Presented from Issue 105, August 2013
We did a bit of a runaround Tasmania’s tackle stores to see what their tips for the first month or so of the tackle season were. We asked what the top three places to fish were, plus lures, flies, baits and a few other things.
Here is a rundown on their answers Whenever, and wherever you fish - anywhere, or for any fish in the world - ask the locals and especially ask at the local tackle store. They know what was caught today, yesterday and on what.
Please check all relevant authorities before fishing - www.ifs.tas.gov.au and dpipwe.tas.gov.au . Don't forget issuu.com/stevenspublishing for years of back issues !
Game Fishing Teasers
Teasers are almost a black art when it comes to game fishing. Some anglers are so convinced in their effectiveness that they would rather take bananas on board than leave their favourite "Teaser" at home.Rivers - End of Season Fly-Fishing
Setting the Scene
In Tasmania the rivers are no doubt considered the poorer cousin of the lakes. This perception was likely started by the river fisher's who were quite happy to send their neighbours up to the lakes and keep the world class rivers to themselves! Believe or not the rivers that you have probably been passing on your way to the lakes can offer everything the lakes have - big hatches, polaroiding, tailing, the list goes on.
Poor results in fly fishing are one of those things that has always promoted lateral thinking. It has spurned better rods so longer casts can be made; a plethora of flies running to thousands of different patterns that will surely fool a trout, hundreds of different types of tippet material - including the supposedly invisible fluorocarbon. None of these are a panacea - and all fly fishers know the answer is not always available. Sometimes the fish just aren't eating. Many a lake fisher will tell of those dreaded days when stillness, sun and temperature combine to create horror conditions for fishing. As bad as a day as this might be for anglers - my wife would - for her pursuits as a sun worshipper call it perfect.
I had a lovely Easter Saturday with victorian fly tier, Muz Wilson and his mate Shaun Ash from Queensland at St Helens. Whilst we were fishing for bream on fly it seemed they were few and far between. We did find an occasional bream, but they were spooky and uncooperative. So off we went in search of some silver trevally.
The particular species of garfish that is common to Tasmanian waters, especially during winter, is the Southern sea garfish. It is found in most Southern Australian states both in the open ocean and throughout our estuary systems. They are predominantly a herbivore and feed mainly on varying species of sea grass, algal filaments and small amounts of crustaceans. They spawn in shallow sea grass beds throughout the summer months October to March.Georges Bay becomes a hot spot for big fat XOS sized garfish from April onwards and when a hot garfish bite is on dozens of boats line up to jostle for a position along the main channel leading out to the barway
A slow start to the gamefishing season has received a huge boost with some spectacular catches of 20 - 35 kg southern bluefin tuna off Tasmania's east coast. On Thursday 5th March there were reports of SBT being caught between Yellow Rock and The Thumbs on the Tasman Peninsula and during the St Helens Game Fishing Classic there were 17 SBT landed. Over the same weekend 7-8 March, plenty more were landed off the Tasman Peninsula.
No one knows what will happen to these bluefin that traditionally start a little later in the year, but it is fair to say there will be a lot of effort put into this fishery over the Easter break.
Southern bluefin tuna are a premium fish that are the most highly regarded sashimi by the Japanese. If you are lucky enough to catch one treat it properly to ensure the quality is at its best once back to shore.
Tasmanians love going fishing in the sea and are having a say in changes to the management of the scalefish fiishery planned to come into effect later this year.
University of Tasmania surveys reveal that one in three Tasmanians wets a line in marine waters each year, making it one of the State's most popular activities.
Hadley Deegan, dealer principal at Deegan Marine recently announced the upgrade of their new website.
'This will allow us to keep boaters completely up to date with the latest developments and all the boats we have available.'
'We have a huge range of boats and boaters can sit in the comfort of their home and peruse new and used boats. This is something we have been working on for a long time and it will be a work in progress" Hadley explained. "Our slogan We Take Tasmania Boating is testament to the wide range of boats and services we offer."
Check out www.deeganmarine.com.au
For the Ride of your Life check out the awesome, wave taming, comfort, style and performance of the new Bar Crusher 760HT
The original Emu Squid fly was developed while I was working in Whyalla SA. Most of this work was with the millennium bug project for BHP's computer systems. The real reason was the great fishing in the area. Salmon, King George Whiting, Snapper, Yellowtail Kingfish and many other species - the only reason I took the job in the first place.
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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
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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.
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and an art worth your learning.."
Presented from Issue 112, October 2014
So said Izaak Walton in the 1600s. It seems that Burnie’s Hannah Ledger has combined angling with art rather well. Hannah is a fish fanatic, outdoor enthusiast and budding, self-taught artist. From as young as she can remember, she has always had crayon in hand, colouring book under arm and as she’s grown as a painter, jars full of paintbrushes and cupboards full of ready-to-go blank canvas’.
A country girl at heart, Hannah was schooled at Yolla District High School, a small ‘farm’ school in the states North West, then went on to Hellyer College where she was given the opportunity to really grow her art skills; And by grow, that meant skipping the classes that would probably have more an impact of getting her somewhere in life, like English and Math to spend every spare minute with the art teacher, painting or drawing.
As typical teenagers do, they make poor decisions- and after being accepted in to one of the countries top art schools, turned down the offer and decided to move to the big island, where she lived for 5 years working in what seemed ‘dead end’ retail.
Read more ...