It's on again - Fishing Tasmania with Carl Hyland
by Carl Hyland 29 Jul 2021 11:49 BST
7 August 2021
Will Thorpe with a Huon River Atlantic salmon © Carl Hyland
What is it that makes grown adults behave like kids at Christmas time? Rushing out to buy new fishing gear, getting new boats or their old ones updated, plus having the latest and greatest lures in their tackle box.
In Tasmania, it's a sign that the new trout season is about to begin. Last year, we had the dreaded virus upon our shore and god willing, this year it won't be about in the Island state.
This year, the Inland Fisheries Service have added a real shot in the arm to Freshwater angling with the announcement that there are 50 tagged trout that have been released into some Inland waterways and they are worth $2000 each. Fish must be presented to the Inland Fisheries Service with tag and fish intact, it can't be gutted. With that being said, I'm sure many will do their utmost to try and get one of those tagged fish on the bank and it will certainly make fishing in inclement weather worth the effort if it comes to fruition.
Waters stocked with tagged trout are; Arthurs Lake,Briseis Mine Hole, Bronte Lagoon, Craigbourn Dam, Curries River Reservoir, Huntsman Lake, Lake Burbury, Lake Leake, Lake Macintosh, Lake Parangana, Lake Peddar, Lake Rosebery, Lake Rowallen, River Derwent, Great Lake. The season opens on August 7th 2021.
Many waters have been stocked with spawned brown trout, mainly from the Great Lake plus Lake King William and Arthurs Lakes. Waters have had supplementary stocking with rainbow trout.
See stocking here
Record rainfall is happening as I write this, so rivers, and smaller streams will get a good top up and will mean that flood waters will be dirty and rushing, but to grass roots anglers it means full bags usually from worm feeders.
The saltwater scene is not to be forgotten with barrel tuna still being caught along the East and South East Coasts of the state. Recently, Andrew Hart and Nick Duigan of Hook, Line and Sinker fame had a great capture in the form of a 142kg Bluefin. The capture of this fish is apparently going to air in Mid-September.
More info on what's biting where can be found on the Fishtas.com's Facebook page of on the Fishtas forum.