Coastal Catches 15/09/2011

The rumour that I mentioned last week turned out to be true and if you checked the IFS website on Friday you would have seen that Lake Barrington and Brushy Lagoon were stocked with 1000 3kg Rainbow Trout in each water. There are plenty still happily swimming around waiting to be caught so it is well worth the effort to head out and try to catch one.

Brighter coloured lures with pink and orange colours worked well last weekend. Try Squidgy Killer Tomato, Nilsmaster invincible 97, Rapala Rainbow Trout and Tassie Devil 96

There are a few fish starting to chase bait in the estuaries and a number of good fish have already been landed. Look for Trout smashing through bait schools or bait scattering. This is a sure sign that they are being chased. Also look for obstructions in the river such as rocks, logs or a point in the bank that bait have to swim around. These are good ambush locations and a lure, fly or bait worked past it can bring good results.

Great Lake continues to fish very well and Arthurs is also producing some good fish. Soft Plastics such as the Black and Gold T Tail, Yep Black and Gold and Squidgy Garry Glitter have all taken fish. Berkley Gulp Jigging Grubs and Minnow grubs in pumpkinseed are another go to lure.
The whitebait season opens in two weeks and here is some information from the IFS website. Licences are available from Service Tasmania and Selected Tackle Shops.
A licence is required to take whitebait and the cost is $28. The season starts on the Saturday 1 October and lasts for 6 weeks, closing on Friday 11 November. The new season will open with the daily catch limit increased from 1 kg per day to 2 kg per day. The overall season possession limit remains unchanged at 10 kg.
The rivers open for fishing this season are the Little Forester River, Brid River, Tamar River, Derwent River, Huon River, Rubicon River, Don River, Forth River, Leven River, Black River, Duck River, Pieman River and Henty River.
Fishing is prohibited 50 m below and 50 m above water gauging weirs on the Rubicon and Duck rivers.  Fishing in the vicinity of the Forth River Weir is now permitted following modifications to the weir which has facilitated the passage of whitebait.
The fishing regulations pertaining to whitebait fishing equipment remain unchanged.
The Tasmanian Trout Expo is on again this year at Cressy. The Dates are 24th and 25th Sept. 8am to 4pm. Entry is $10 per day or $15 for the weekend and kids under 16 $5 per day and $8 for the weekend. Toby the tagged Trout is worth a cool $10,000 if you have entered the competition and you are lucky enough to catch him. More information is available at http://www.tasmaniantroutexpo.com.au/  
Tight lines till next week

Gadget of the week.

Warmisham hand poured soft plastic grubs. These are made in Launceston and are one of the most realistic looking and feeling grubs that we have seen. Check them out at Tassie Tackle and Outdoor.

Photos:

Nathan Scatchard with a great fish from the Arthur River. It was released back into the water unharmed ready to be caught again.


Jordan Hancock proudly showing off his Atlantic Salmon from Macquarie Harbour

 


Kevin Burt with a nice Brown Trout that he caught at Meander