Blue Warehou or Snotty Trevally around Tasmania

by Carl Hyland on 3 Apr 2012 A very popular recreational species throughout autumn in Tasmania, these tasty fish have arrived in good numbers and are there for the taking.

Places such as the Tamar estuary in the North of the state are firing as too is the Dunally canal in the South East of the state.

Reputed as being a schooling fish which can grow up to 7kg (but in Tasmania rarely reach that size), these fish are easily caught with the right presentation of bait, berley and sometimes, artificial lures.

Being soft fleshed and having soft mouths, small hooks are required and drag sets should be minimal, but they can also go like freight trains when hooked.

This species is also very popular amongst fishmongers and outlets and can be sold under many names which include Sea Bream, Trevally, Snotty Trevalla, Black Trevally, Tasmanian Trevally, Spotted Warehou, Silver Warehou and Warehou.

In New Zealand it is a popular fish also but it is usually taken by deep sea trawlers which unfortunately have a large by catch.

In Tasmania, it is known as a migratory schooling fish which is caught on reefs, under jetties, wharves and moored boats.

Though once predominantly caught in gillnets, these fish are strong fighters when taken on light gear. The best method of capture is using a small hook with no sinker and allowing baits such as raw chicken meat or fresh shelled prawns to sink until reaching mid-water. They will also take rabbit or bluebait.

To ensure success when targeting ‘snotties’ so named because of the slime that covers their bodies(this is thought to be a protective slime against the stinging cells of jellyfish, which juvenile fish shelter under or adults consume) a good berley is required. Berley can consist of chicken pellets or fish pellets, soaked in fish oil and thrown into the water at intermittent intervals or do as I do and place your mix in a tube, which is weighted and sunk to the bottom, this then has the desired effect of getting your mix to the fish’s location and increases your chance of a hookup.

Another item that should be added to the arsenal of anglers are sabaki rigs. These multi hooked rigs, when sweetened with small pieces of bait, will often give you the edge when it comes to out fishing others or ensuring you take home a feed at the end of the day. You can either make your own or purchase packs from fishing tackle outlets.

Best baits I find are chicken (raw) or rabbit and even small prawns. The prawns tend to go soft and are easily removed by fish, so the other baits will ensure you at least get to get your bait to where it is desired. Small pickers such as toadfish or juvenile leatherjackets can mean you spend a lot of time replacing baits, so good solid ‘chunks’ of bait will sometimes prevent the pickers from making off with the goods.

Hook size is very important and I personally prefer about a no 4 which is plenty small/big enough to ensure a hookup. Tuna circles in this size will also make sure that you only hook fish in the lips mouth and can release unwanted specimens.

Soft plastics can be presented to snotties, but they are very fussy in what they like. I’ve had success with many brands but my all-time favourite is the nuclear chicken worms from Berkley. I have had friends’ present flies to warehou with limited success as weighted line is needed and the fish are particularly destructive of flies.

I might also suggest a hand towel as an accessory, as the goop that comes from these things is incredible and as you will probably know, fish slime can be hard to remove from clothing or the interior of boats.

The fish, once captured, should be bled and placed on ice. This fish tends to have a soft delicate flesh are really are unsuitable for freezing, so eating fresh is really a good option.

So there you have it, a great fish to introduce young or new anglers to, as their fighting capabilities are second to none plus they are fine on the table. Keep an eye on fishing reports in your local papers as most fishing writers will advise when and where blue warehou runs are occurring.