In my area surf fishing is what I do most of the time, using cut bait, shrimp and squid. Not many top water species to catch from shore. Most of the species are different than the ones you have in Australia, will try to post some pictures later.
We catch kingfish on boats and many bottom fishes.
We have some good freshwater fishing, tours down south in Patagonia and golden Dorado in the north of our country, far from where I live ( I live 400 km south of Buenos Aires).