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Fishing has meant big business in Australia since 1788, when commercial fisheries began to take root in industry. Western Australia's fishing industry is the largest on the continent, with commercial fisheries, just in New South Wales alone, ranking fifth as the country's most valuable industry, contributing $550 million of retail turnover. Fishing have long replaced hunting seals and whaling as Australia's largest marine industries, which now include shipping, recreational fishing, recreational boating, aquaculture, eco-tourism and supporting governmental agencies. One of the greatest problems however is the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that continues to be a problem affecting fisheries worldwide. It jeopardizes fish stock within, and beyond, the Australian Fishing Zone. Such illegal fishing for fish such as the Patagonian Tooth fish in the remote Southern Ocean territories, as well as illegal fishing in Australia's northern zones, the sub-Antarctic areas around Heard Island and the McDonald islands in the Southern Indian Ocean pose risk not only to fish harvests and stocks, but to crews aboard those rogue vessels.

When stock is illegally depleted, it needs to be repleted with new stock. However, that can take time. Aquaculture farms fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic plant life that need intervention to increase numbers, or to survive from predators. The hatchery, nursery, or grow-out operations of aquaculture have increased four percent per annum and is now worth over $730 million. With these numbers, avid fishermen will have no troubles finding the fish of their liking.

Eighty-five percent of all Australians live within 30 miles of the continent's coastline, and no other recreational sport or pastime surpasses recreational fishing in Australia. It is enjoyed by over five million residents and generates billions of dollars for the recreational fishing industry. With nearly 5,000 species of fish fauna, Australians can find an inland lake for freshwater fish for Murray Cod, Australia's largest freshwater fish, or stay on the coast for saltwater fishing. However, all commercial and recreational fishing is highly regulated in Australia.

Australian Fishing Laws & Regulations

Australia is subject to its own fishing laws and regulations regarding commercial and recreational fishing. This is done so that fish have time to reproduce and replenish stock. Fishing control laws are based on scientific knowledge of fish biology and ecology of the environment. These laws are spelled out by the Fisheries Management Act of 2007, which superseded the Fisheries Act 1982. All statutes are strictly enforced. Many times extra fees are authorized in order to expand on those laws which protect Australia's fish.

Western Australia boat fisherman have been mandated to pay extra fees in order to protect fish stock. The new regulations have been in effect since 2009, and some recreational fishermen discount them as discriminatory, as on-shore recreational fishermen do not have to pay the same fees. Those fees are the $30 license fee, and the demersal scale fish fee for fish, such as Pink Snapper and Hu fish caught in the West Coast zone. That new fee is $20 per day. Pensioners get a 50 percent fee discount and children are not required to obtain a separate license when their catch is counted as parental catch.

There are specific requirements such as minimum legal length for many species of fish caught with a rod and line, as well as the following: bow and arrow, drop net, rake, spear, hand, hoop or mesh netting, mussel dredges, shrimp traps, and lobster and yabbie pots. The number of fish allowed by one fisherman is limited, depending on the species and the number of people in the boat. If three or less people fish from a boat, the limit is per person. If there are more than three fishing from a boat, the limit is set at three times. Abalone and rock lobster is set at twice the limit.

• Australian Fishing Zone: This fisheries map depicts the locations of what is being fished and where along the coastline and in nearby waters of Australia.

• The Fisheries Act of 1991: Updated in February 2010, this act covers statutory fishing rights and regulations.

• Tasmanian Inland Fishing Regulations: Find the best inland lakes to fish in Tasmania, with total catch regulations.

• Rules and Regulations: Covers closed waters and seasons, protected fish lists, allowable gear, permit and licencing, and bag limits.

Top Sites for Fishing In Australia

River Murray, Cooper Creek, and the Diamantina River are prime freshwater fishing spots. River Murray is designated a "Waters of the State." Fishing there is controlled by the Fisheries Act 1982, recently superseded by the Fisheries Management Act of 2007. The regulations cover type of fishing gear, total protection and closed seasons for some species as well as size, bag, and boat limits. No fishing is permitted within 150 metres of a lock, carp cage, or weir. Murray cod, callop, catfish, redfin are a few of the 35 species of the River Murray. European carp are also plentiful, but if catching and releasing one of these pests will land fishermen a fine.

Lakes Albert, Alexandrina, George and the Coorong all have special requirements in order to fish. Each person can fish with two rods, two handlines, or one of each as well as up to three attached hooks or up to five hooks threaded together into one hook. Only one mesh, hand or ten hoop nets are allowed. Hauling nets are not allowed for recreational fishermen. The Coorong is an famous wetlands, but due to water flow issues and human misuse, is "all but dead." Even so, such species as brine shrimp, have thrived as predators disappeared. The Australian government and environmental agencies are working hard to make the Coorong once again thrive.

• Recreational Fish: Species list includes standard fish name, its CAAB code, its family and scientific names, any obsolete names, and a photo. This is an excellent resource for searching for fish specific to Australia or to make a commercial species list.

• GPS Databases: Click on the GPS Database link on the left and get fishing coordinates as well as what kind of fish are at those coordinates for the entire continent.

• Hot Fishing Spots: Proven sportfishing spots listed by state.

• Fishing Reports: Detailed fishing report links as well as weather and tidal reports and news about changes in fishing regulations.

• River Murray: Lists some of the major fish species and what gear it takes to catch them.

• The Coorong: Some wrote off this famous wetland paradise, but it is slowly making a comeback with careful fishing regulations and wise ecological use.

Fish Found Down Under

With nearly 300 freshwater fish species occupying the inland waters and over 4500 species of saltwater fish occupying the coastal waters of Australia, finding just the right spot to fish is simply a matter of experience, research, and perspective. Global positioning systems for the technology-minded assist fishermen in scientifically finding the prime fishing spots at the right time. For those not so inclined to use technology, but experience and word of mouth, finding the right spot is more of a social science. Here are four freshwater fish to give you a head start.

Australian Bass are a territorial and predatory sportsfish who love to put up a good fight. They are found in fresh waters along coastal estuarine systems on the east side of the continent and like the saltier waters off Victoria. They love hiding around logs, stumps, reeds, and holes along stream banks. Cicada, freshwater yabbies, and prawn are some of the best bait to catch these fighters. The best fishing times are during hot, sultry, overcast days. Fishing during the day in the middle of a stream will likely net no catch. During midday, you will find them deep, and toward evening, the bass will surface.

Murray Cod are best caught with bardi grub, mussel, or freshwater yabby bait, unless you use a lure or a fly. These sporting fish can require the fisherman to tap into his strength in order to land one of the powerful fish. They live in the inland waters of eastern Australia, preferring deep shade and timber toward the bottom of a lake or river. Fishing is best in quieter waters with casts close to snags, trees, and roots. To avoid tackle loss, use at least a 35kg line.

Redfin or English Perch are abundant along Southern Australia inland water systems such as lakes, dams, billabongs, and slower streams and rivers. Although they can be caught in open water, they prefer snaggy areas and dead trees. They move in small groups or schools. Catching them using a freshwater nymph fly or a fast-action minnow lure is successful as is using bardi grubs, corn, worms, and shrimp as bait. Summer is when redfin will be the most active. Drop anchor and bait deep as close as possible to a dead tree trunk and fishing should be productive.

Golden perch, or callop, like turbid, warm inland water. Be prepared to fight for this fish as it strikes hard and fights hard. Bait hooks with live freshwater yabbies, grasshoppers, worms, minnow, or shrimp and get out early or stay late for the best chances get good bites. Rising water levels after a rain or after the rise has cleared tends to yield the best chance at getting the callop to bite. The fish tend to move upstream during late spring and early summer spawning seasons.

• Grouper: Also known as "groper," some of the species subgroups are endangered. Grouper can grow quite large and swallow, rather than bite and chew its prey.

• Yabby: A yabby is a freshwater crayfish indigenous to Australia, but the term is often used to describe a number of species of crayfish. Some yabby are considered invasive, especially along eastern Australian streams.

• Trochus: Trochus are regulated marine animals, shellfish, that can live 15-20 years in reef areas of Western Australia and Queensland.

• Prawn: Descriptions of the various kind of prawn found in Australia, some of which is used as fish bait.Fish such as whiting, snapper, and bream find prawns irresistible and snap them up as soon as they pass a baited line.

• Abalone: Australia's third most valuable fishery species with a market value of $230 million.

• Barramundi: This giant perch occupies the entire Northern coast of Australia, is not endangered, and responds well to cast or trolled lures.

• Snapper: Photos of snapper and how to fish for snapper at night, inshore, when they feed in schools.

• Silver Perch: Also known as bream, silver perch are a feisty, sweetwater sporting fish with a firm white flesh underrated as table food. Silver Perch (Bream) fishing is prohibited in NSW & Vic rivers & creeks.

• Mussel: Genera taxonomy, distribution, and synonymy of the five Australian mussel classes.

• Pearl Oysters: Most pearls are cultured in fisheries which is a very tedious process. Read about natural and cultured pearls and how oysters create them.

• Trout: Trout aren't indigenous to Australia. The two most common species found are the Brown and the Rainbow Trout.

• Marron: Native to Western Australia and one of the largest crayfish worldwide, marron grow to around 40 centimeters.

• Crabs: Get the fishing basics to this dangerous job.

• Ornamental Fish: A $350 million dollar a year industry that can threaten Australia's aquatic biodiversity.

• Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota: 8-digit coding system for aquatic organisms.