Guide · Australia

Spearfishing in Australia

Australia has no single spearfishing law — the rules are state-by-state (NSW, QLD, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, NT), and that's the first thing to get right: NSW and VIC need a recreational fishing licence, the others usually don't. The product core is the clear-water belt of two warm boundary currents: the East Australian Current (EAC) down the NSW/southern-QLD coast — blue water to 25 m — and the Leeuwin Current warming WA, plus the cold, clean gulfs of SA and the kelp of Tasmania.

The common thread is reading the water: a SW wind cleans the NSW coast, offshore reef clears after a rain plume, the Bonney upwelling (Nov–Apr) chills and clouds the SE, and warm-core EAC eddies carry clear water south to Victoria and Tasmania. There's no national closed season — bag/size limits and marine-park zoning do the work. This guide walks the states, north to south and across to the west, and links to a daily go / borderline / no-go forecast for every city.

Open the flagship — Sydney →

Rules by state

There's no single rule set — each state's fisheries agency sets size/bag limits, gear rules and closures, under Commonwealth Marine Parks and, in QLD, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The constants across all states: no spearfishing on scuba, rock lobster may not be taken by speargun, and spearfishing is banned in all inland (fresh) waters. Summary:

State	Rule for spearfishing
NSW	Recreational Fishing Licence required (~AUD 35/yr). Eastern blue groper (state fish) protected from spear since 1969; grey nurse shark, black cod no-take. Sanctuary zones = no-take.
QLD	No general licence. GBR zoning: spearing in General Use/Habitat Protection, banned in green (Marine National Park)/pink zones. No scuba. Potato cod, Qld groper, Maori wrasse no-take.
VIC	Recreational Fishing Licence required. Spear banned in/next to all inland waters. 13 Marine National Parks + 11 Marine Sanctuaries = full no-take.
WA	No shore licence; boat use needs the RFBL. Warm, clear Leeuwin water; iconic WA dhufish (demersal closure to spring 2027). Sanctuary zones no-take.
SA	No licence. Warm, clear gulfs; Adelaide-metro spearfishing closures (Port Noarlunga); no spearing within 200 m of some river mouths. Marine-park sanctuary zones no-take.
TAS	No licence to spear finfish; a Recreational Sea Fishing Licence is needed to dive-take rock lobster/abalone. Cold, clear kelp reef; marine nature reserves no-take.
NT	No licence, but croc country — shore/estuary spearing is effectively off-limits far north; stay ≥150 m from people. Offshore/dry-season only.

Two warm currents, cold gulfs

Australia's viz story is two warm boundary currents. The EAC runs warm, low-plankton blue water down the NSW and southern-QLD coast (viz to 25 m), and its warm-core eddies pinch off and drift south, carrying clear warm water to Victoria and Tasmania (genuine good-viz windows). On the west the Leeuwin Current warms the WA coast, pushing tropical clarity and species further south than you'd expect, strongest in autumn/winter. Against them, the Bonney upwelling (SA/far-west VIC, Nov–Apr) is cold and plankton-rich — reduced viz in summer. After rain, river plumes (Brisbane, Fitzroy, Tweed/Clarence, Swan) knock the water down; work offshore reef until it clears. Tides matter in Victoria (dive the slack at Port Phillip Heads), and go macro in the far NW (King Sound/Broome) and SA's gulfs, where a 'dodge tide' barely moves the water.

No-take zones

Two layers of protection stack up. Commonwealth Marine Parks (National Park / Sanctuary zones) and, in Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, whose green (Marine National Park) and pink (Preservation) zones are full no-take — spearfishing is banned; only General Use and Habitat Protection allow it. On top sit each state's Marine National Parks / Sanctuary Zones (VIC's 13 parks + 11 sanctuaries, NSW sanctuary zones, WA/SA sanctuary zones), all no-take. Inside a hard zone the card will never show green. Check the zoning map — GBRMPA (QLD), NSW SEED, WA and SA all publish it.

Species and trophies

Targets vary by coast, but the staples are snapper and yellowtail kingfish nationwide, dusky flathead and luderick inshore on the east, and the west's prize — the WA dhufish. Sizes and limits are state-set (the table is a guide, not the law); the big no-takes are the eastern blue groper (NSW state fish, protected since 1969), potato cod, Queensland groper, humphead Maori wrasse and grey nurse shark. Rock lobster may never be speared.

Species	Where / status
Yellowtail kingfish	nationwide reef & pinnacles; ~65 cm; prime pelagic
Snapper	NSW/VIC/SA/WA; ~30 cm; the reliable staple
Dusky flathead	east-coast inshore sand; an ambush target
WA dhufish	WA west coast; the prize; demersal closure to spring 2027 — check
Eastern blue groper	NSW; PROTECTED since 1969 — never target
Rock lobster	statewide; may NOT be speared (gear rule)

Seasonal calendar

The season's core is the austral summer and its shoulders, but Australia spans the tropics to cold-temperate, so it reads by coast. On the NSW/QLD east the EAC brings the warmest, clearest water Dec–May; WA peaks with the Leeuwin in autumn/winter; the SA gulfs and Tasmania fish best in the summer calms; the tropical north (Cairns/NT/NW-WA) is capped by the wet/cyclone season and stingers. Month by month (southern hemisphere):

Period	Conditions
Dec–Feb (summer)	Peak east & south: EAC blue water on NSW/QLD, warm gulfs in SA, Tasmania in the calms. Tropical north OFF — stingers (Nov–May) + wet/cyclone.
Mar–May (autumn)	Prime window: EAC eddies push clear warm water south to VIC/TAS; WA's Leeuwin strengthens; kingfish run. Best all-round months on the east.
Jun–Aug (winter)	WA peak (Leeuwin warm & clear); east coast cooler but clean on the calms; cold-water south for the hardy. Stingers gone but big swell.
Sep–Nov (spring)	Water warming, fish moving onto the reefs; the Bonney upwelling clouds the SE (Nov–Apr); stinger season opens in the tropics (from Nov).

Safety

Never dive alone. Sharks: Australia is honest shark country — white, bull and tiger sharks are present; the SA gulfs and parts of WA carry higher risk (WA publishes a live shark-hazard feed, NSW SharkSmart alerts tagged sharks). Stingers: box jelly and Irukandji run Nov–May in the tropical north (QLD north of ~K'gari, all NT, WA north to Exmouth) — treat shore/estuary swimming there as off-limits in season. Crocodiles: 'croc country' starts around the Boyne River (south of Gladstone) and runs north across Cape York, the NT and WA north of Broome — no shore/estuary spearing there, boat/offshore only. Tides: dive the slack at Port Phillip Heads (VIC) and in the macro-tidal NW; in SA's gulfs watch the 'dodge tide'. Mark yourself with a float. The per-city forecast flags the hazard window.

Where to dive, by region

NSW North Coast

NSW North Coast (Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour) — warm East Australian Current, headlands and reefs, clearest on a SW wind.

Byron Bay — Australia's easternmost point: The Pass tucks under Cape Byron on the sheltered northern side, and the rock at the south end of Tallow Beach holds drummer, bream and snapper.
Ballina / Lennox Head — Boulder reef and rock platform between Lennox Head and Ballina — Boulder Beach, Flat Rock at Skennars Head, Shelly Beach.
Yamba — The Clarence River mouth: twin breakwalls, a rock headland between Main Beach and Turners Beach, and Angourie's point 5 km south.
Coffs Harbour — Coffs sits inside the Solitary Islands Marine Park — rocky corners at Diggers Beach and the Sawtell headland hold snapper, kingfish, drummer and bream in 3–8 m, exposed to easterly swell.
South West Rocks — Trial Bay faces north behind Smoky Cape, so the reef below the old gaol stays diveable when the open coast is blown out — easy entry, snapper, bream and schooling kingfish, the best of the shore dives here.
Port Macquarie — Rock and reef at the mouth of the Hastings — Nobbys Head off Shelly Beach, the Flynns Beach corner and the Town Beach breakwall, mostly 2–6 m for drummer, bream and snapper.
Forster / Tuncurry — Twin towns either side of the Wallis Lake entrance: Bennetts Head north of Forster Main Beach gives kelp and boulders in 3–8 m with snapper and kingfish, and the Tuncurry training wall is sheltered rock for bream and snapper.
Port Stephens (Nelson Bay) — Sheltered estuary and headland diving inside Port Stephens — the Nelson Bay sponge gardens at Fly Point and Halifax Park, and the Fingal Bay tombolo out to Shark Island.
Tweed Heads — Tweed Heads faces east-north-east and is open from the north round to the south-east.
Nambucca Heads — Nambucca Heads faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Woolgoolga — Woolgoolga faces east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Bonny Hills — Bonny Hills faces east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Evans Head — Evans Head faces east-north-east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-east.
North Haven — North Haven faces south-east and is open from the east-north-east round to the south-south-west.
Valla Beach — Valla Beach faces east and is open from the north-east round to the south-south-east.
Crescent Head — Crescent Head faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Pottsville — Pottsville is a beach town on the far north coast of New South Wales.
Old Bar — Old Bar is a beach town on the NSW mid-north coast, and most of its shore is ocean beach, water that NSW rules list among those closed to spearfishing.
Chinderah — Chinderah's coast is the Kingscliff shore, and NSW rules list its ocean beaches and Cudgen Creek among waters closed to spearguns.
Crowdy Head — Crowdy Head is a small village on the NSW North Coast, with the headland of the same name about 0.3 km south and Forde Rock about 0.4 km north.
Diggers Camp — A Solitary Islands sanctuary zone (NSW) begins about 1 km north of Diggers Camp, and inside it all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited; Minnie Water Back Beach, about 2 km north, lies within it.
Freshwater — Freshwater is a hamlet on the NSW North Coast.
North Arm Cove — Around North Arm Cove, a village on the NSW North Coast, our map counts three beaches, three bays and nine jetties within 3 km.
Scotts Head — Scotts Head is a village on the NSW North Coast.
Wooli — Wooli is a village on the NSW North Coast.
Boomerang Beach — Boomerang Beach is a village on the NSW North Coast.
Emerald Beach — Emerald Beach is a village on the NSW North Coast, and the Solitary Islands sanctuary zones start about 0.1 km north-east of its water.
Hat Head — Hat Head is a village on the NSW North Coast whose shore faces east; wind from the north-east round to the south blows onto it, worst from the south-east.
Bogangar — Bogangar is a town on the NSW North Coast coast of Australia; its shoreline faces east, at 86°.

NSW Central — Sydney/Newcastle/Illawarra

NSW Central (Sydney, Newcastle, Illawarra) — urban reefs and headlands; a window on an offshore breeze, lots of spots.

Newcastle — A steel city with reef under its beaches: kelp gutters between Bar and Merewether run 3–8 m for snapper and drummer, and the wide platform south of Merewether Baths holds blackfish, bream and the odd kingfish.
Sydney — Northern Beaches — Sydney's Northern Beaches — rock platforms and reef at North Curl Curl and Long Reef, ledges 2–6 m with drummer, bream and blackfish, best entered off the platform at low swell.
Sydney — East (Maroubra) — Sydney's eastern beaches put reef within a bus ride: ledges 2–8 m off Maroubra's Mahon Pool and Malabar for drummer, bream and snapper, best on a small swell.
Sydney — South (Cronulla) — Sydney's southern reefs — The Steps at Kurnell drops 4–10 m onto snapper, kingfish and blue gropers, Bare Island holds ledges and sand, and Oak Park is the easy Cronulla option.
Wollongong / Port Kembla — The Illawarra's reef town: Bass Point's Gutter is the premier local spearfishing mark, ledges and kelp in 4–12 m for snapper, kingfish and crayfish with deep water straight off the point.
Kiama — Kiama faces east and is open from the north-east round to the south-south-east.
Gerringong — Gerringong faces east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Budgewoi — Budgewoi faces east-south-east and is open from the east-north-east round to the south.
Shellharbour City Centre — Shellharbour faces east-north-east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Terrigal — Terrigal faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
The Entrance — The Entrance faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Minnamurra — Minnamurra is a village on the Illawarra coast of NSW.

NSW South Coast

NSW South Coast (Jervis Bay, Merimbula) — cooler, clear bay water; best in the calms between southerly blows.

Jervis Bay (Huskisson) — The clearest water on the NSW south coast — Plantation Point on the bay's sheltered southeast shore and Honeymoon Bay on the Beecroft Peninsula give boulder reef in 2–8 m with snapper, morwong and summer kingfish.
Ulladulla / Batemans Bay — A South Coast fishing harbour with a headland either side: Warden Head south of the breakwater drops into ledges and kelp in 3–10 m for snapper, kingfish and drummer, and Bannister Head at Mollymook adds shallower reef for bream.
Batemans Bay — The Clyde River mouth and the string of rock heads south of it: Observation Head, Denhams, Malua Bay, Guerilla Bay, Burrewarra Point.
Merimbula / Eden — Far South Coast lake town: reef off the bar and Long Point runs 3–8 m for snapper, morwong and kingfish and stays sheltered under a southerly or westerly, while the rock platform out to Tura Head holds drummer, bream and blackfish.
Narooma — Narooma faces east-north-east and is open from the north round to the south-east.
Eden — Eden sits on Twofold Bay, and the town's visitor site says the bay has many protected places to snorkel or dive straight off the beach.
Tuross Head — Tuross Head faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Bermagui — Bermagui faces east and is open from the north-east round to the south-south-east.
Tathra — Tathra faces east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Moruya Heads — Moruya Heads faces east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
St Georges Basin — St Georges Basin is an estuarine basin west of Jervis Bay, and the water along the town shore is estuarine and low in visibility.
Sussex Inlet — Sussex Inlet is a village on the channel that joins St Georges Basin to the sea.
Barragga Bay — Barragga Bay is a hamlet on the NSW South Coast, and the named features around it include a reef and several headlands: Iron Reef about 0.3 km south-east, Barragga Point about 0.5 km north, Cuttagee Point about 2 km north and Murrah Head about 2.6 km south, with Armands Beach about 1 km south.
Berrara — Berrara is a village of about 612 people on the NSW South Coast, and within 3 km of it our map counts 10 beaches, among them Kirbys Beach and Cudmirrah Beach to the north-east and Berrara Beach about 1 km south-west.
Kioloa — The nearest drawn no-take zone to Kioloa is a Batemans Marine Park sanctuary zone about 2 km south of the village, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Manyana — Manyana is a village on the NSW South Coast, with Manyana Beach about 0.5 km south-west and Inyadda Point about 0.7 km east.
Mystery Bay — Mystery Bay is a small village on the NSW South Coast.
Orient Point — Orient Point is a village on the NSW South Coast, with Crookhaven Heads about 2 km north and Culburra Beach about 1 km south-east.
Wonboyn — Our map shows no no-take zone within 25 km of Wonboyn; that is not a permission, and the rules here are set by NSW DPIRD Fisheries.
Bawley Point — Bawley Point is a village on the NSW South Coast.
South Durras — Within 3 km of South Durras there are 10 beaches, 3 bays and 2 headlands.

QLD South-East

QLD South-East (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast) — warm water, headlands and islands; murky after rain, clearing on the offshore reef.

Gold Coast (Palm Beach) — Headland reef on an otherwise sandy coast — boulders 3–8 m off Burleigh Heads, around Elephant Rock at Currumbin and out to Snapper Rocks, holding snapper, bream and kingfish.
Brisbane / Moreton Bay — Moreton Bay's western shore is flats and seagrass rather than reef — you can walk out to King Island off Wellington Point on a low tide, but it is shallow, muddy and low-visibility.
North Stradbroke (Point Lookout) — Point Lookout is the best shore ground in southeast Queensland — Cylinder Beach the sheltered 2–6 m corner, the South Gorge gutters and Shag Rock running 3–10 m with snapper, sweetlip and trevally.
Sunshine Coast (Mooloolaba) — Nine marks between the Mooloolah mouth and Noosa: Point Cartwright's ledges run 3–8 m for snapper, sweetlip and kingfish, and Point Perry under the Coolum lookout gives boulders in 2–6 m that clean up on a south-westerly.
Noosa Heads — The rarest thing on the Queensland coast: a beach that faces north.
Rainbow Beach — Coloured sands at the gateway to Fraser: Double Island Point's boulders and headland reef run 3–10 m for snapper, mackerel and trevally, reached by 4WD along the beach.
Hervey Bay — Sheltered, shallow and murky — Point Vernon, Gatakers Bay and The Gables give rocky foreshore reef in 2–5 m with bream and the odd snapper.
Coolum Beach — Coolum faces east and takes swell from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Bongaree — Bongaree's shore is the Pumicestone Passage, a sand and mud channel where we found only line fishing and no dive or spearfishing entry.
Macleay Island — Macleay Island lies in southern Moreton Bay.
Dunwich — Dunwich is a village on the island coast of South-East Queensland (Stradbroke), and the marine park zones start close to it: the Myora Reef marine national park zone lies within 1 km north of the town's water, and all fishing there, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Karragarra Island — Karragarra Island is a village of 240 people in Moreton Bay, and Marine National Park zones sit close on several sides.
Lamb Island — Lamb Island is a village on an island in Moreton Bay, Queensland, and marine national park zones lie close on several sides.
Orchid Beach — Orchid Beach is a village on K'gari (Fraser Island), on a shore that faces north-east; wind from the north-west round to the east blows onto it, worst from the north-east.

QLD Capricorn Coast

QLD Capricorn Coast (Agnes Water, Yeppoon) — the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef; best water on the offshore reefs and cays.

Bargara — Bundaberg's beach town on the Woongarra coast: basalt from an old lava flow runs out under fringing coral, which is why this 20 km of Queensland looks nothing like the sand either side of it.
Agnes Water / 1770 — The southernmost easy reef access on the Great Barrier Reef coast — fringing reef off the south end of the main beach in 3–8 m, plus the Workmans Beach and Round Hill Head boulders in 2–6 m.
Gladstone / Tannum — An industrial harbour where the shore marks are marginal: Rocky Point and Canoe Point at Tannum Sands are shallow, tidal and low-visibility, and the real reef is boat-only offshore.
Yeppoon (Keppel Bay) — Keppel Bay headlands rather than reef proper — Double Head by Rosslyn Bay harbour and Bluff Point give boulders in 2–8 m with snapper, sweetlip, trevally and cod.
Mackay — Mackay's two marks are islands off the Pioneer River mouth, and both are boat trips from the harbour or the river mouth: Flat Top Island, with its historic lighthouse about 6.5 km east of the city, and Round Top Island, a national park island just east of the river mouth.
Emu Park — Emu Park faces east-south-east and is open from the north-east round to the south.
Hay Point — Hay Point is a coal-port coast: the jetties of the Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay terminals run about 1 to 2.6 km out to sea.
Armstrong Beach — Armstrong Beach is a hamlet on the QLD Capricorn Coast; this page only informs, starting with the hazards.
Campwin Beach — Campwin Beach is a hamlet on Queensland's Capricorn Coast, and this page is information only.
Carmila Beach — Carmila Beach is a hamlet on the Capricorn Coast of Queensland, and the page is information only.
Clairview — Clairview is a hamlet on the Queensland Capricorn Coast, and the warnings come first.
Freshwater Point — Freshwater Point is a hamlet on the Queensland Capricorn Coast, and no shore spot here has passed our check yet.
Greenhill — Greenhill is a village on Queensland's Capricorn Coast, and the warnings come first.
Keswick Island — Keswick Island, a hamlet on Queensland's Capricorn Coast, gets an information-only page.
McEwens Beach — McEwens Beach is a hamlet on the Queensland Capricorn Coast, and its page is information only.
Mullett Creek — Mullett Creek is a hamlet on the Queensland Capricorn Coast, and its own water lies inside the Littabella Marine National Park Zone of the Great Sandy Marine Park, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Stanage — Stanage, a village on the Queensland Capricorn Coast, is saltwater crocodile country: estuarine crocodiles can be in any water here, including the sea off the beach, and the Queensland Government's Be Crocwise advice is to check recent sighting reports before you get in.

QLD Tropical North

QLD Tropical North (Cairns, Townsville) — offshore-only Great Barrier Reef, info cities; crocs and stingers inshore.

Townsville — Tropical north Queensland: saltwater-croc country with a marine-stinger season (Nov–May, box jelly & Irukandji).
Magnetic Island — Offshore island off Townsville: croc country and marine-stinger season (Nov–May).
Cairns — GBR gateway on a turbid mangrove estuary (Trinity Inlet): saltwater crocs, marine stingers Nov–May, no clear-water shore diving.
Port Douglas — Far-north Queensland reef town: croc country, marine-stinger season Nov–May, outer-reef access by boat only.
Bowen — Bowen's shore faces south-east and is open to weather from the east-north-east round to the south-south-west.
Airlie Beach — Airlie Beach sits on the Whitsunday coast.
Weipa — Weipa lies on Albatross Bay on the west side of Cape York, in estuarine water that is crocodile habitat.
Thursday Island — Thursday Island lies in the Torres Strait, and the shore near the town is wharves and port infrastructure.
Palm Island — Palm Island is an Aboriginal Shire community whose bays lie in zoned Great Barrier Reef water; the nearest marine national park zones, where all fishing is closed, are about 6 km to the south and north-west.
Cooktown — Cooktown's wharf and nearby pontoons are closed to spearfishing under Queensland rules.
Hamilton Island — Hamilton Island is a resort island in the Whitsundays.
Wongaling Beach — Wongaling Beach lies on the sandy Mission Beach coast.
Allingham — Allingham sits on Forrest Beach, a sand shore with no rock or reef structure, and no dive or spearfishing spot here has passed our check.
Cardwell — Cardwell looks across the Hinchinbrook Channel, a turbid mangrove channel where the only structures are the town jetty and the harbour piers.
Seaforth — Off Seaforth lies Seaforth Island, whose foreshore and the 400 m of water around it are closed to spearfishing under Queensland rules.
Karumba — Karumba sits on the mud flats of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Lucinda — Lucinda sits on the Herbert River delta, a shore of mud and mangrove.
Cape Tribulation — At Cape Tribulation the beaches north of the cape, Cape Tribulation Beach and Pilgrim Sands, lie inside a Great Barrier Reef marine national park zone, where all fishing is closed, and Myall Beach to the south is open sand.
Heronvale — Heronvale faces Brisk Bay and Poole Island, and no shore spot on this stretch of coast has passed our check yet.
Hope Vale — Hope Vale is an Aboriginal Shire community on Cape York, and no shore spot within reach of it has passed our check yet.
Ayton — Ayton is a village in Queensland's tropical north, with Weary Bay about 1.3 km north.
Balgal Beach — Warnings first at Balgal Beach, a hamlet on the tropical Queensland coast; the page is information only.
Belmunda — Box jellyfish and Irukandji occur in the waters off Belmunda, a village in Queensland's Tropical North, and Surf Life Saving Queensland says they may be present throughout the year; from November to May, the higher-risk season, it says to swim only at patrolled beaches, supervised by lifesavers and lifeguards.
Bingil Bay — Two warnings head the page for Bingil Bay, a village in Queensland's Tropical North.
Boigu — Warnings first for Boigu, a village in Queensland's tropical north; this page is information only.
Bramston Beach — Bramston Beach is a village in Queensland's Tropical North.
Conway Beach — Conway Beach, a hamlet, has no-take water on two sides.
Cowley Beach — For Cowley Beach, a hamlet in the QLD Tropical North, this page is information only and opens with the hazards.
Elliot River — Elliot River is a village in Queensland's tropical north; this page is information only.
Flagstaff — Flagstaff, a hamlet of 8 people on Flagstaff Bay, has its own water inside the Cape Upstart Public Appreciation Special Management Area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where spearfishing is prohibited.
Flying Fish Point — Box jellyfish and Irukandji, both dangerous, occur in these waters; Surf Life Saving Queensland says that in tropical Queensland they may be present all year.
Gununa — Two warnings apply at Gununa, a village in Queensland's tropical north, and this page is information only.
Injinoo — Injinoo is a village on Queensland's tropical far north coast whose shore faces north-west; wind from the west round to the north-east blows onto it, worst from the north.
Jerona — Jerona is a village in Queensland's tropical north; this page is information only.
Kubin — Kubin is a village in the QLD Tropical North; this page is information only, so the warnings open it.
Kurrimine Beach — Kurrimine Beach, a village in tropical north Queensland, carries both official warnings of this coast.
Laguna Quays — Laguna Quays is a hamlet in Queensland's Tropical North with a marina: Repulse Bay Marina lies about 0.9 km south-east, and there are 7 piers and 2 breakwaters within 3 km.
Lizard Island — Lizard Island's own water lies inside a Great Barrier Reef scientific research zone, where no fishing or collecting is allowed except under permit.
Lockhart River — Lockhart River is a village in Queensland's tropical north, and this page is information only, warnings first.
Mapoon — Mapoon, a hamlet in Queensland's tropical north, gets an information-only page, warnings first.
Midge Point — Box jellyfish and Irukandji, both dangerous, occur in these waters; Surf Life Saving Queensland says that in tropical Queensland they may be present all year.
Murrinda — Before anything else at Murrinda, a village in tropical north Queensland: box jellyfish and Irukandji occur in these waters and may be there all year, and from November to May, the higher-risk season, Surf Life Saving Queensland advises swimming only at patrolled beaches.
Napranum — In Napranum, a village of about 883 people, this page is information only and starts with the warnings.
Njinjilki — Njinjilki is a hamlet on the Queensland tropical coast; Raft Point lies about 1.1 km east and Buck Rock about 2.5 km south.
Pormpuraaw — Warnings come first for Pormpuraaw, a village of 606 people in tropical Queensland.
Portland Roads — Portland Roads is a hamlet on the Queensland coast, and this page is information only.
Poruma — The first thing to know about Poruma, a village in Queensland's Tropical North, is the crocodile warning of the Queensland Government (Be Crocwise): this is saltwater crocodile country, and estuarine crocodiles can be in any water here, including the sea off the beach; check recent sighting reports before you get in.
Saibai — Warnings first for Saibai, a village in Queensland's tropical north; this page gives information only.
Seisia — Saltwater crocodile country is the first thing to know about Seisia, a village in Queensland's Tropical North: estuarine crocodiles can be in any water here, including the sea off the beach, and the Queensland Government's Be Crocwise advice is to check recent sighting reports before you get in.
Shute Harbour — Shute Harbour is a hamlet in Queensland's tropical north, and this page only informs, starting with safety.
St Helens Beach — St Helens Beach is a hamlet in the QLD Tropical North, and its page carries information only.
St Josephs — St Josephs is a hamlet in tropical north Queensland where the Queensland Government's Be Crocwise warning applies: estuarine crocodiles can be in any water, including the sea off the beach, so check recent sighting reports before you get in.
St Pauls — St Pauls is a village in tropical Queensland.
Taylors Beach — For Taylors Beach, a village of about 300 people in Queensland's tropical north, the warnings lead.
Toomulla — Toomulla is a hamlet of about 193 people, with Toomulla Beach about 0.2 km south, and this page is information only.
Tully Heads — Two animals set the terms at Tully Heads, a village on the tropical Queensland coast.
Ugar Island — Ugar Island is a village in the Queensland tropical north, and this page is only information.
Wunjunga — Wunjunga is a hamlet on the tropical Queensland coast; this page is for information only, and the warnings lead.

Victoria

Victoria (Port Phillip Bay, Mornington, Torquay) — cold Bass Strait water; dive the slack at the Port Phillip Heads race.

Melbourne (Port Phillip Bay) — Bay diving inside the city: sheltered reef in 2–6 m off Black Rock and Brighton for snapper and whiting, with the HMVS Cerberus breakwater at Half Moon Bay a protected historic wreck you dive around, not into.
Mornington Peninsula — Port Phillip's pier diving — Rye, Blairgowrie and Portsea drop onto sand and pylons in 3–6 m, easy walk-in entries with calamari, whiting and snapper, and weedy seadragons for the camera.
Queenscliff / Bellarine — The bay's mouth: the ledges below the Point Lonsdale lighthouse sit beside the Rip, so it is a slack-water dive only, and it falls inside the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park in our data — no-take, verify the boundary locally.
Phillip Island — Granite and reef on Victoria's Bass Strait edge — Kitty Miller Bay holds the SS Speke wreck in 2–6 m and shelters on a northerly, while Cape Woolamai runs 4–12 m for crayfish and abalone.
Torquay / Anglesea — The Surf Coast's home town: the reef platform off Point Danger is an easy 2–6 m entry for abalone, crayfish and snapper and stays sheltered on a northerly, while Bird Rock at Jan Juc and the Bells reef are exposed ledges for small swell only.
Apollo Bay — Otway coast diving out of Apollo Bay — reef around the harbour breakwater and Mounts Bay in 3–8 m for crayfish, abalone and snapper, sheltered when the wind is west.
Port Fairy / Warrnambool — A Southern Ocean port with an island in front of it: reef around the Griffiths Island causeway and lighthouse runs 2–6 m for crayfish and abalone, with a lee corner on one side or the other whatever the wind does.
Portland — Far-west Victoria — Nuns Beach under the town is the easiest shore entry at 3–8 m for crayfish, abalone and snapper, while Cape Nelson drops to 5–15 m off the lighthouse.
Portarlington — Portarlington faces north-north-east across Port Phillip and is open from the north-west round to the east.
Inverloch — Inverloch faces south-south-east onto the Bunurong coast and is open from the east-south-east round to the west-south-west.
Aireys Inlet — Aireys Inlet faces south-east and is open from the east round to the south-south-west.
Mallacoota — Mallacoota faces south-east and is open from the east-north-east round to the south-south-west.
Geelong — Geelong fronts Corio Bay, and its waterfront is piers, a promenade and a muddy bottom.
Lakes Entrance — Lakes Entrance sits where the Gippsland Lakes meet the sea.
San Remo — San Remo sits on the mainland shore across the strait from Phillip Island.
Lorne — Lorne is a town on the Great Ocean Road.
Blind Bight — Blind Bight lies on the mudflats of upper Western Port.
Coronet Bay — Coronet Bay sits on the mud and seagrass flats of upper Western Port.
Loch Sport — Loch Sport sits on the Gippsland Lakes, where Victoria's fisheries rules ban possessing a speargun, and its ocean frontage is the sand of Ninety Mile Beach with no known reef nearby.
Port Campbell — Port Campbell's bay is only about 200 m across, and the one dive area known there lies on its western side; the jetty on the east side falls under Victoria's 30 m rule for spearguns.
Port Welshpool — Port Welshpool lies on Corner Inlet, where Victoria's fisheries rules ban spearguns, and the Corner Inlet Marine National Park, a no-take park, begins about 9.5 km south.
St Leonards — St Leonards lies on Port Phillip, and the reef water of Indented Head nearby already appears on our Queenscliff and Portarlington pages.
Arthurs Seat — Arthurs Seat is a village in Victoria. Anthonys Nose, a point, is about 0.6 km south-west, McCrae Beach about 1.6 km south-west, and Dromana Pier and…
Barwon Heads — Barwon Heads is a village in Victoria, and the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary begins about 1 km south of its water; all fishing is prohibited inside.
Bemm River — Bemm River is a village of 67 people in Victoria.
Flinders — Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary begins about 1 km south-west of Flinders, a village on the Victorian coast, and all fishing, spearfishing included, is banned inside it.
Golden Beach — Golden Beach is a village in Victoria facing south-east; wind from the east round to the south-west blows onto the shore, worst from the south-east.
Kilcunda — Within 3 km of Kilcunda, a Victorian village of about 450 people, our map counts five beaches; Shelly Beach is about 0.4 km north-west, the rock called The Arch about 1.4 km west and Cemetery Beach about 1.8 km south-east.
Marlo — Marlo is a village on the Victorian coast.
Mcloughlins Beach — McLoughlins Beach is a hamlet on the Victorian coast.
Nelson — About 3 km west of Nelson, a village in Victoria, begins a South Australian marine park zone: the Lower South East Sanctuary Zone at Piccaninnie Ponds, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Peterborough — Peterborough, a village of about 214 people, has a crowded shoreline on our map: within 3 km there are 7 beaches, 3 bays, 3 capes, a reef and a pier.
Port Albert — Port Albert is a village of 349 people in Victoria with islands and points close around it: Horn Island about 1.5 km south-east, Dog Island Point about 2 km east, Lipscombe Point about 2 km south and Shag Island about 2 km south.
Princetown — The water at Princetown, a hamlet in Victoria, lies inside the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Sandy Point — Sandy Point, a village in Victoria, has 2 beaches within 3 km, and the beach mapped as Sandy Point (Waratah Bay) is about 2.5 km south-west.
Seaspray — The Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park begins about 1.5 km south-west of Seaspray, and no fishing of any kind is allowed inside it.
Toora — Toora is a village in Victoria. The Corner Inlet Marine National Park, where all fishing is prohibited, is about 13 km south, and Victorian rules also list…
Venus Bay — Venus Bay has no verified shore spots yet.
Walkerville — Our map shows no no-take zone within 25 km of Walkerville, a small village in Victoria; that is not a permission, and Victorian Fisheries Authority rules apply.
Waratah Bay — Waratah Bay is a village in Victoria. Its shore faces south; wind from the east round to the south-west blows onto it, worst from the south. The day's tidal…
Woodside Beach — Woodside Beach is a village of about 114 people on the Victorian coast, with 2 beaches within 3 km; Woolami beach is about 1 km south-west.
Wyndham Harbour — Wyndham Harbour, a village in Victoria, has a marina, nine piers, a breakwater, three beaches and a bay within 3 km on our map; Southern Beach is about 1 km south-west of the water.
Yanakie — Yanakie is a village in Victoria, and Red Bluff Beach lies about 1.1 km south-east of it.
Cape Schanck — Cape Schanck is a village on the Victorian coast, with Fingal Beach about 0.1 km north and the cape itself about 3 km south; Gunnamatta Beach is about 3 km north-west, and five beaches lie within 3 km.

SA Gulfs & Fleurieu

SA Gulfs (Adelaide, Yorke, Port Lincoln) — warm, clear gulf water; mind the dodge tides, higher shark presence.

Adelaide (Glenelg) — Adelaide's metropolitan reefs — Marino Rocks under the cliffs gives 2–6 m of rock for snapper, sweep and squid, sheltered on an easterly, with Port Noarlunga and Aldinga Reef to the south.
Yorke Peninsula (Edithburgh) — The gulf coast's dive shore: Edithburgh jetty is the famous one, leafy seadragons on the pylons and squid and snapper on the reef south of it in 3–7 m, huntable off the jetty but tide-dependent.
Port Lincoln (Eyre Peninsula) — Lower Eyre Peninsula — Billy Lights Point is sheltered seagrass and reef in 2–6 m for snapper, whiting and squid, while Fishery Bay and the Sleaford granite run 3–8 m on the exposed ocean coast.
Whyalla — Upper Spencer Gulf steel town with rocky shore reef: Black Point holds snapper, whiting and squid in 2–6 m.
Victor Harbor (Fleurieu) — Granite Fleurieu coast — Petrel Cove sits below The Bluff with ledges holding sweep, drummer and the odd snapper, and Rosetta Head's deeper ledges see kingfish pass in summer.
Kangaroo Island — Australia's third-largest island, and the most serious water on this coast: Emu Bay is the easiest entry, a sheltered sandy bay with reef points in 2–6 m for snapper, whiting and squid, and Stokes Bay hides clear reef behind its rock pool.
Wallaroo — Wallaroo faces north-west and is open from the west round to the north-north-east.
Normanville — Normanville faces west-north-west and is open from the west-south-west round to the north.
Streaky Bay — Streaky Bay faces north-north-west and is open from the west-north-west round to the east-north-east.
Coffin Bay — Coffin Bay's two marks sit on very different water.
Elliston — Elliston faces south-west and is open from the south round to the west-north-west.
Arno Bay — Arno Bay faces east-south-east and is open from the east-north-east round to the south.
Corny Point — Corny Point faces north and is open from the north-west round to the east.
Moonta — Moonta faces Spencer Gulf across a low-energy shore of sand and rock flats that widen toward the Moonta Bay jetty.
Ceduna — Ceduna sits on the far west coast of South Australia.
Tumby Bay — Tumby Bay's shore is mapped as mixed sandy bottom, and none of the rocky points near town has passed our check yet.
Ardrossan — Ardrossan sits on a Gulf St Vincent shore that the state habitat map shows as seagrass and bare sand for kilometres around, with no mapped reef.
Port Broughton — Port Broughton's shore is 200 to 400 m of tidal flats ending in a boat channel.
Cowell — Cowell sits on Franklin Harbour, a mangrove lagoon with strong currents at its entrance.
Port Wakefield — Port Wakefield sits at the head of Gulf St Vincent on tidal flats and mangroves, and the state habitat map shows only seagrass, bare sand, saltmarsh and mangrove around it, with no reef at all.
Baird Bay — Baird Bay, a hamlet in South Australia, has West Coast Bays sanctuary zones on several sides, and in a sanctuary zone all fishing is prohibited.
Balgowan — The shore at Balgowan faces north-west; wind from the south-west round to the north blows onto it, worst from the north-west.
Blanche Harbor — The water at Blanche Harbor, a small hamlet on Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia, lies inside the Blanche Harbor sanctuary zone, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Cape Jervis — Cape Jervis is a village of about 321 people on the Fleurieu side of the SA Gulfs coast, and the shore measured here lies about 1.2 km from the village.
Clinton — About 2.2 km north of Clinton, a village on Gulf St Vincent in South Australia, begins the Clinton Wetlands sanctuary zone of the Upper Gulf St Vincent marine park, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited.
Denial Bay — Five Nuyts Archipelago sanctuary zones lie within 25 km of Denial Bay, a South Australian hamlet, all of them to the west or south-west; all fishing, spearfishing included, is banned in each.
Fisherman Bay — Fisherman Bay is a hamlet in South Australia's Gulfs region.
Foul Bay — The bay called Foul Bay lies about 0.8 km north-east of the hamlet of the same name in South Australia.
Haslam — Haslam is a hamlet of about 30 people on the SA Gulfs coast, with a jetty and a beach within 3 km; Simounds Beach is about 2 km south-east.
Lucky Bay — Lucky Bay is a hamlet on the South Australian gulf coast; Cowell, the nearest town page, lies about 11 km to the west and has no checked spots yet either.
Marion Bay — The Marion Bay Jetty stands at this South Australian village, and Penguin Point is about 1 km south; SA rules forbid spearfishing within 100 m of a jetty.
Middle Beach — The Light River Delta sanctuary zone of Upper Gulf St Vincent starts about 3 km north of Middle Beach, and all fishing is prohibited inside it.
Miranda — A South Australian sanctuary zone starts less than 1 km south-east of Miranda: the Yatala Harbor part of the Upper Spencer Gulf Sanctuary Zone, where all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited under the Marine Parks Act.
Parham — The closest thing to Parham on our map is a restricted access zone of the Upper Gulf St Vincent marine park, about 1.4 km north-west of the village: entry itself is prohibited there.
Perlubie — Perlubie is a small hamlet on the South Australian coast, with Perlubie Beach about 2.4 km south-east.
Pine Point — Pine Point is a village in South Australia, and our map counts 14 beaches within 3 km; Rocky Point lies about 2.6 km south.
Port Gibbon — Port Gibbon, a village of about 5 residents in South Australia, has a sanctuary zone close by: the Port Gibbon zone of the Franklin Harbor marine park begins about 1 km south, and all fishing, spearfishing included, is banned inside it.
Port Julia — Port Julia is a small village on the South Australian coast, with a bay of the same name about 1.5 km east of it; within 3 km there are a bay and a pier.
Port Kenny — Three sanctuary zones of the West Coast Bays marine park are drawn near Port Kenny, a hamlet on the South Australian coast: Germein Island about 4 km south, Deep Cork about 5 km west and Anxious Bay about 16 km west.
Port Neill — Port Neill sits beside Cape Burr, about 0.1 km south-west, with Back Beach about 0.5 km west, Mottled Cove about 1.2 km north-west and Baie Laplace about 3 km north; within 3 km there are 6 beaches and a jetty.
Port Pirie — Port Pirie is a town in South Australia's Gulfs region, on sheltered water, with 3 piers within 3 km and Mangrove Point about 3 km north-west.
Port Rickaby — Port Rickaby is a small South Australian village with a jetty.
Port Victoria — The shore at Port Victoria faces west; wind from the south-west round to the north blows onto it, worst from the north-west.
Price — Price is a village on Upper Gulf St Vincent in South Australia.
Sceale Bay — Around Sceale Bay, a hamlet in South Australia, the nearest drawn zones are West Coast Bays sanctuary zones: Cape Blanche about 4 km west, Sceale Bay about 5 km north and Head of Baird Bay about 7 km east, each closed to all fishing.
Smoky Bay — Smoky Bay is a village in South Australia with a jetty within 3 km, and SA rules ban spearfishing within 100 m of jetties, landings and wharves.
Thompson Beach — The tide at Thompson Beach, a South Australian hamlet, usually ranges about 2.1 m in a day and reaches 2.7 m.
Tickera — Tickera is a hamlet on the South Australian gulf coast, with Tickera Bay about 1.5 km to the north.
Venus Bay — Three sanctuary zones of the West Coast Bays marine park lie within 15 km of Venus Bay, a small village in South Australia, and in each of them all fishing, spearfishing included, is prohibited: Germein Island about 3 km north, Deep Cork about 7 km north-west and Anxious Bay about 15 km west.
Vivonne Bay — Vivonne Bay is a village on Kangaroo Island.
Weeroona Island — Weeroona Island is a small hamlet in South Australia's gulfs region.
Westall — Westall is a small hamlet in South Australia.
Whalers Bay — Whalers Bay faces north-east, and wind from the north-west round to the east blows onto the shore, worst from the north-east.
Wool Bay — Wool Bay is a village in South Australia's Gulfs region, and its jetty, about 0.3 km south-west, comes with a state rule: no spearfishing within 100 m of jetties, landings and wharves.

SA Limestone Coast (Bonney)

SA Limestone Coast (Robe) — the cold Bonney upwelling and limestone reef; a narrow window, clear water in the calm.

Robe / Beachport — Limestone coast of southeast South Australia — the Cape Dombey obelisk reef runs 3–8 m for crayfish, snapper and sweep, and the Long Beach ledges give sheltered 2–6 m corners with easy entry.
Port MacDonnell — Port MacDonnell faces south-south-east and is open from the east-south-east round to the south-west.
Nene Valley — Nene Valley is a hamlet on South Australia's Limestone Coast, with Maggotty Point about 0.3 km south-east.
Pelican Point — Our map shows no no-take zone within 25 km of Pelican Point; that is not a permission.
Southend — Southend is a village on the Limestone Coast of South Australia.

WA South-West (Perth–Capes)

WA South-West (Perth, Margaret River) — the warm Leeuwin Current and granite reef; clear water, big dhufish.

Perth (Cottesloe/Trigg) — Limestone reef straight off the city beaches: the Cottesloe slick runs 3–8 m for dhufish, pink snapper and crayfish, best on clear easterly-wind mornings, while Mettams Pool is a reef-protected lagoon in 1–4 m for an easy shore entry.
Rockingham / Cockburn — Limestone reef and caves off Point Peron in 3–8 m — crayfish, dhufish and skippy, with sheltered corners, an easy shore entry and the Palm Beach jetty as the blow-out option.
Mandurah — An estuary city with limestone reef off its ocean beaches: Blue Bay and Doctors run 3–8 m for crayfish, dhufish and skippy on a light swell, and the Pyramids ledges at Falcon sit sheltered under an easterly, with Melros further south.
Bunbury — Two coasts in one town: Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet face north behind the port, while the Back Beach strip faces 289° straight into the Indian Ocean swell.
Bunbury / Busselton — Geographe Bay faces north, so it stays glassy when the rest of the south-west is blown out: granite reef at Meelup in 2–6 m for King George whiting, skippy and herring, and seagrass with the occasional snapper in Eagle Bay.
Margaret River (Gracetown) — The Margaret River capes — Cowaramup Bay at Gracetown is the protected launch, and Gas Bay at the river mouth gives 3–8 m of reef and boulders for dhufish and crayfish.
Augusta (Flinders Bay) — Where the Indian and Southern oceans meet at Cape Leeuwin: Flinders Bay by the boat harbour is the easiest local entry, 2–8 m of reef for dhufish, skippy and crayfish, calm on a westerly.
Dunsborough — Dunsborough faces east-north-east and is open from the north round to the south-east.
Two Rocks — Two Rocks faces west-south-west and is open from the south round to the north-west.
Lancelin — Lancelin faces west-south-west and is open from the south-south-west round to the north-west.
Cervantes — Cervantes faces west and is open from the south-west round to the north.
Ledge Point — Ledge Point faces west-south-west and is open from the south round to the north-west.
Guilderton — Guilderton faces west-south-west and is open from the south round to the north-west.
Yanchep — Both Tourism WA and a Perth guide state that spearfishing is prohibited at Yanchep Lagoon at all times.
Preston Beach — Preston Beach lies on the long, exposed beach between Myalup and Cape Bouvard.
Grey — A sanctuary zone of the Jurien Bay marine park begins about 0.2 km south of Grey, a village in Western Australia.
Rottnest Island — On Rottnest Island the first rule is close: about 0.8 km west begin the island's sanctuary areas, where the Rottnest fishing order allows only line fishing or trolling, so spearfishing is prohibited; the Green Island protected area, also about 0.8 km west, carries the same restriction.
Wedge — A Jurien Bay sanctuary zone begins about 0.75 km south-west of Wedge, and inside it no fishing of any kind is allowed.
Windy Harbour — The shore at Windy Harbour, a hamlet on the WA South-West coast, faces south; wind from the south-east round to the west blows onto it, worst from the south-west.
Yallingup — A Ngari Capes sanctuary zone lies about 0.1 km north-west of Yallingup, and inside it no fishing of any kind is allowed.

WA South Coast (Great Southern)

WA South Coast (Albany, Esperance) — cold Southern-Ocean groundswell and granite islands; for the experienced, best water in the calm.

Albany — King George Sound gives Albany both calm and clear — Emu Point is the easy 2–6 m channel for skippy, whiting and the odd dhufish, and Misery Beach is granite reef in 3–8 m with dhufish and crayfish.
Esperance — White sand and granite on the far south coast: Twilight Beach and Blue Haven give gin-clear gutters in 3–10 m for dhufish, harlequin and crayfish, with reef points between the beaches and Lucky Bay east in Cape Le Grand.
Hopetoun — Hopetoun faces south and is open from the east-south-east round to the west-south-west, yet both marks are sheltered shore entries.
Bremer Bay — Bremer Bay faces east and is open from the north-east round to the south-south-east.
Kronkup — Kronkup is a village on the WA South Coast, and no shore spot here has passed our check yet.
Peaceful Bay — Peaceful Bay is a village on the WA South Coast; the bay of the same name is about 0.1 km north-east.

WA Mid-West (Geraldton–Kalbarri)

WA Mid-West (Geraldton, Kalbarri) — the Abrolhos and warm Leeuwin reef; clear water on the offshore banks.

Geraldton (Abrolhos) — Mid-west WA reef — Point Moore under the lighthouse and Coronation Beach north of town run 3–8 m over limestone with dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper and crayfish, best on light swell.
Kalbarri — At the mouth of the Murchison: Jakes Point below Red Bluff drops 3–8 m for baldchin groper, snapper and crayfish, entered off the rocks on a light swell, with Chinamans Beach the softer option.
Port Denison — Port Denison faces west and is open from the south-south-west round to the north-north-west.
Jurien Bay — Jurien Bay faces north-west and is open from the west-south-west round to the north-north-east.
Leeman — Leeman faces west-north-west and is open from the south-west round to the north.
Green Head — Green Head faces west-south-west and is open from the south round to the north-west.
Carnarvon — Carnarvon stands on the Gascoyne delta, and the beach safety survey lists only three beaches within 12 km of town, sandy and turbid, such as Pelican Point on Babbage Island.
Denham — Denham fronts the Shark Bay Marine Park, and the town shore is shallow seagrass flats.
Gregory — Sharkfin Rock is about 0.6 km west of Gregory and Fish Rock about 1 km west; within 3 km of this Mid-West village our map counts a beach, a reef and a pier.
Horrocks — Horrocks is a village on the WA Mid-West coast, and within 3 km our map shows two jetties and a beach; Whaleboat Cove is about 3 km north-west.
Nanga — Nanga is a hamlet in Western Australia's Mid-West, by Nanga Bay, about 0.6 km south-west.
Useless Loop — Useless Loop is a village on the Mid-West coast of Western Australia.

WA North (Ningaloo–Kimberley)

WA North (Exmouth/Ningaloo, Broome) — warm, clear Ningaloo reef, but macro tides and crocodiles to the north.

Exmouth (Ningaloo) — Ningaloo from the shore — Bundegi on the sheltered gulf side and the Tantabiddi lagoon run 2–6 m over coral with trevally, cod, emperor and coral trout in warm, clear water.
Broome — Kimberley coast: 9 m+ macro-tidal range, saltwater crocodiles and marine-stinger season (Nov–May).
Wickham — Wickham's marks are at Point Samson, where the coast faces north-west and is open from the west round to the north-north-east.
Karratha — Karratha's own shore is the south side of Nickol Bay: mangroves and, at Karratha Beach, about a kilometre of tidal flats at low tide.
Port Hedland — Port Hedland's shore is calcarenite and mangrove with very large tides, and the port's waters take up the town front.
Derby — Derby sits on King Sound, where the tides are the highest in Australia, with a range of up to about 11.8 m at the town.
Dampier — Dampier's shore is port and industrial coast, with intertidal rock flats that lie exposed at low tide.
Onslow — Onslow's shore, from Beadon Bay to its town beaches, is sand and tidal creek, with no reef or rock described along it.
Coral Bay — Coral Bay sits inside the Maud Sanctuary Zone of the Ningaloo Marine Park.
Ardyaloon — Ardyaloon is a village of about 325 people in northern Western Australia, and this page is information only.
Bidyadanga — Warnings come first at Bidyadanga, and this page is information only.
Djarindjin-Lombadina — Djarindjin-Lombadina is a village on the coast of northern Western Australia, and this page is information only, starting with the dangers.
La-Djardarr Bay — La-Djardarr Bay is a hamlet in the north of Western Australia, and this page is information only.
Lombadina — Lombadina is a village in WA's far north, and this page is information only.
Maddarr — Maddarr is a hamlet on the north coast of Western Australia; this page is information only and starts with the warnings.
Park Hill? — This hamlet appears on our map as «Park Hill?», question mark included, in the north of Western Australia, and the page is information only.
Port Smith — Port Smith, a hamlet on the north coast of Western Australia, has an information-only page, and the dangers come first.

Northern Territory

Northern Territory (Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land) — warm tropical water and big tides; saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish inshore (Oct–May), so most spearing is offshore and in the dry season.

Darwin — Darwin's two marks sit on the city foreshore and both are reached from the shore: Bullocky Point, which closes Fannie Bay to the south between the East Point and Doctors Gully reserves, and the rocky outcrops at Nightcliff, where a local dive guide reports often poor visibility.
Nhulunbuy — Nhulunbuy is the Gove Peninsula town in north-east Arnhem Land.
Maningrida — Maningrida is an Arnhem Land community on the Northern Land Council's Junction Bay to Boucaut Bay coast, where recreational fishing in Aboriginal waters needs an NLC permit.
Galiwinku — Galiwinku is the community on Elcho Island, off the Arnhem Land coast.
Wurrumiyanga — Wurrumiyanga is the community on Bathurst Island, in the Tiwi Islands.
Milingimbi — Milingimbi is the community of the Crocodile Islands, off the Arnhem Land coast, in Northern Land Council permit waters.
Alyangula — Alyangula is the town on Groote Eylandt, where land and waters fall under the Anindilyakwa Land Council and need its permits; the town lies inside the sea country of the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area.
Numbulwar — Numbulwar is a community on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of Arnhem Land, in Northern Land Council permit waters that run from Cape Barrow to the town.
Yirrkala — Yirrkala is a community in the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area, next to Nhulunbuy.
Umbakumba — Umbakumba is a community on the east side of Groote Eylandt, where land and waters need permits from the Anindilyakwa Land Council, and it lies inside the sea country of the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area.
Pirlangimpi — Pirlangimpi is a community on Melville Island in the Tiwi Islands.
Bulgul — Bulgul lies on the Anson Bay coast by the Peron Islands.
Gawa — Gawa lies at the northern end of Elcho Island, in Northern Land Council permit waters.
Minjilang — Minjilang is the community on Croker Island, in Northern Land Council permit waters that take in Mountnorris Bay.
Alyingberrma — Box jellyfish occur in Northern Territory waters, with stings recorded in every month; the NT Government advises staying out of the water where there may be jellyfish, with skin-covering clothing as an extra measure if you enter.
Amatjatpalk — Amatjatpalk is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only.
Amirraba — Two official warnings apply at Amirraba, a hamlet in the Northern Territory.
Araru Polint — Araru Polint is a hamlet in the Northern Territory, and this page gives information only.
Armorran — Armorran is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast; this page is information only, and the warnings come first.
Babungi — At Babungi the warnings come first. The NT Government lists box jellyfish in Northern Territory waters in every month of the year, advises staying out of…
Baniyala — Baniyala is a village on the Northern Territory coast with no verified shore spots yet, so this page carries information only.
Banthula — Banthula is a village on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only: the warnings come first.
Barraratjpi — On the Northern Territory coast, Barraratjpi is a small hamlet whose shore faces west; wind from the south round to the north-west blows onto it, worst from the west.
Barrkira — Barrkira is a village on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only, warnings first.
Bawaka — At Bawaka, a Northern Territory hamlet, box jellyfish are the first thing to know: they occur in NT waters, stings have been recorded in every month, and from 1 October to 1 June the NT Government's advice to stay out of water that may hold jellyfish applies especially.
Bayagida — Box jellyfish occur in Northern Territory waters, with stings recorded in every month; the NT Government advises staying out of the water where there may be jellyfish, with skin-covering clothing as an extra measure if you enter.
Berraja — Berraja is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and the warnings come before the geography.
Birany Birany — For Birany Birany the essentials are the safety warnings, and this page is information only.
Bukudal — Before any detail about Bukudal, a village on the Northern Territory coast, come the warnings, since this page is information only.
Buni-Inwunbuluk — Warnings first for Buni-Inwunbuluk, a Northern Territory hamlet.
Burrum — Burrum is a hamlet in the Northern Territory on sheltered water, and two warnings come before anything else.
Buymarr — At Buymarr, a village on the Northern Territory coast, the dangers are the first thing to know.
Dhaniya — Dhaniya is a small hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and its page carries two warnings before anything else.
Dharrni — At Dharrni, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, the NT Government warns of two dangers, so this page only informs.
Dhipirrinjura — Dhipirrinjura is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast; there are no verified shore spots here yet, and this page is for information.
Dholtji — Dholtji is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only, with the dangers first.
Djarrakpi — Djarrakpi, a hamlet in the Northern Territory, gets an information-only page.
Dundee Beach — Dundee Beach, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, has very big tides: the day's range is usually about 4 m and reaches 6 m.
Fossil Head — Fossil Head is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, with the point of the same name about 1.3 km south-east.
Ganpura — This page on Ganpura, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, is information only, and the warnings come first.
Garrthalala — Garrthalala is a village in saltwater crocodile country: estuarine crocodiles can be in any water here, including the sea off the beach, and the NT Government's Be Crocwise advice is to check recent sighting reports before getting in.
Gikal — Gikal is a hamlet in the Northern Territory, and two dangers come before anything else.
Gonguruwuy — At Gonguruwuy, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, the warnings lead.
Gunyangara — Before anything else at Gunyangara, a hamlet of 241 people on Melville Bay: this is saltwater crocodile country.
Gurkawuy — Gurkawuy, a hamlet in the Northern Territory, sits on sheltered water, with Trial Bay about 3 km south-east.
Irgul Point — Irgul Point: a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, described here for information only, dangers first.
Ji-Marda — Ji-Marda is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and the page is for information only.
Jimilaya — Jimilaya is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast; this page informs only and puts the dangers first.
Kuy — Saltwater crocodiles can be in any water at Kuy, the sea off the beach included, and the NT Government's Be Crocwise advice is to check recent sighting reports first.
Langarra — Before anything else at Langarra, a hamlet in the Northern Territory: box jellyfish occur in these waters, with stings recorded in every month, and from 1 October to 1 June the NT Government advice to stay out of water where there may be jellyfish applies most of all.
Milikapiti — Milikapiti is a village on the Tiwi Islands, and this page is information only.
Milyakburra — Milyakburra is a village in the Northern Territory; read this page as information only.
Nadirri — Warnings come before anything else at Nadirri, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast.
Ngadumiyerrka — Two NT Government warnings come first on this page about Ngadumiyerrka, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and the page is information only.
Nikawu — Box jellyfish occur in Northern Territory waters off Nikawu, and stings have been recorded in every month; the higher-risk season runs from 1 October to 1 June.
Old Mission — Two warnings come first at Old Mission, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast.
Paru — Paru is a hamlet on the Tiwi Islands; warnings first.
Raymangirr — Raymangirr, a hamlet in the Northern Territory, has no verified shore spots yet.
Rorruwuy — Rorruwuy is a hamlet on a south-facing shore, and this page is information only, with the warnings first.
Uguie — Uguie is a village on the Northern Territory coast.
Wagait Beach — The page for Wagait Beach, a village on the Northern Territory coast, informs only; the warnings come before anything else.
Waminari — Waminari is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only, with the dangers first.
Warruwi — At Warruwi the warnings come first. Box jellyfish occur in Northern Territory waters, with stings recorded in every month, and the higher-risk season runs…
Wilgi — Two warnings come first at Wilgi. This is saltwater crocodile country: estuarine crocodiles can be in any water here, including the sea off the beach, and…
Wurdijiya — Wurdijiya is a Northern Territory hamlet with Crocodile Point less than 1 km to the west, and this page is information only.
Yalukun — At Yalukun, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, the first facts are warnings, and this page gives information only.
Yanbakwa — This page on Yanbakwa, a hamlet in the Northern Territory, is information only, and the warnings come first.
Yanungbi — Yanungbi, a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, lies between Guruwukpuy Point, about 1.8 km west, and Mithiwuy Point, about 1.9 km east, with Hansen Islet about 1.2 km north.
Yinyikay — Yinyikay is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, with Rhodes Point about 0.5 km south and Garadandanboi Bay about 2.3 km north-west.
Yirringa — Yirringa is a hamlet on the Northern Territory coast, and this page is information only.
Yudu Yudu — Yudu Yudu is a hamlet in the Northern Territory, and this page is information only.

Tasmania

Tasmania (Hobart, Eaglehawk Neck, Bicheno) — cold, clear water, kelp and crayfish; the east coast in the calms is best.

Hobart / D'Entrecasteaux — Cold, clear water at the mouth of the Derwent: the point and blowhole at Blackmans Bay is a walk-in dive, 3–8 m of reef for crayfish, abalone and wrasse, sheltered on a westerly, with Taroona and Hinsby Beach nearby.
Eaglehawk Neck / Tasman — The Tasman Peninsula's dolerite coast — Pirates Bay under the tessellated pavement is the sheltered northwest corner at 3–10 m, and Fortescue Bay drops to 5–15 m of kelp.
Bicheno / St Helens — Tasmania's east-coast dive town, with a catch: the Governor Island Marine Reserve covers the Gulch and Waubs Bay, so the town's own water is no-take — sponge gardens and boarfish, look only.
Bruny Island — Bruny's two sides — Adventure Bay is sheltered reef and kelp in 3–10 m with crayfish, abalone and wrasse, an easy walk-in in cold, clear water, while the Cloudy Bay points face the Southern Ocean and only go on calm days.
Burnie — Emu Bay and the north-west Tasmanian coast either side of it — Parsonage Point, Cooee Point, Somerset.
Devonport (Tasmania) — The Bass Strait side of Tasmania, which the atlas had no page for at all: a north-facing coast of dolerite headlands — Mersey Bluff, Don Heads, Aikenhead Point — around the mouth of the Mersey.
Ulverstone — Ulverstone faces north-north-east and is open from the north-west round to the east.
George Town — George Town lies on the eastern shore of the Tamar, and its one mark is a shore entry.
Port Sorell — All three Port Sorell marks are boat dives.
Beauty Point — Beauty Point faces east-north-east across the Tamar estuary, and the local dive club lists both its marks, with the Monument at George Town, as sheltered estuary shore dives for when Bass Strait is blown out.
Swansea — Swansea faces east and is open from the north-north-east round to the south-south-east.
Currie — Currie, on King Island, faces west-south-west and is open from the south-south-west round to the north-west.
Dover — Dover sits on Port Esperance and faces south-south-west, open from the south-east round to the west.
Coles Bay — Coles Bay faces north-west and is open from the west round to the north-north-east.
Dodges Ferry — Dodges Ferry is a coastal town some 27 km from Hobart.
Penguin — Penguin is a town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, facing Bass Strait.
Sorell — Sorell fronts Pitt Water and Orielton Lagoon, a shallow estuary.
Snug — Snug is a small town south of Hobart, facing north Bruny Island across the water.
Bridport — Bridport is a small port on the north-east coast of Tasmania.
Scamander — Scamander lies on Tasmania's east coast, where divers describe the stretch between Falmouth and Scamander as shallow, sandy and exposed.
Dunalley — Dunalley stands on the Denison Canal, a navigation channel where diving needs the Harbour Master's permission; a university dive club uses it for drift dives, not for spearfishing.
Whitemark — Whitemark is a town on the west coast of Flinders Island.
Alonnah — Alonnah is a village on Bruny Island in Tasmania.
Ansons Bay — The bay that gives Ansons Bay its name lies about 1.8 km north-west of this Tasmanian village; Abbotsbury Beach is about 1.8 km north, Shark Bay about 1.9 km north, Policemans Point about 1.4 km south and Rocky Point about 2.4 km west.
Arthur River — The shore at Arthur River faces south-west, and wind from the south round to the north-west blows onto it, worst from the west.
Beechford — At Beechford itself no shore spot has passed our check yet.
Binalong Bay — The Elephant Rock Research Area lies about 0.4 km south-east of Binalong Bay, a village on the Tasmanian coast, and the use of spears is prohibited inside it.
Blue Rocks — Blue Rocks is a hamlet in the Bass Strait islands of Tasmania; a rock of the same name sits about 0.1 km north-east, Long Point Beach is about 0.5 km south-east and Arthur Bay about 2.5 km west.
Boobyalla — Boobyalla, a Tasmanian hamlet, has Boobyalla Inlet less than 1 km to the east and Murdochs Beach about 2 km south-west.
Cape Barren Island — Cape Barren Island is a hamlet among Tasmania's Bass Strait islands.
Cape Portland — Cape Portland is a hamlet in Tasmania on sheltered water.
Couta Rocks — The rocks named Couta Rocks lie about 0.4 km south-east of the Tasmanian hamlet that shares their name; Sarah Anne Rocks are about 1 km north-west, Rebecca Point about 2 km south-east, and Nelson Bay and Lady Kathleen Beach both about 3 km away, north and south-east.
Crayfish Creek — Along the shore at Crayfish Creek our map shows 6 beaches and 5 piers within 3 km.
Darlington — Darlington's own water lies inside the fishing-closed zone of the Maria Island Marine Nature Reserve, where the use of spears is prohibited.
Deviot — Deviot is a Tasmanian hamlet on sheltered water, with Rowleys Beach at its shore and Miserable Islet about 1 km south.
Eddystone — Eddystone Point lies about 1 km south-east of Eddystone, a hamlet in Tasmania, and Picnic Point about 2 km west; Victoria Rocks are about 2 km east and Eddystone Rock about 2 km south-east.
Emita — Emita Beach is about 1 km south-west, Allports Beach about 1.5 km south-west and Castle Rock Point about 1.5 km north; our map counts four beaches within 3 km.
Exeter — Exeter is a Tasmanian town on sheltered water.
Granville Harbour — Granville Harbour is a hamlet on the Tasmanian coast with 5 small bays and 1 beach within 3 km: McGuinness Gut about 0.3 km north, Bobs Gut about 0.5 km south-east, Stingray Bay about 0.9 km south-east and the bay of Granville Harbour itself about 2.5 km south-east.
Grassy — Grassy is a village on an island in Bass Strait, Tasmania.
Hillwood — Hillwood is a hamlet of about 454 people, and the named places around it sit close together: Jarmans Bay about 0.4 km south-east, Egg Island Point about 0.8 km north-west, Swan Point about 1.2 km south, the Johnstons Flats reef about 1.4 km north-west, Paper Beach about 1.6 km south-west and Supply Bay about 2.6 km south-west.
Kettering — Kettering is a Tasmanian village of about 400 people, and within 3 km our map counts five capes, five bays and five jetties or piers.
Killiecrankie — Killiecrankie is a hamlet on one of Tasmania's Bass Strait islands, and no shore spot there has passed our check yet.
Lady Barron — Lady Barron is a village on one of Tasmania's Bass Strait islands.
Leeka — Leeka is a hamlet on one of Tasmania's islands in Bass Strait, and its shore faces south: wind from the south-east round to the west blows onto it, worst from the south-west.
Loccota — Loccota is a hamlet on the Tasmanian islands of Bass Strait.
Loorana — Loorana is a hamlet on a Bass Strait island in Tasmania, with 6 beaches within 3 km: Little Porky Beach about 0.2 km north, Whalebone Beach about 0.9 km south and Porky Beach about 1.1 km north.
Lulworth — Lulworth, a hamlet on the Tasmanian coast, lies between Tam O'Shanter Bay, about 1.5 km west, and Fannys Bay, about 2 km east.
Macquarie Heads — Macquarie Heads is a hamlet in Tasmania on an indented shore: within 3 km our map counts 6 bays, 5 capes, 3 beaches and 1 reef.
Marrawah — Within 3 km of Marrawah, a hamlet in Tasmania, there are 3 bays, 1 beach and 1 headland: Green Point Beach lies about 1.4 km north-east, Ann Bay about 2.2 km north, and taypalaka / Green Point about 2.5 km west.
Mella — Mella is a Tasmanian hamlet on sheltered water.
Middleton — Middleton Beach is about 0.2 km south-west of the village of Middleton, and within 3 km our map shows 3 piers, a breakwater and 2 capes.
Montagu — Montagu is a hamlet in Tasmania whose shore faces north-west; wind from the west round to the north-east blows onto it, worst from the north.
Musselroe Bay — About 11 km north of Musselroe Bay, a Tasmanian hamlet, lies the Swan Island Abalone Research Area, the nearest drawn zone; spears are banned there, though it is not a ban on all fishing.
Naracoopa — Naracoopa is a hamlet on a Bass Strait island in Tasmania.
Orford — Within 3 km of Orford, a town in Tasmania, there are 7 beaches, 2 bays, 1 cape and 5 piers.
Palana — Palana is a hamlet on the Bass Strait islands of Tasmania.
Pearshape — Pearshape is a small hamlet on the Bass Strait islands of Tasmania, and the shore measured here is about 2.4 km from the houses.
Recherche — On open water in Tasmania, the hamlet of Recherche has a crowded shoreline on the map: within 3 km there are 6 bays, 5 points, 3 beaches and a reef.
Rheban — About 6 km east of Rheban, a hamlet on the Tasmanian coast, begins the closed fishing zone of the Maria Island Marine Nature Reserve, where spearfishing is prohibited.
Rocky Cape — Tides are the first thing to know at Rocky Cape, a hamlet in Tasmania: the day's range is usually about 2.5 m and reaches about 3 m.
Scopus — Scopus is a Tasmanian hamlet on sheltered water.
Sea Elephant — Sea Elephant is a hamlet in Tasmania. Nine Mile Beach begins about 0.4 km north-west and Cowper Point is about 0.6 km south; within 3 km our map counts 4…
Smithton — Smithton is a Tasmanian town on sheltered, enclosed water, with 2 piers within 3 km and a run of named points along the shore: Slaughterhouse Point about 1 km south, Kennedy Point about 1 km north-west and Copper Mine Point about 2 km north-east.
Stanley — Within 3 km of Stanley the map counts 2 beaches, a headland and 4 piers: Godfreys Beach is about 0.4 km north-west, Eagle Rock about 1.1 km south-east, Highfield Point about 2.5 km north and Tatlows Beach about 2.8 km south-west.
Stieglitz — Stieglitz is a village of 724 people in Tasmania, with Georges Bay about 3 km west.
Strahan — Strahan, a Tasmanian town, has an indented shoreline: within 3 km our map counts 8 capes, 6 bays and 1 beach.
Surprise Bay — Surprise Bay is a hamlet among the Bass Strait islands of Tasmania.
Temma — Temma is a Tasmanian hamlet whose shore faces west: wind from the south round to the north-west blows onto it, worst from the west.
The Gardens — Two named reefs lie off The Gardens, a Tasmanian hamlet: Gardens Reef about 0.7 km east and Fancy Reef about 0.9 km north.
Tomahawk — Tomahawk is a village on the Tasmanian coast.
Triabunna — Triabunna is a Tasmanian town on sheltered water, with 13 piers and jetties, a marina and a bay within 3 km.
Trial Harbour — Trial Harbour, a hamlet in Tasmania, has two bays and a beach within 3 km: the bay of Trial Harbour itself about 1 km south-east and Wheel Bay about 1.4 km north-west.
Weymouth — No shore spot at Weymouth, a village in Tasmania, has passed our check yet.
White Beach — White Beach is a Tasmanian village. A beach of the same name lies about 3 km east. Our map counts three capes, two bays, a pier and a beach within 3 km;…
Wickham — Wickham, a hamlet on the Bass Strait islands of Tasmania, has Disappointment Bay less than 1 km to the north-east and Rocky Point about 1 km east; within 3 km there are one bay and one beach.
Wiltshire — At Wiltshire, a hamlet in Tasmania, the tide is the figure to know: the day's range is usually about 2.4 m and reaches 3 m.
Woolnorth — Spears are prohibited in the Doughboys Abalone Research Area, about 5 km west of Woolnorth; it is the only drawn zone within 25 km of this Tasmanian hamlet, and that does not make the rest of the coast open, because the NRE Tas Wild Fisheries rules still apply.
Yarra Creek — Yarra Creek is a hamlet on Tasmania's Bass Strait islands.
Port Arthur — Port Arthur lies on sheltered water in Tasmania: Mason Cove is at the village, Carnarvon Bay about 1 km south-east, Stewarts Bay about 1 km north-east and Point Puer about 1 km east.
Low Head — Low Head is a town on the Tasmania coast of Australia; its shoreline faces north-west, at 334°.

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Frequently asked questions

Rules current as of 2026 — always confirm with your STATE fisheries authority before you go. Australia has no single national spearfishing law: each state (NSW DPI, Fisheries QLD, WA, SA, VIC, TAS, NT) sets its own bag/size limits and closures. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park green zones and state marine parks are no-take. Protected species (e.g. some groupers, gropers) may not be taken.

Do I need a licence?

It depends on the state. NSW and VIC require a Recreational Fishing Licence (NSW ~AUD 35/yr). QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT need no general recreational licence (WA needs the boat RFBL; TAS needs a Recreational Sea Fishing Licence to dive-take rock lobster/abalone).

Official source ↗

Can I spearfish on scuba?

No. Spearfishing on scuba is banned (QLD/NT expressly say so, and it's the practice nationwide). Rock lobster may not be taken by speargun (a gear rule in every state). Spearfishing is banned in all inland (fresh) waters. Don't load the speargun out of the water.

Official source ↗

What can't I take (protected)?

The eastern blue groper (NSW state fish) has been protected from spearing since 1969. Also no-take: potato cod, Queensland (giant) groper, humphead Maori wrasse, barramundi cod, grey nurse shark, black cod, great white and whale sharks, seahorses/seadragons. Rock lobster by spear — never.

Official source ↗

Where is hunting fully banned?

In full no-take zones: the Great Barrier Reef's green (Marine National Park) and pink zones, Commonwealth Marine Parks (National Park/Sanctuary) and each state's Marine National Parks / Sanctuary Zones (VIC's 13 parks + 11 sanctuaries, NSW sanctuary zones, WA/SA sanctuaries). Plus all inland waters. Check the zoning map.

Official source ↗

Where's the clear water, and when's the season?

On the east (NSW/QLD) it's clearest in the warm EAC water Dec–May; on the west WA peaks with the Leeuwin in autumn/winter; the SA gulfs and Tasmania in the summer calms. The tropical north (Cairns/NT/NW-WA) is capped by the wet/cyclone season and stingers (Nov–May). Pick the day by the city forecast.

Are there dangerous animals?

Yes. Sharks (white/bull/tiger) are present — the SA gulfs and parts of WA are higher-risk; WA runs a live feed, NSW SharkSmart sends alerts. Stingers (box jelly/Irukandji) run Nov–May in the tropical north. Crocodiles — from the Boyne River (south of Gladstone) north (Cape York, NT, WA north of Broome): boat/offshore only there, not from shore.

Official source ↗

Can I spear rock lobster or abalone?

Rock lobster may not be speared in any state — it's a gear rule. Rock lobster and abalone are taken by free-diving by hand where allowed; in Tasmania that needs a Recreational Sea Fishing Licence, with tight limits and closures. Check your state's fisheries.

Official source ↗