During the trout off-season I tend to spend a bit of time chasing bream, to continue getting a fishing fix, and spend time tying flies and dreaming about the trout season to come. It’s a time to spend doing tackle maintenance, stocking up on lures and dreaming up new challenges and goals for the trout season ahead. When the new season comes around I usually spend the first few months targeting sea runners. Sea run trout are simply brown trout that spend much of there lives out to sea and come in to the estuaries for spawning and to feed on whitebait and the other small endemic fishes that spawn in late winter through spring. Mixed in with the silvery sea runners you can also expect to catch resident fish that have the typical dark colours of a normal brown trout as well as atlantic salmon in some of our estuaries that are located near salmon farm pens. Living in Hobart it is quick and easy to do a trip on the Huon or Derwent and is a more comfortable proposition compared to a trip up to the highlands with snow and freezing winds to contend with.
The 2014 recreational scallop season opens from this Saturday, 12 April and runs until July 31. The D'Entrecasteaux Channel remains closed to protect scallop stocks, so you cannot take or possess scallops in this area or transit through it with scallops on board your boat. Reports last year indicated that scallop divers were most active on the East Coast from Coles Bay to Marion Bay.
A reminder to fishers that you are not allowed to take or target shark, skates or rays in Shark Refuge Areas. Fishing gear restrictions apply for set lines and gillnets in these sheltered habitats so sharks, skates and rays can breed and raise their young. The following areas are Shark Refuge Areas: Blackman Bay, Derwent Area, Frederick Henry Bay, Norfolk Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Georges Bay, Great Oyster Bay, East Coast Waters, Mercury Passage, Port Sorell and the Tamar River. Seemaps of these areas and the rules that apply.
Visit us at AgFest
The Recreational Fisheries Team and Fishcare Volunteers will be at AgFest from 1-3 May so drop in and say hello. Among the attractions are:
Kid's fishing pool
Fishcare display trailer
Filleting display - flathead and other species
Fish de-hooking and handling demonstrations
Live rock lobster
Fishing advice, guides and brochures
See you at Site M64 on Main Street.
Female Rock Lobster Season Closes
The recreational season for female rock lobster finishes at the end of April in time for the breeding season. Male rock lobster can still be taken until 31 August, but all female rock lobster should be carefully returned to the water in the area they were caught.
Female rock lobster can be distinguished from males by the large pleopods (red, flap-like structure) under their tails. These are used to hold their eggs and they also have a small nipper claw on their rear legs. Male rock lobster have much smaller pleopods and no nipper claw on their rear legs.
More information?
download the Tas Fish Guide phone app or pick up a copy of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide;
call the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on 1300 720 647;
Click above for current issue content. The current issue of TFBN is extensive and topical. In Tackle Stores, Newsagents and by subscription. Delivered to your door for $48 for 2 years (8 issues). To subscribe, send Mike $48 via www.paypal.com.au . (Basic instructions are here) The email is at Contact Us. Your address will be included from PayPal. Or phone Mike with your c/c handy on 0418129949 Please ensure your details are correct, for Mike to organise delivery.
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Why not submit an article ?
When you have finished for the day, why not have a brag about the ones that didn't get away! Send Mike an article on your fishing (Click here for contact details), and we'll get it published here. Have fun fishing - tasfish.com
Category Descriptions
Here is a list of all of the ArticleCategories. The number in Brackets, eg (13) is the number of articles. Click on Derwent River and all articles relating to the Derwent will be displayed in the central area.
Hello everyone, I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself. My name is Stephen Smith and I have been managing the website tasfish.com since May 2009. It has been an epic journey of learning and discovery and I am indebted to Mike Stevens for his help, support and patience. I am developing a new venture Rubicon Web and Technology Training ( www.rwtt.com.au ). The focus is two part, to develop websites for individuals and small business and to train people to effectively use technology in their everyday lives.
Sea-run trout fishing this year got off to a cracking start in most areas, with the majority of anglers employing nearly every trout fishing technique to secure fish in local estuaries statewide. Even those anglers fishing the "off-season" lower down in our estuaries for sea-trout commented on the number of fish moving in early August.