Fishing guru Al McGlashan’s 10 Aussie holiday spots to drop a line

Nobody knows more about fishing than Telegraph columnist Al McGlashan, who has spent a lifetime dropping a line in Australia and around the world. Today, McGlashan reveals his Top 10 fishing holiday spots. SEARCH OUR INTERACTIVE MAP

After a lifetime of wetting a line in Australia and around the world, Al McGlashan should know a thing or two about what makes a great place for a fishing holiday. The fishing writer and TV series star and Telegraph columnist, who’s just released a new book detailing his premier Australian angling destinations, knows where to catch the fish of a lifetime or just a feed for the family over the campfire. Here the man who fishes around 300 days each year lists his top ten fishing locations — five in NSW and five in the rest of Australia.

St Georges Basin, NSW

St Georges Basin is a hidden gem, just two hours south of Sydney. Picture: Chloe Godwin

Just a couple of hours south of Sydney the Basin is a bit of a hidden gem. Tucked away

beside Jervis Bay it is a large shallow body of water loaded with seagrass beds and rich in life, however it is most famous for being home to some of the biggest flathead in the country.

There are ample accommodation options and being sheltered makes for easy family boating. A

popular tourist destination everything from camp sites to cabins are on offer right on the

shoreline.

The Basin not only offers exceptional big flathead, but also huge tailor as well as summer

delights like whiting and even reasonable snapper. It is easily accessible

and very family oriented and perfect for small boats. Best time to visit is during the warmer

months. Light 2-4kg spin outfits like a Shimano Nasci is ideal

Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga, NSW

McGlashan says The Murrumbidgee is a magical destination

Starting its life up in the Snowy Mountains it spills down across the Riverina. Flowing

through the outback town of Wagga Wagga there is some amazing Murray cod fishing in

this stretch, especially in the Autumn. Lure fishing is the most exciting way to fish and if you

ever need any advice there are few better than Rod at the Compleat Angler in town.

Camping is allowed on most reserves along the river.

There is some great Murray cod fishing as well as ample yellowbelly which can be caught on

lures and bait. Unless you stay at one of the towns you’ll be riverside camping so plan to be

completely self-sufficient. A boat will give you much greater access but there is still nothing

wrong with sitting back and relaxing on the bank soaking bait. There is a closed season for

cod and due to irrigation needs river levels can vary so make sure you seek local knowledge

first. A 4-8kg baitcaster and a pile of RMG Poltergeist lures are perfect

Sydney Harbour, NSW

The best times to fish in Sydney Harbour is during the summer months.

It may surprise many that Sydney Harbour is on the list especially considering it is the

heaviest fished waterway in NSW but with more fish species than the whole of Northern

Europe it is a fishermen’s dream location. So it’s worth including some tackle if you live elsewhere and are having a Sydney holiday, or are a Sydneysider stuck at home for the holidays. The best time to fish is during the summer months when the pelagics arrive and the top water fishing is world class, and when the fishing slows you can pull up for lunch at Hugo’s in Manly and many other waterfront eateries — does it get any better!

You can catch more than 600 species in the Harbour and better still most can be caught

from the shoreline, although a boat will give you a much better chance. The beauty of the

Harbour is that its right on your doorstep so while everyone else goes away you can get the

family out for some awesome fishing without even having to leave home. It fishes well all

year but right now its prime time for everything from pelagics to big flathead. A light 2-4kg

Shimano spin for most stuff and a heavy 15kg is required to stop those bigger kings and

jewfish.

Bermagui, NSW

Craig Rushby and Al McGlashan with a South Coast bluefin caught at Bermagui.

This picturesque fishing village on the Far South Coast was originally made famous by American novelist Zane Grey in the 1930s, who put it on the map during visits. It was also the place where I kicked off my big game fishing career. Bermi is unique in the fact that it is so close to the all-important continental shelf which is where you find all sorts of huge fish.

The peak of the season is later summer and autumn when the water is warmest but as it cools it down in winter some of the biggest tuna in the country arrive to keep party going.

There are few places like Bermagui especially in the summer and autumn when the warm

currents bring an exciting array of pelagics to the South Coast. Marlin, mahi, sharks and

kingfish are all on offer and it’s all relatively close to shore. Obviously its primarily suited to

boats and preferably big trailer boats, but if you don’t then you can also wander up the

estuaries flicking lures for a feed of flathead and bream. Fishing for marlin and tuna you’re

going to need a Shimano Talica 25 spooled up with 24kg Sufix line.

Nymbodia River, NSW

Canoeing the Nymbodia is an adventure and the fish are a bonus

One of the few river systems still free of inhibitive dams the Nymbodia offers some amazing

back-country fishing. The best way to get around is by canoe and there few things as relaxing

as slowly paddling downstream with the current.

Australian bass are prolific and big and best targeted flicking small lures in tight against the bankside structure. Don’t have canoes no worries you can organise it all at Mann River Caravan Park.

The best fishing is in the spring as soon as the bass season opens. During the summer

months if the water level isn’t too low there can be some great top water fishing at dusk.

Canoeing the back-country wilderness is no easy chore so it’s just as much about the

adventure as it is about the fishing. 3-6kg spin or baitcaster is ideal depending on your

personal preference.

Abrolhos, WA

The Abrolhos is unique with a mix of tropical and temperature water species

The Abrolhos has to be one of the most amazing places in the country. A mix of northern

and southern species it is incredibly rich in marine life where huge samsonfish swim with

snapper, coral trout cruise with kingfish. The downside is access you can’t camp on the

islands so it’s pretty much live aboard boats only. There are a few charters like Blue Lightning

that run charters to the islands.

The fishing is amazing but so is the snorkelling with some amazing corals and crystal-clear

waters. There is also the wreck of the infamous Batavia for those interested in the history. It

is a year round option, but the wind can be an issue at times. With so many fish of offer the

more outfits you take the better!

Dartmouth, Vic

Camping and boating go hand-in-hand on the Dartmouth

One of the biggest water catchments Dartmouth is set right in the high-country. One of

favourite ways to enjoy the dam is pile all the camping gear, kids and fishing rods into the

boat and head off for a few days camping. Bait fishing will catch you fish but trolling or

casting lures like the local favourite RMG Scorpion.

Trolling the tree lines or tight in against the banks is the most productive and while you fish

for trout there is a good chance you will spot sambar deer in the surrounding forest. While it

is a year round fishing option the cooler months are the best. Being remote you need to be

totally self-sufficient. Again a 2-4 Shimano Sustain spin outfit is ideal for casting and trolling.

Fraser Island, QLD

Marlin, longtail tuna and mackerel are aplenty in the waters off Fraser Island.

Fraser Island’s west coast is surrounded by extensive sand flats and each summer small black marlin invade the shallows. It is the only place in the whole world where it seems to happen, but when it’s on the fishing can be out of this world. Fighting a marlin water so shallows you can see the bottom is surreal. On the downside it is remote and there is limited camping areas

and the grounds are only accessibly boat.

Trolling small skirted lures is the best option and at times you all find yourself trolling in

water just a few feet deep. Marlin aside you will catch longtail tuna and mackerel as well.

Camping is available at the very top of the island which can be accessed by car or boat or

alternately at Wathumba Creek but just be warmed about the bugs! Being small a Shimano

Saragosa spin loaded with 30 pound Sufix braid will get you into the action.

Tiwi island, NT

The mangrove estuaries of the Tiwis are loaded with barramundi, while coastal waters are home to mackerel and golden snapper.

Jutting out in the Arafura Sea the Tiwis have always been famous for their fishing. There are

extensive mangrove estuaries that are loaded with barra and threadfin, while coastal waters

are home to mackerel and delicious golden snapper.

In the early days I explored the islands with mates in a tinny loaded with 44 drums of fuel. It

was an amazing adventure but sadly these days large parts are locked. The best way to fish

the Tiwis is to get on-board with one of the guiding operations on the islands or a live aboard

that can get you straight into the action. Lure fishing is the best option whether it be casting

up a creek or trolling for mackerel offshore. Peak period is spring and autumn. A 4-8kg

baitcaster outfit for the creeks and then a 10kg spin outfit offshore.

Bass Canyon, Vic

Bass Canyon divides eastern Victoria and Tasmania and is home to massive swordfish, makos and Victorian marlin.

When it comes to new fisheries Bass Canyon is as exciting as it gets. Dividing eastern

Victoria and Tasmania it is home to true sea monster sized swordfish, massive makos and

Victorian marlin which was all unheard of a few years ago. The downside is that being

encompassed in Bass Strait it can be a dangerous bit of water and it’s all long runs to the

fishing grounds, but the rewards are big really big!

This is not for the feint hearted its primarily big boat country but the chance to catch some

of the biggest swordfish in the country makes it worthwhile. Heavy tackle is mandatory

especially when fish to 1000 pounds are potentially on the cards. The most exciting part of

this location is that’s it’s still largely untouched so who knows what we will find. Due to the

weather issues the peak period is autumn. Shimano Talica 50 matched up with Tiagra Ultra

bent butt rod loaded with 80 Sufix 832 braid.