Rockhampton undisputed fishing capital thanks to net free zone success
Published on 05 November 2025
Rockhampton has become the undisputed fishing capital of Australia thanks to the success of the Net Free Zone in the Fitzroy River.
The Fitzroy River Net Free Zone (NFZ) was introduced on 1 November 2015 to support recreational fishing and tourism in the region.
Since then, the river has seen an explosion in Barramundi and King Threadfin population and size, adding local fishing tourism jobs, growing visitation and putting Rockhampton on the national stage as the best, most consistent and accessible place to land a trophy Barra or King Threadfin in Australia.
The latest data from InfoFish Australia shows an increase in the number of ‘trophy sized’ barramundi being recaptured in the Fitzroy of over 500 per cent, with the average length of the fish increasing by 16 per cent to 75cm.
This supports data from the recent Barra Bash fishing competition which saw over 100 Barra over 1m caught in a single day.
In addition, the region has seen a significant boost in recreational fishing and fishing tourism with record demand experienced by local fishing charters and significant growth in visitation numbers.
Rockhampton Regional Council has supported the growth and success of recreational fishing and tourism through its Recreational Fishing Development Strategy.
Council through its economic development and tourism arm, Advance Rockhampton, has partnered with the Queensland Government, local industry, operators and community to support fishing the Fitzroy and capitalise on the benefits and opportunities of the Net Free Zones. The success of the Strategy, includes:
- Advocating and securing new fishing and boating infrastructure in the River and Fitzroy Delta
- Implementation of a voluntary code of practice to promote sustainable fishing
- Greater community engagement through the Fishing the Fitzroy social media accounts
Advance Rockhampton also promoted and support recreational fishing in the region through dedicated tourism and destination marketing campaigns.
More information on Fishing the Fitzroy can be found at https://www.explorerockhampton.com.au/Explore/Fishing-the-Fitzroy.
Quotes attributable to Rockhampton Mayor, Tony Williams:
“10 years on and you can see that the Net Free Zones are a proven success in the Fitzroy River.
“We’re seeing bigger fish and in far greater numbers thanks to this initiative. The sheer size of the Barra and King Threadfin you can pull out of the river, leaves little doubt we are the undisputed fishing capital of Australia.
“Where else do you see over 100 Barra over 1m caught in a single day? Where else can you pull a 1.3m Barra out of the river right here in the CBD?
“The Net Free Zones and the programs and initiatives we have put in place through Council and Advance Rockhampton has put Fishing the Fitzroy on the national stage.
“We knew this would be an opportunity and I’m glad to see that we have grasped it with both hands and made it into such a massive success.”
Quotes attributable to Advance Rockhampton Economic Development Manager, Wade Clark:
“Recreational fishing in Rockhampton has come a long way over the last decade, driven by the efforts of Advance Rockhampton and the Recreational Fishing Development Strategy.
“The construction of new boat ramps in The Common and Port Alma, combined with land-based fishing platforms, makes fishing easy and accessible for everyone.
“We’ve got some big plans in the pipeline for 2026 to grow our recreational fishing industry even further, and drive visitation and spending which benefits everyone.”
Quotes attributable to Advance Rockhampton Tourism Manager, Lauren Law:
“We’ve seen a real increase in fishing tourism and visitation over the last decade.
“Through our dedicated tourism and destination marketing we’ve sought to capitalise on the opportunities the net free zones have brought.
“What we are seeing is more people on the water, more people planning holidays and visits to the region and increased economic activity for our local fishing charters, hotels and hospitality industry.”
ENDS