Fishing in Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park occupies a vast sweep of Tasmania's remote southwest, sitting within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The park is defined by water — tannin-stained rivers running through deep gorges, glacially carved lakes, and a landscape where rainfall is measured in metres.

The fishing here is inseparable from the wilderness itself: access is difficult, conditions are demanding, and the experience is shaped as much by the country as by what's in the water.

The Franklin River is the park's most iconic waterway, but it is known more for its wild character and the wilderness experience of running it than for high-volume angling.

A multi-day rafting expedition — typically seven to ten days — is the primary way to travel the river. The remote nature of the Franklin means anyone planning to fish it needs to be prepared for a serious backcountry undertaking.

The Gordon River drains a massive catchment through the park's southern reaches, accessible by commercial cruise from Strahan on Macquarie Harbour.

Lake Gordon, one of the largest water bodies in the park, sits behind the Gordon Dam and represents a very different style of fishing compared to the river systems — deep, cold, and expansive.

Entry to the park requires a valid Tasmanian national parks pass, issued by Parks Tasmania. Check directly with Parks Tasmania for current fishing regulations before you go — rules can vary by water and conditions change.

This is not a park you visit for easy access or reliable numbers. You come because the water is genuinely wild, the country around it has been left alone, and that combination is increasingly rare.