Sea Trout are a bit of an enigma around the world. Runs of these brown trout, born in a river, migrating to sea, and returning to a river for feeding (or spawning in autumn), are notoriously hard to predict. But like searching for Lasseters mythical reef of gold, the thrill of the chase and the promise of big rewards (sight-fishing to double figure fish if successful), offers more than enough attraction for most of us fly fishers! Timing is all about recent rainfalls (the time between the wet of spring and the dry of summer is when things peak), and the availability of migratory food sources such as whitebait are key to success.

Sea run trout tactics – Craig Vertigan

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.

wynyard jetty flatheadWynyard Jetty Flathead

48cm long sand flathead caught off the end of pontoon at Wynyard yacht club boat ramp. 735 grams was it's weight.

 

Click "Read More" for a full sized picture 

Marine Science Special Podcast

Deep sea climate change, enviro bags, over-fishing
It's a Marine Science Special! Professor Emma Johnson joins Dr Karl and Zan Rowe to help answer your ocean-based science questions.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/drkarl/scienceontriplej/

bream-in-netShould recreational nets be banned?

An opinion piece with Mike Stevens
Many Tasmanian fishermen remember how easy it was to catch a feed of fish back in the day. Parents cherished teaching their children how to fish and took pride in Tasmania’s fisheries. But things have changed, and our fisheries just aren’t what they used to be. Bag limits are tightening and size restrictions are getting stricter. Phasing out recreational gillnets need to be part of this effort to bring our fish back because they simply don’t allow the ‘limit your catch, don’t catch your limit’ approach required to look after our fish stocks in today’s times. 
Fishing favourites Bastard Trumpeter, Blue Warehou and Banded Morwong, are all at historic lows and are vulnerable to gillnetting. Over one third of all fish caught using gillnets is thrown away – wasted. In the case of Banded Morwong and some sharks, around 90% are discarded. These are fish that need to be growing into breeders. 

low-headLow Head Report 14/6/2015

Despite the pretty cold and drab conditions I decided I'd go for a look off Low head yesterday[14/06/2015] for a Gummy and perhaps a few Flatties.I left Kelso ramp at 8.45am when at least it had warmed up a bit to be met by a sea that was devoid of swell and just some small wind waves.I went to a spot I fish fairly regularly and dropped the anchor in 18m of water. Usually I've got some burley but yesterday the freezer was empty.

rotary-devonport-boat-show-2015-bRotary Devonport Boat Show

On Sunday 22 February 2015, Rotary is conducting a spectacular boat show at the TS Mersey Navy Cadet grounds, River Road, East Devonport between 11am and 5.30 pm, with entry via the Rowing Club drive. This has been organised to suit high water in the river to allow demonstration of the new Barcrusher and Stabicraft range of vessels PLUS allowing launch for the first time on the coast a ten-seater hovercraft for joy rides.

Wynyard angler Damien Purton appears on Channel Ten's Fishing Edge

WYNYARD angler Damien Purton has been sharing some of the North-West's best fish. Read at The Advocate

Opening of the Rock Lobster Season

A big weekend coming up. For extra support, Fishcare Volunteers for rock lobster opening weekend on the East Coast.
Volunteers will be at Burns Bay ramp, with a hot cuppa brewing for early starters and answer any questions fishers may have.

 

whitebaitThe 2014 whitebait season opens Wednesday 1 October

The 2014 whitebait season opens Wednesday 1 October and will remain open until Tuesday 11 November.

The rivers open for whitebait fishing are subject to a schedule of annual rotations of open and closed waters. Whitebait fishers will need to ensure that the river they are proposing to fish is open for this season.

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