Tasmanian Fishing: What's biting around the regions

What's biting around the regions © DPIPWE Fishing

Sensational sea fishing action has been reported around Tassie this season.

Kingfish and large Australian salmon have been holding in Great Oyster Bay, one of several locations with a newly deployed fish aggregating device (FAD). Other FAD locations are listed on website. Share your FAD catches with us on social media by tagging @FisheriesTas.

In more exciting news, the first of two new artificial reefs will be deployed next week off Turners Beach near Ulverstone, with snapper a key species expected to be attracted to the reef. Read more here.

Bays and estuaries around the state are proving fruitful for recreational fishers who are catching good numbers of silver trevally and smaller cocky salmon. Conditions also look ideal for a run of garfish this season.

Fishers are catching mackerel on the north, east and south east coasts. Often used as bait, this fish is increasingly popular on the plate, either smoked or done on the barbeque. (Try our Smoked Mackerel Pate recipe.) Mackerel are a schooling fish, so stick carefully to your bag limit of 30.

Squid rings have become a staple dish on many tables this season with plenty of calamari being caught from jetties and off rocks. Although great to see, calamari stocks are under pressure so only take what you need for a feed. Make the most of your catch by using the tentacles as well as the mantle (tube).

Attention game fishers - dust off the lures because southern bluefin tuna (SBT) are back in Bass Strait, (or maybe they never left?). Tuna have been reported between Wynyard and Waterhouse Island and - no surprise - they're also plentiful at Eaglehawk Neck with some large albacore in the mix.

Taking care of your catch is important with all fish, but especially for SBT. For info on how to be a responsible SBT fisher and improve the quality of the fish on your plate, visit the Tuna Champions website and encourage your fellow fishers to do the same.