Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

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◈Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman · Australia
2.6
visibility: 2 m
visibility~2m

Dayisover

Today — sit it out.

Sources: Open-Meteo · Copernicus · Sentinel-2 — high confidence · data 19:32

Sources & confidence

Sources
Open-Meteo · Copernicus · Sentinel-2
Method
spearo sea-state engine: consensus of up to 6 models + satellite clarity (ZSD) + buoy-bias checks
Freshness
Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine · How it works →

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

01
Swell & wave memory
Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
02
Wind & gusts
Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
03
Tide phase
Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
04
Water temperature
Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
05
Currents & outflow
Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
06
Rain runoff & air clarity
Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
07
Coast shape & exposure
How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

  • Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
  • An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
  • Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
  • Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
  • Night hours — where night spearfishing is banned by law the window is forced red; where it is legal (Australia outside NSW, New Zealand, South Africa) it is capped at yellow, never green.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Entry pointsNo-take zonesLive cams

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

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0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app
updated 19:32
South coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur) — solo, off the rocks
Day is over
That is it for today — the day's windows have closed.
Tomorrow, best window 06:00–09:00
Before entering, check the camera and the surge
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
›
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.

Sunday · today2026-10-25
06:02–19:43 · full moon
▼ 01:00▲ 07:00▼ 14:00▲ 20:00 · 0.7 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide0.06 m
Wave1.68 m
Wind10 km/h
Water14 °C
fish activity: moon overhead 00:00 · high · moonset 05:05 · moderate · moon underfoot 11:50 · high · moonrise 18:49 · moderate
Open the seafloor map with entry points →
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Tasmania

  • Port Arthur
  • Dunalley
  • White Beach
  • Dodges Ferry
  • Sorell
  • Rheban
  • Darlington
  • Orford
  • Hobart / D'Entrecasteaux
  • Snug
  • Kettering
  • Triabunna
  • Middleton
  • Bruny Island
  • Alonnah
  • Dover
  • Swansea
  • Coles Bay
  • Recherche
  • Bicheno / St Helens
  • Scamander
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spearo.app · a private marine instrument · Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman · a planner, not a safety guaranteePrivacy
Today
Notify me
Map
Best window · next 3 days
borderlinetomorrow · 06:00–09:00
you can see ~2 m ahead fish

ℹ️ Conservative visibility estimate kept

transparency ~8 m · satellite, 2 days agosatellite estimate · may differ right at the shore

↑ high tide 20:00 · slack water ~19:15–20:45 bite times: 10:50–12:50 · 18:19–19:19

Tell me when it's on

Just your email — nothing else needed.

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

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−10 m

The water column

Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.

What it is

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.

Now live: 3016 spots across 406 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

See all spots →
−20 m

The seabed

Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.

On the rock

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.

Entry points

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map →
Pirates Bay / The BlowholeCoast (Pirates Bay & Waterfall Bay)
borderline
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

Reef and kelp under the tessellated pavement; 3–10 m, crayfish, abalone, wrasse. Sheltered NW corner, easy entry.

Google Maps
Waterfall BayCoast (Pirates Bay & Waterfall Bay)
borderline
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

Sea caves and deep kelp walls; 5–20 m, crayfish, butterfly perch. Advanced boat/shore — spectacular vertical reef.

Google Maps
🔒 Canoe BaySouth coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur)
dangerous
Ultra · subscribers
swell on the quarter today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
🔒 Carnarvon BaySouth coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur)
dangerous
Pro · subscribers
swell on the quarter today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
Fortescue BaySouth coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur)
dangerous
swell on the quarter today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

Deep kelp reef in the Tasman NP bay; 5–15 m, crayfish, abalone, bastard trumpeter. Clear cold water — experienced, sheltered bay entry.

Google Maps
🔒 Safety CoveSouth coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur)
dangerous
Pro · subscribers
swell on the quarter today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
🔒 Stewarts BaySouth coast (Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur)
dangerous
Pro · subscribers
swell on the quarter today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
no data (coarse grid)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →

SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.

One morning glance — and you know.

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play
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point your camera
≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live

Look at the water
right now.

Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».

connecting to the stream…
● LIVE↗
Marion Narrows entrance (safety camera) — live (Tas Maritime Radio) · 22 kmCamera at Marion Narrows, 22 km away. YouTube live — Marion Narrows entrance (safety camera) (Tas Maritime Radio). Pinned by videoId (it changes when the stream restarts). Read the water before you go.camera: youtube ↗
Open the seafloor map →
Reference

What's in season,
what the law says.

Rules as of now — 25.10.2026 21:25 (Australia/Hobart)

In season now
  • yellowtail kingfish
    Seriola lalandi · 3–35 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    min 45 cm · bag 5 a day
  • snapper
    Chrysophrys auratus · 5–40 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    min 30 cm · bag 5 a day
  • dusky flathead
    Platycephalus fuscus · 1–15 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • luderick (blackfish)
    Girella tricuspidata · 0–12 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • silver trevally
    Pseudocaranx georgianus · 3–30 m · legal
    min 20 cm · bag 10 a day
  • rock blackfish (black drummer)
    Girella elevata · 0–12 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • Australian salmon
    Arripis trutta · 0–15 m · legal
    min 20 cm · bag 15 a day
  • bastard trumpeter
    Latridopsis forsteri · 5–30 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    min 42 cm · bag 2 a day
  • banded morwong
    Cheilodactylus spectabilis · 3–30 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    36–46 cm · bag 2 a day · closed 1 Mar – 30 Apr
  • bluethroat wrasse
    Notolabrus tetricus · 3–30 m · legal
    min 30 cm · bag 5 a day
  • mulloway (jewfish)
    Argyrosomus japonicus · 2–25 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • blacklip abalone
    Haliotis rubra · 0–10 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    min 13.8 cm (shell) · bag 10 a day · 🚫 no spear · ✋ by hand · tool: abalone iron; knife with a blade ≥ 18 mm wide
  • greenlip abalone
    Haliotis laevigata · 2–15 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    min 14.5 cm (shell) · bag 10 a day · 🚫 no spear · ✋ by hand · tool: abalone iron; knife with a blade ≥ 18 mm wide
  • octopus
    Octopus spp. · 0–10 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day · spear allowed
  • cuttlefish
    Sepia spp. · 1–15 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • King George whiting
    Sillaginodes punctatus · 0–6 m · legal
    min 35 cm · bag 5 a day
  • tailor
    Pomatomus saltatrix · 0–10 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • cobia (black kingfish)
    Rachycentron canadum · 3–25 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
  • Spanish mackerel
    Scomberomorus commerson · 3–25 m · legal
    no minimum size · bag 5 a day
off season: eastern blue groper () · black cod (black rockcod) () · grey nurse shark () · yellowfin bream () · black bream ()
Law
  • •Spearfishing in Australia is governed by STATE law, not federal: the licence, the gear, the closed areas, the sizes and the all differ between NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA and TAS. Below is your state's pack; cross into the next state and the rules change at the border.
  • ✓Federally listed threatened, migratory and marine species — white and whale sharks, sawfish, marine turtles and marine mammals among them — are protected in Commonwealth waters: killing, injuring or taking one there is an offence (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). In a state's own waters the same animals are protected by that state's list (see the protected-species panel). Never shoot, disturb or take them.
  • ✓Marine park zoning applies ON TOP of the state's fishing rules: / Sanctuary / Preservation zones are full no-take, and on the Great Barrier Reef the marine park zoning sits on top of the Queensland rules. Check the boundaries on the managing agency's zone map before you enter the water (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003; NSW Marine Estate Management (Management Rules) Regulation).
  • ✓Rock lobster may not be speared in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania or Western Australia — it is taken by hand (WA also allows a hand snare or blunt crook). The Queensland and Northern Territory pages read on 26 Sep 2026 publish no such rule, so there it is not stated either way. Abalone may not be speared in Victoria or Tasmania. Spearfishing in inland fresh waters is banned in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Sources: NSW Fisheries Management (General) Regulation; Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Vic); Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2017 (SA); the state fisheries guides.
  • ✓TAS: rod-and-line fishing in marine waters needs no licence, but a licence IS required for abalone, rock lobster (dive, pot, ring), scallop, nets and set lines; the first licence is AUD 66.85, each further type +9.55, concession first licence 38.20 (period 1 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2026). Inland waters need a separate Inland Fisheries Licence (Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995).
  • ✓TAS gear (per NRE Tas, 2025-26 guide): hand spears, spearguns and gaffs may take squid, shark, octopus and any scalefish EXCEPT bream and boarfish. Rock lobster and abalone may not be taken with spears or gaffs. No express scuba prohibition for spearfishing was found in the Tasmanian rules — that is not the same as «allowed», so check with NRE Tas. Size up the fish BEFORE you shoot: «I could not tell» is not an excuse (Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015).
Safety protocol
  • Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
  • Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
  • Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
  • Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
  • Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
  • Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
  • UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
  • Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Local guide · Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman

Spearfishing in Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman: spots, seasons and rules

Updated 2026-07-09 · By Oleksandr, spearfisher

Spearfishing around Eaglehawk Neck is about cold water, kelp and exposure. Pirates Bay near The Blowhole is the easiest shore plan, with reef and kelp in moderate depth. Fortescue Bay gives clearer water and deeper kelp inside a national park bay, while Waterfall Bay is a serious wall and cave coast that needs settled swell and strong exit judgement. Tasmania rules apply: scalefish limits, protected species and area restrictions.

TL;DR

  • Eaglehawk Neck is a cold-water Tasman Peninsula dive: kelp, cliffs, clear water and exits that can change with swell.
  • Pirates Bay is the gentlest shore option; Fortescue Bay is deeper and clearer; Waterfall Bay is for experienced divers only.
  • E to NE swell is the main spoiler, especially around open walls, caves and rock platforms.
  • In Tasmania, marine reserves are generally no-fishing areas, and NRE rules govern species and gear.

Eaglehawk Neck shore and bay spearfishing options

This coast can look calm from above while surge works through kelp and caves below. Choose the entry by exit quality, not by scenery. No mapped hard no-take zones cover this coast, but Tasmanian marine reserves and research areas still need checking.

SpotTypeDepthLevelAccessNotes
Pirates Bay / The BlowholeReef and kelp below rock platformsAbout 3-10 mIntermediate, best first choiceShore entry near the sheltered NW cornerThe easiest listed option, with kelp edge, wrasse, abalone habitat and cray country nearby. It still needs low swell and a visible exit, because the rock platforms become slippery and surge-prone.
Fortescue BaySheltered bay with deep kelp reefAbout 5-15 mExperienced shore or boat diverBay entry inside Tasman National ParkClear cold water and better depth make Fortescue attractive for strong divers. Expect kelp, reef fish and licence-sensitive shellfish country. Keep the plan conservative if offshore swell is wrapping into the bay.
Waterfall BaySea caves, walls and kelp ledges
  • Stieglitz
  • Binalong Bay
  • Exeter
  • The Gardens
  • Hillwood
  • Deviot
  • Ansons Bay
  • Beauty Point
  • Eddystone
  • Bridport
  • George Town
  • Weymouth
  • Strahan
  • Lulworth
  • Port Sorell
  • Beechford
  • Low Head
  • Boobyalla
  • Tomahawk
  • All 461 spots → · Region: Tasmania · spearo.app — All countries

  • ✓TAS places: marine reserves and a number of named waters are closed to spearing — the area-by-area section of the guide marks them «Spears prohibited». In the Mersey, Leven and Inglis Rivers a spear may only be used on flounder (NRE Tas; Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015).
  • ✓TAS sizes and seasons: striped trumpeter 55 cm, closed 1 Sep – 31 Oct; banded morwong 36–46 cm slot, closed 1 Mar – 30 Apr; bastard trumpeter 42 cm (bag 2 east / 5 west); kingfish 45 cm (5); snapper 30 cm (5); silver trevally 20 cm (10). Squid closes in the south-east 15 Oct – 14 Nov and in the north 1 Sep – 31 Oct; garfish closes in northern waters 15 Jan – 14 Feb and in southern waters 15 Nov – 14 Dec (Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995).
  • •TAS weather: the BOM marine wind warning summary for the state — bom.gov.au/marine/lite/warning/IDT20100.shtml. Rules change: check NRE Tas before every trip.
    • ⛔ 🚫 Tasmania: blue groper carries a zero catch limit (kept as a predator of the longspined sea urchin). Protected: handfish, the Maugean skate, all Syngnathidae, threefin blennies, limpets and the elephant snail, white, basking, grey nurse, megamouth and whale sharks. Bream and boarfish may not be speared, nor rock lobster or abalone.
    • ⛔ 🚫 Eastern blue groper (the NSW state fish) and black cod may not be speared. Grey nurse shark, white shark, seahorses, seadragons and pipefish are protected. Rock lobster may not be taken with a spear in NSW, VIC or TAS; abalone may not be speared in VIC or TAS.
    • ⛔ 🚫 and Marine (VIC), Tasmanian marine reserves and NSW aquatic reserves — all fishing prohibited. Every inland (fresh) water is closed to spearfishing in all three states.

    Rules change and vary BY STATE. Before heading out, check with your state's fisheries (NSW DPI, Fisheries QLD, VFA, DPIRD WA, PIRSA, NRE Tas, NT Fisheries) and the marine-park zoning map.

    About 5-20 m
    Advanced only
    Advanced shore or boat approach
    A spectacular but unforgiving coast. The vertical reef and cave terrain can trap surge, and a small forecast mistake feels larger here. Use it only with calm water, a partner and a clear exit plan.

    When does Eaglehawk Neck dive clean?

    The Tasman Peninsula often has better clarity than sheltered estuary water, but it pays for that clarity with exposure. E and NE swell are the main problems for this side of the coast, pushing surge through kelp, boulders and cave mouths. Light offshore wind and a small swell period give the best chance. Winter can be clear but cold; summer is kinder on the body but not immune to wind chop.

    How should divers handle Tasmanian licensing?

    Check current Fishing Tasmania rules before the trip. Spearing scalefish on reef does not open rock lobster or abalone, which sit under separate rules. Size, bag and possession limits apply, so confirm the current table before keeping fish.

    Are there no-take zones near Eaglehawk Neck?

    No hard reserve covers the three listed entries, but that is not a substitute for the Fishing Tasmania map. Marine Nature Reserves are generally no-fishing areas, and some research or refuge areas have specific gear rules. Treat any uncertain boundary as closed until the official map is clear. This matters on trips that range farther down the Tasman Peninsula.

    What species and hazards define the area?

    Expect cold-water reef life: wrasse, bastard trumpeter country, perch on deeper walls, and shellfish habitat in the kelp. White shark, grey nurse shark, seahorses and weedy seadragons are protected. The biggest hazards are surge, kelp entanglement, cliff access and temperature. A thick suit, float, knife and conservative turn-around point matter more here than chasing one extra ledge.

    FAQ

    Do you need a Tasmania sea fishing licence to spearfish Eaglehawk Neck?

    For ordinary scalefish by spear, check current gear and catch rules. Rock lobster and abalone sit under separate rules, so confirm those before diving.

    Is Pirates Bay the easiest Eaglehawk Neck entry?

    Yes, among the listed spots. It has the gentlest access, but still needs low swell and a safe rock exit.

    Can beginners dive Waterfall Bay?

    No. Waterfall Bay is an advanced wall and cave coast where surge and exits can become serious quickly.

    Can you fish in Tasmanian marine reserves?

    Generally no. Marine reserves are protected areas, and fishing by any method is usually prohibited unless a specific restricted allowance applies.

    What makes visibility worse on the Tasman Peninsula?

    E to NE swell, wind chop and surge through kelp are the main visibility and safety problems for these entries.

    Sources

    • NRE Tasmania, Fishing Tasmania scalefish and bait fishing gear
    • NRE Tasmania, Fishing Tasmania marine reserves

    Nearby towns

    • Spearfishing in Dodges Ferry
    • Hobart / D'Entrecasteaux: forecast and spots
    • Dive spots near Bruny Island
    • Bicheno / St Helens conditions today
    • Mornington Peninsula spearfishing guide
    Data partners
    dive centres that send us real visibility readings
    Águas VivasMilfontes · Sagres

    Storm Bay buoy: wave 1.0 m · 2 h ago(model: 1.7 m)