josh sight fishes four to eight pound rainbows in early winter in the lakes he guides.
Murray Cod
Murray cod eat topwater flies; Josh has twice seen one take a duck. His favorite is warm-month topwater fishing in small, clear streams, where 10 to 20 fish a day is possible. Winter on the big dams is a blind-fishing grind for bigger fish. New South Wales and Victoria both close cod from September 1 to November 30, with exceptions such as Blowering and Copeton dams (NSW) and Lake Eildon (Victoria).
Northern Territory Barramundi
The Northern Territory needs no recreational fishing license, though some waters over Aboriginal land require registration. The NT lists four seasons: wet (January to mid-March), run-off (March to April), dry (May to September) and build-up (October to December). Tourism NT says locals call the run-off the best barramundi season, when barra gather at creek mouths as the floodplains drain. The NT-wide minimum is 55 cm and the possession limit is 5; Kakadu and the Mary River and Daly River zones add a 90 cm maximum and a limit of 3, and part of the Daly closes October 1 to January 31. Josh's rule: where you find barra, assume crocodiles, and fish from a boat.
Western Australia and Cape York
Angus says the good flats start six or seven hours north of Perth around Shark Bay. Exmouth and Ningaloo add bonefish, a strong permit fishery, GTs and tuskfish, which locals call the blue tractor because they reach coral before you can react. The Kimberley has barramundi, Indo-Pacific tarpon and saratoga. Western Australia charges AUD $40 to fish from a boat. Out east, Josh rates the east side of Cape York for big blue bastards. Queensland closes barramundi in east coast fresh waters from November 1 to January 31.
When to Go Fly Fishing in Australia
Southern Hemisphere seasons: shading shows open periods and the NT run-off, not bite data.
| Season | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tasmania brown trout (most waters) | ||||||||||||
| Tasmania rainbow trout waters | ||||||||||||
| NSW trout rivers and streams | ||||||||||||
| Victoria trout rivers and streams | ||||||||||||
| Murray cod (NSW and Victoria) | ||||||||||||
| NT barramundi run-off | ||||||||||||
| Daly River closure area (NT) | ||||||||||||
| Queensland barramundi, east coast fresh waters |
Key:Part of the monthOpen season or run-offClosed season
Blank cells mean no season for that row. Great Lake and some other Tasmanian lakes stay open all year. Confirm exact dates for each water before you go.
Book a Local Pro in Australia
Guide or lodge in Australia? Get listed. No Australian guide, lodge or outfitter is in the FFIP Certified directory yet. Anglers planning a trout, cod or barramundi trip read this page, and they book you direct.
Market Your ServicesBrowse every FFIP Certified pro in the guides and lodges directory.
Custom Flies and Rods from Australia
These independent Australian fly tyers sell their own flies, direct or through a stockist's maker page.
- Ozzy Native Flies (Ben Le Vagueresse), Ballarat, Victoria: hand-tied Murray cod and yellowbelly flies, including the Cod Meal and Cicada
- JerkFly Australia (Marek Imierski): handmade articulated jerk flies for Murray cod and barramundi, shipped Australia-wide
- Riseley Trout Flies (Matthew Riseley), Tasmania: barbless trout dries, nymphs, jig nymphs and terrestrials
- Baw Baw Fly Fisher (Shane Wakker), West Gippsland, Victoria: trout, bass and saltwater flies, in stock or tied to order
- Joe's Flies (Joe Manzano), New South Wales: nymphs, streamers and crab patterns for trout, Australian bass and saltwater species
- Vagabond Flies (Eugene O'Dell), New South Wales: dry flies, hoppers and caddis for trout
- K9 Saltwater Flies (Kostas Asvestis), Perth, Western Australia: hand-tied saltwater Clousers and baitfish, custom orders direct
Australian custom rod builders listed with FFIP:
- 13 Mile Rods, Indented Head, Victoria: handcrafted split cane trout rods with custom handles and fittings
- Musto Fly Rods, Canberra: Ian Musto builds fiberglass and graphite fly rods to order
Tie flies or build rods in Australia and want to be on this list? Get listed with FFIP.
Australia Tips from Podcast Guests
Two tips come from Josh Hutchins; the rest travel well from similar water.
-
Anchor a trip to the species or the calendar, not both
Pick barra, cod or trout, or pick your dates and fish what is on.
Josh Hutchins, Australian flats fishing guide and fly fishing filmmaker (Aussie Fly Fisher), on Guided EP 13 -
Build your own stepped fluorocarbon leader
Josh's blue bastard leader runs 40-pound to 20-pound fluorocarbon, joined with a double uni.
Josh Hutchins, Australian flats guide and filmmaker, on Guided EP 13 -
Use heavy tippet and a shallow rod bend to land big GTs
Coral is close on Ningaloo and Cape York flats.
Jeff Currier, veteran traveling fly angler, on Guided EP 10 -
Place a fly for parrotfish, don't chase them
Angus Line rates parrotfish the hardest flats fish in Western Australia.
Keith Rose-Innes, Seychelles saltwater guide and lodge operator -
Stay hidden before you worry about fly size
Sight fishing Tasmanian lake edges starts with not being seen.
Antoine Bissieux, European-style dry fly guide and CDC fly specialist
Want more? Browse every tip in the Fly Fishing Tips Library, sorted by region, water type, species and skill.
Hear Australia on the Podcast
Guided EP 13: Josh Hutchins, Aussie Fly Fisher: topwater Murray cod, barramundi and crocodiles, blue bastards, and a road trip from Tasmania to Cape York. Listen to the audio episode or read the episode notes.
The Various Locations and Their Species in Western Australia: Angus Line on Perth carp, Shark Bay, Exmouth tuskfish and permit, and the Kimberley. Listen to the audio episode or read the episode notes.
Shop the Water: Flies and Gear for Australia
Flies for barra, cod and Tasmanian summer trout, then gear for sun and highland weather, all in stock.
Clouser Minnow Assortment, 9 Flies
Lefty's Deceiver Collection, 8 Flies
Flashtail Popper, Chartreuse, Size 6
Premium Terrestrials, 24 Flies with Box
Islander Sun Hoodie
Gale Waterproof Rain Jacket
Whetstone II Chest Wader
Slate SR Sticky Rubber Wading Boots
Australia Fly Fishing Questions, Answered
Do you need a fishing license to fly fish in Australia?
It depends on the state. Tasmania requires an inland angling license from age 14 (AUD $29 for 48 hours). New South Wales charges a fishing fee from age 18 in fresh and salt water (AUD $7 for three days). Victoria requires a license unless you are under 18, 70 or over, or otherwise exempt (AUD $10 for three days). The Northern Territory requires no recreational fishing license.
When is the best time to fly fish in Australia?
Australia's best time depends on the fish. Tasmania's brown trout season runs from the first Saturday of August to the Sunday nearest April 30. Murray cod close from September 1 to November 30 in New South Wales and Victoria. Northern Territory locals favor the March and April run-off for barramundi.
Is it safe to wade for barramundi in Australia?
Usually not. Josh Hutchins told us that wherever you find barramundi in rivers, estuaries or the sea across the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia and northern Queensland, you should assume crocodiles are nearby, so barramundi anglers fish from a boat.
Tasmania or the Northern Territory: which is better for a first Australia fly fishing trip?
Choose by fish and month. Tasmania suits a trout angler who wants wild browns and sight fishing on Central Highlands lakes between August and May, with walk-and-wade access. The Northern Territory suits an angler who wants barramundi and saltwater variety, fished from a boat, with the March and April run-off as the local favorite. Doing both means packing for two climates.
Book the season you actually want
The best weeks go first, and the difference between a good trip and a great one is usually timing. Tell us the season you want and we'll find the water that fishes then.
Book a TripFly Fishing Insider Podcast has a referral partnership with Frontiers International Travel. If you book after being introduced through us, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.
Tight lines, everyone!
By Christian Bacasa, host of the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast. Last reviewed October 2026.
Prices, availability, flight routing and entry requirements change. Every figure on this page is the starting rate published by the lodge or by Frontiers International Travel at the time of writing, per angler, and is a starting point for a quote, not a quote. Seasons, lodge capacity, charter schedules, visa and passport rules and license requirements can all change without notice. Confirm current pricing, availability and entry requirements with your Frontiers specialist before you book anything.
Sources: Tasmania IFS: angling license, season dates and times and 2026-27 season. NSW DPIRD: recreational fishing fee, freshwater closures and the 2026 trout closure. Victorian Fisheries Authority: fishing license, trout and salmon regulations and Murray cod rules. NT Government: about recreational fishing, fishing on Aboriginal land, fishing seasons, possession limits and the Daly River zone; Tourism NT on the run-off. WA DPIRD: recreational fishing licenses. Queensland DAF: closed seasons, fresh waters. Guest stories: Josh Hutchins and Angus Line on the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast.