Off the wharf and into the deep: fishing expert reveals Australia's top spots

Think you know Australia's waters? Think again. Just below Sydney's commuter ferries lies an underwater frontier with more than 600 species of fish.

Beyond the urban waterways is an even richer landscape of untamed wilderness, from the crimson and teal coastline of Broome to the eerie, pitch-black drop-off of the continental shelf.

For filmmaker and fishing expert Al McGlashan, the biggest mistake anglers make is assuming that world-class fishing is out of reach.

"In Australia, there are so many good spots and they all have their own appeal," the underwater photographer said.

From urban harbours to untamed frontiers, these are the top spots worth travelling for.

While some anglers may shun Sydney Harbour due to concerns over pollution, Mr McGlashan said the waterway was remarkably scenic and was a surprisingly fruitful fishing spot.

Plus, with countless accessible public ferries, wharves and gentle banks to fish from, anyone could throw a line in.

Sydney's protective sandstone cliffs and the mix of cooler southern waters and warmer tropical waters makes the harbour a unique fishing spot.

"It's one of the most heavily fished waterways in Australia and it still produces, it's still got great fishing with 600 odd species," the filmmaker said.

Watch out for Australian salmon and jewfish, as well as albacore tuna in offshore waters during the winter months, he said.

Famous for it's annual run of snapper, Port Phillip Bay is also a great place to snag garfish, salmon, King George whiting, squid and flathead, Mr McGlashan said.

He said the most reliable spots to catch snapper were between Altona, in Melbourne's south-west, and Mornington, but that the fish tended to move widely throughout Port Phillip Bay.

"There is little hard reef in Port Phillip and as a result the snapper tend to move around a lot," he said.

"They can be found anywhere from the shallow, weedy edges right out to the middle in 25 metres of water."

This 22-kilometre lake in the Hunter Valley is the ideal environment for native fish, the angling expert said.

Murray cod, bass and yellowbelly are the fish to lure among the lake's drowned timber, rocky points and weed beds.

Mr McGlashan recommends heading out on a boat. This means that fishers can traverse the large lake to find concentrated groups of fish.

South West Rocks, between Kemspey and Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast, is a "fertile environment", attracting everything from black marlin to cobia, Mr McGlashan said.

"Trial Bay sticks out like a cupped hand, catching the current to form a large eddy," he said.

"Adding further to the location's appeal is the Macleay River."

There are excellent charter boat access and shore-fishing options near town amenities, meaning the area is ideal for any skill level, he said.

Fishing in Broome is like dipping a line into an exotic oasis, between the ochre red desert on one side and the opal green waters of the Indian Ocean on the other, Mr McGlashan said.

Sailfish is the most well-known fish in the area, but the angler said that spangled emperor and Spanish mackeral could be found among the reefs.

While offshore fishing beyond Gantheaume Point is great for catching sailfish, Mr McGlashan said there was still great fishing for tourists who arrive in Broome without their full kit.

"Many travellers to Broome only have small tinnies or car toppers ... one of the best places to fish close to shore is just north of Cable Beach where a series of small reefs run parallel to the beach," he said.

"Trolling in just a few metres of water it is possible to catch trevally, cobia, estuary cod and mackeral."

Tasmania's Central Highlands are a haven for trout, particularly brown trout, and those who love to fish for them.

Beyond the continental shelf lies the Deep, an arena that Mr McGlashan champions as fishing's new frontier.

"In NSW, [the Deep] is really close to shore, especially on the South Coast, it's only around 15 kilometres offshore," he said.

In Western Australia, by contrast, the deep water is "miles offshore", he said.

Modern deep-sea fishing targets species such as billfish, which dive 500 to 600 metres deep during the day before migrating to the surface at night.

While not rare, these fish were once considered ghost species until recent technological advances allowed anglers to reach them.

Mr McGlashan's golden rule for finding a perfect fishing spot is to have patience and return to beloved spots regularly.

"Hot spots that used to be really hot, they go through stages," he said.

"If fish suddenly stop going there, for whatever reason ... You should keep going back and checking your old favourites because all of a sudden [fish] come back to it."

For anglers looking for McGlashan's full list of recommendations, the sixth edition of The Complete Fishing Bible is now on sale.