The Best Sports Fishing Species in Australia

Australia is home to thousands of fish species, most which are unique to this continent. This comes as no surprise given that the continent is an island surrounded by water on all sides. Even species that are common around the world tend to grow larger in Australia. This is why sport fishing is immensely popular here. 

There is nothing quite as exhilarating as chasing a giant of a fish in the deep waters, and finally managing to catch it. If you plan on going sports fishing in Australia, here are fishing species that you should expect to catch: 

Marlin

Australia is home to virtually every kind of Marlin fish: from giant black Marlin to striped Marlin to black Marlin and even blue Marlin. The giant black Marlin is without doubt one of the largest fish, and definitely among the heaviest. The largest of these fish weigh an astounding 750kg, and there have been record breaking fish that weigh in excess of that weight. It is therefore no wonder that they are a treasure to those who catch them, and provide great sport.  

You can find giant black Marlin fish lazing around between Cairns and Lizard Island in Northern Queensland. They are most commonly caught between September and December. The Blue, Striped and Black Marlin can be found from central Queensland down through the Sunshine and Gold Coast. They are a lot more common than the giant black Marlin, but catching them is quite exciting. 

Swordfish 

Any fishing enthusiast will tell you that Swordfish are the ultimate prize catch. Luckily for you, Australia has plenty of swordfish. These deep dwelling fish are rather big in size, which makes it all the more thrilling to catch them. The fish can be found anywhere between Tasmania and Southern Queensland. 

Mackerel

Another common sport fishing species in Australia is Mackerel. In fact, you can find both the tropical and sub-tropical species in the waters surrounding the continent. The fish can be found all year round, although they are more common during winter and the dryer months. If you want to catch the Spanish mackerel, which is one of the quickest and most elusive kind, then be sure to visit Southern Queensland. The fish are also common in the mid-coast of West Australia. 

Barramundi

This giant fish is yet another of the most common sport fishing species in Australia. An adult can measure up to 1.8 meters long and up to around 60 kilos. The fish live both in fresh and salt water, and they prefer a tropical climate. You can therefore expect to find shoals of the kind in the Kimberly region all the way to Northern Queensland. They are most common in the months of March and April, although they can be found all year long.  

Conclusion

Sport fishing is one of the most common activities in Australia: the continent has so much to offer every fishing enthusiast. Be it the excitable barramundi or the fast mackerel or even the fleshy giant black marlin, Australia has got it all. There is simply no better place for sport fishing than this continent.