Tasmania This Month

by Carl Hyland on 18 Mar 2013 What a sensational month it has been in Tasmania for fishing. Anglers game fishing, those who chase trout and just mum and dad anglers, all are reporting of an exceptional year thus far.

It doesn’t look like ending yet with some great captures still occurring around the coastline with marlin, mahi,mahi, yellowfin tuna and yellowtail kingfish all taking advantage of massive bait balls of redfish and mackerel and coming close inshore. Hot spots seem to be along the East coast of Tassie with warm water reaching a top of 22C recently. Off St Helens there has been many good fish landed and of course striped marlin action has been incredible.

Mako shark activity is on the increase with quite a few being taken and released off Low Head and around the Port Sorell area. Notable was the tagging of 3 specimens in a recent competition and the subsequent satellite tracking of those 3 sharks. I will keep you up to date with the tracking results, as it is very interesting to see where the fish are moving to and if they are following bait schools of squid or mackerel.

Captures of many species has been occurring at Eaglehawk Neck in the state’s south with albacore up to 30kg being taken and already, school Bluefin have been captured but a long way offshore.

Bread and butter species such as King flathead are being caught in surf zones and in deep-water offshore. Good baits are octopus and squid tentacles plus the many imitations in soft plastics.

Flathead would have to be one of the most prized captures and most targeted fish by recreational anglers in Tassie and judging by the pictures I receive, a lot are successful in their taking of this species as well.

Until next time, take care on the water.