What to Know Before Spearfishing in Tasmania

IMPORTANT: Sand Flathead now has a slot size, currently 35-40cm (November 2023) with regional bag limits. Bastard Trumpeter minimum size has changed to 42cm (November 2023) with regional bag limits. Find out more about these updates here: • What to Know Before Sp...
New to Tassie or new to spearfishing? This video goes over the first 15 species you're likely to find and shoot around the state, as well as giving some tips for a solid foundation of Tasmanian spearfishing.
Disclaimer: This information was correct at the beginning of 2022. Always double check size, bag, and season limits before taking fish.
0:00 Introduction to Fish Species
0:41 Wrasse - Bluethroat and Purple
1:52 Leatherjacket
2:16 Banded Morwong
3:31 Flathead
4:00 Zebrafish
4:26 Sea Sweep
4:54 Magpie Perch
5:17 Herring Cale
6:14 Barber Perch
6:49 Trumpeter - Bastard and Striped
7:55 Australian Salmon and Yellow Eye Mullet
9:06 Goatfish
9:59 Drummer
10:37 Jackass Morwong
11:37 Silver Trevally
12:39 Fish That Are Prohibited to Shoot in Tasmania
13:54 Fish I Do Not Recommend Shooting
14:47 Where to Get Free Resources in Tasmania
15:58 Gear Basics and Safety
17:00 Where to Dive?
Tas Sea Fishing App: nre.tas.gov.au/sea-fishing-aq...
Tas Spearos Facebook Group: / 478478405555291
Freedive Tasmania: www.freedivetasmania.com/
Cheers Mike ( / wandering_gringo ) for some of the sweet snipe shots I've filmed. Thanks Jeremy ( / aegirfishing ) for modeling that opening panorama. And cheers Jack Krajcinger ( / jackkrajcinger ) for throwing me that sweet bream footage!

[@dillonhall266]

Just moved to Tassie from qld last week. This is exactly the vid I was looking for! Great editing and info. Thanks mate

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Glad you found it. See you in the water!

[@kaeolandon-lane3429]

Excellent video- great editing. I’ll forward this to my spearo students! Really good info on each species and appreciate what you said about mowies.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Cheers mate! Educating the newer spearos is the goal. You make 'em safe, I'll help them decide when to pull the trigger! Haha!

[@JJANGSS]

Thank you for ur explaining about the fishes! I was looking for this kinda video ! I just started spearfishing in Melbourne and seams all similar here. Thank you mate!

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Awesome to hear mate. Yeah, Melbourne isn't too far away, has to be a good bit of species overlap! Be sure and check the size and bag limits for the locations your diving, as they may be different to what's in this video.

[@julianhughes9265]

Great video mate, much appreciated!

[@dominiccullen9343]

Great stuff mate.

[@wildman9686]

Cheers for the video man, giving me great ideas for the weekend!

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Get amongst it!

[@TheBabyskywalker]

Awesome thanks.

[@wesleysheard6550]

awesome video mate, just moved to Hobart from Wollongong and this has answered most of my questions about what the go is down here

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Glad to hear it mate. You've got some sweet waters to play in on the east coast. Super clear in winter.

[@joek292]

How are you finding it mate? I'm from the same area

[@kywittich2872]

Great message about sustainable spearing at the end….. well done

[@johnwilkes7190]

excellent and well produced video Cameron, good to see such an ethical view.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Thanks mate!

[@JonoPich]

Just the video I was looking for! Nice work

[@CameronSmithDiving]

All primed for your Tassie spearfishing trip!

[@NickMagers-gm9sg]

Great video. Thanks. Moved to Triabunna from Sydney 18 months ago. Have been going diving recently for the first time. No previous experience but now have the bug. I would like to try spear fishing so your video is great timing for me to see it.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Nice mate! The east coast is amazing. Have fun!

[@ryanfrancis5683]

Brilliant job mate

[@pipc1918]

Well done mate. Thanks

[@sweetwaterfilms4160]

Really good video mate.

[@unifitft]

Great vid Cam! You do love the herring cale

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Oooh yeah! Reckon a little more rain (and maybe some bull kelp) and they'll move in on the basement centipede territory?

[@malcolmmurrell2011]

great video Cameron keep up the good work.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Cheers Malcolm. Happy spearing!

[@jenidoyle3913]

Great info!

[@fredred476]

great vid! thanks man

[@lachlantrott2739]

really good mate

[@shaneyule3484]

awesome info 👌 thanks. sounds like you really enjoy your spearing. not super serious or up yourself like so many spearo's I come across.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Glad you like the info. Yeah mate, I'm just your average bloke that likes getting out and having a bit of fun. Got the GoPro strapped to my head to assess myself and relive moments, figure I might as well share what I can!

[@rainbowpill92]

Great vid!

[@JosH-tu1uq]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully someone can do similarly video for Victoria

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Never dived over there, but would be super handy for anyone planning to. I've heard the mighty bluethroat is there too, so might be some other similarities in species.

[@tassieadventureman]

This is good info aye.

[@Veldtian1]

That underwater terrain is gorgeous.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Yeah mate, it really is. We've got such a special underwater world to explore around Tassie, and each location is special and unique.

[@jaysonhsiao4397]

Nice video!

[@glynncooke7564]

Love the video Cam, thank you for this helpful guide. Im coming over from zimbabwe to tasmania in February and looking to get in the water for couple dives. Any communities i could get in touch with for some spots would be really appreciated. Regards Glynn

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Hi Glynn, if you're not already, join the Tas Spearos Facebook Group: m.facebook.com/groups/478478405555291/ It's a good place for locals and visitors to meet up with divers from all over the state. There'll also be information on upcoming social events on there. We've never had anyone enter a Zimbabwean dish at our cooking comps before!

[@glynncooke7564]

@CameronSmithDiving thank you so much for that. I'll take a look and hopefully see you there soon. Best regards Glynn

[@paulholt7238]

Really good video. Refreshing after watching endless videos of kill shots. Well done. I see you are trying to organize a club in Tassie. Good luck with it, and I hope you get somewhere trying to veto the proposed changes. Is there some way interstate spearos like me can help?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Cheers Paul. The best thing anyone can do to help right now would be to help out with the surveys. The fisheries one, in particular right now: fishing.tas.gov.au/community/fisheries-management/management-changes/scalefish-fishery-rule-changes/scalefish-fishery-rule-changes-have-your-say

[@mttw2455]

Bastard trumpeter was my first fish i shot, cant wait to get some more

[@CameronSmithDiving]

They are a great fish, pretty awesome for a first! Love the layer of fat beneath the skin on the big ones!

[@DaymoAotearoa]

Cheers bro, looking at moving over from NZ; was sad to see no snapper or kingfish on the menu haha; but what a beautiful place and ocean. Are there any seaside towns you would reccomend living in for someone who appreciates rural and small community, healthy culture etc? Cheers mate, enjoyed the positive attitude!

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Kingies do come through, not as commonly speared here, though. Same with snapper. Anywhere on the East Coast is awesome. Only issue is that not many employment opportunities match the cost of housing over that side. Sensational for camping trips and shore diving.

[@joek292]

@@CameronSmithDiving which spots are actually cheap to buy/good for spearing?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

@@joek292 If you can get to Hobart, Freedive Tasmania specialises in Freediving gear, and GoDive have a huge range of gear. Can always ask GoDive to match Adreno prices too. If you're in Launceston, you've got Tasmanian Divers Group. Adreno is the big name online for Australia (almost like the Australian Amazon for diving). Their prices are pretty good, but there can be issues that you won't have to worry about if buying local. I'd recommend that you get fit out at your closest dive shop, then order stuff online if you really want an item and can't find it here.

[@sweetwaterfilms4160]

I'm going to be in and around Ulverstone. Moving later this year. Any good spots around there?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

I've heard the north coast has been clearer over past years. From my experience shore diving, you want to get yourself west of Burnie or East of Devonport. It gets pretty murky. Ideally you want a few calm days before you get out. Take advantage of high tide for better vis.

[@ianianna3552]

Hi , just found your channel great content. Mate is your dad Wayne???

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Hi Ian. Yeah, that's me, Wayne's young fella. Long time no see. Glad you enjoy the clips!

[@ianianna3552]

@@CameronSmithDiving hi back, I live overseas now in Vanuatu,been here about 12 years. I'm retired and have married a lovely local lady. Let me know how to get in contact with you.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

@@ianianna3552 Bet Vanuatu is a slightly warmer place for the winter! Water would be a treat too! Probably easiest to contact on Facebook, through either my old man or Clint (caught him at a wedding a few years ago).

[@loganlowther1468]

Hey mate, where did you buy your rod Allen from ?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

I purchased all my stuff to get started, including my Rob Allen Scorpia, from Adreno online. Not a bad way to go, but if you live in/near Hobart/Launceston, it's worth checking out the local dive stores. If they have what you want, they'll likely price match. Plus they support the local diving communities.

[@loganlowther1468]

@@CameronSmithDiving Thanks mate, I’ve just moved to Launceston from NZ and didn’t bring the speargun. I’ll go check out Tasmanian divers.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Sounds good mate. Nice little shop. More aimed towards scuba diving, but have a bit of freediving and spearfishing gear too. Hope you find something nice!

[@joeybestestbest5141]

Hey what speargun do you have?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

I use a Rob Allen Scorpia 90cm. Pretty much as it came. Only added bungee, and my current shaft is a mm smaller than the original. Works fine for Tassie waters!

[@user-bs5xk8ws6w]

Hey mate, I was thinking of getting into spear fishing and I was wondering if you need a license in 2024 as I’m not sure and I don’t want to get caught spear fishing illegally without knowing?

[@CameronSmithDiving]

No license is required to spear fish in coastal waters around Tasmania in 2024. You do need a license for lobster, abalone, and scallops. Use the Fishing Tas app to check for any restrictions in certain areas.

[@cjod33]

It's f...in cold!

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Ah, it's pretty nice at the moment. A good 5mm wetsuit will get you through winter.

[@bobbieevans7698]

How good is Herring Cale, so underrated…. Stop giving away the secret goat of seafood

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Tasty and plentiful! What's your favourite way to dish up Herring Cale?

[@jakeevans7075]

Shame you can't shoot the boarfish. One of my fav to eat

[@CameronSmithDiving]

It is a bizarre one. I get the fact that they'd be easy to spear. Though it would also be easy to use a gillnet to wipe out a whole den of them, which is legal (with discarding deceased bycatch above the limit). To me it makes more sense to target a kill with a swift dispatch, rather than suffocate whatever gets tangled, but I don't make the rules. If you want to be super creative, you could try using a little net to ensnare one during a dive. I don't believe that would be illegal. I'm happy to just observe these guys, however, I can imagine that they would be a top feed.

[@jakeevans7075]

@@CameronSmithDiving yeah doesn't make much sense at all. Why not just make a bag limit of one per person for spearfishing.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

@@jakeevans7075 Tassie has some interesting fisheries laws. I was out around hundreds of bream the other day. Was kind of frustrating as I kept thinking I was dropping in on trevally (they look and move pretty similar when you're above and trying not to stare), got some great broadside offerings, only to discover it's another bream and illegal to shoot, even a single one. If I was in the same spot in a boat with 5 of my mates, however, we could legally scoop up 30 on hook and line.

[@asianseaanimals7048]

Awesome hunting fish underwater

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Thanks! Tasmania is a fun place for it!

[@BoeDumont]

Not afraid of the great whites down there??

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Yet to have an interaction with one. Pretty sure they're not interested in me!

[@BoeDumont]

Fare play my friend. I done a freediving course at surfers paradise the other month and I couldn't relax. Passed but I was rushing it lol. I surf just like everyone else. Ignorance is bliss. Sick videos man.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Nicely done! Yeah, relaxing definitely helps. Good skills to have under your belt if you're spending time in (or on) the water. Can't hurt the first responder tool kit either! I'd surf big swell days... if I had balance! Haha!

[@BoeDumont]

@@CameronSmithDiving I'll check that out

[@jpw5029]

aren’t banded marwong total poo to eat, why would u shoot it.

[@CameronSmithDiving]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of eating them, however, some people love them!

[@jpw5029]

@@CameronSmithDiving fair enough

[@tassieadventureman]

This is good info aye.