Autumn is such a wonderful time of the year. Cool nights, mostly sunny days and light winds. As I write this I am looking out over Great Lake – there is a slight ripple and some superb slicks gliding about here and there. I will go and look more closely at them after lunch. Hatches of jassids and ants are on the trout’s menu and both of these small insects end up in the slicks that form with the morning breeze.
The trout often go crazy on them.
It was barely daylight, just the faintest tinge of light on the horizon heralding the start of a new day as we motored south from Eaglehawk Neck toward the infamous Hippolyte Rocks, home of our day’s target species – the mighty southern bluefin tuna.
By the time the month of April has arrived, the end of the brown trout season on our rivers is steadily coming to an end. Those magic days of trout rising to a hatch of insects are all but over. To the avid dry fly fisher, this is a reality that is hard to take at the end of every season. For me, it’s time to change tact, just like the trout in a river have to do to survive. As the amount of fly life in the river starts to taper off, more and more trout in the lower Mersey revert back to feeding on the native galaxia (baitfish), just as they do at the start of the season.
In my younger days I guess I never really understood the true significance of smoke flavoured food and smoked products. I ate Bacon and Ham readily without a single thought of how that magical taste was produced, as I grew older smoked onion soup, smoked Trout and Salmon and various other smoked goods found their place upon my plate. All the while I was enjoying the flavours and taste of the products but not really thinking too hard about how it was made.
In this article I will unlock the mysteries surrounding the secret to creating some of the best tasting smoked foods you could possibly achieve in your own backyard and which can often rival some of the best commercially produced products available.
Over Winter I get asked more about garfish than anything else. I know we have monster southern bluefin tuna still hanging around, but the humble little garfish can be a mainstay for anglers.
They are one of Tasmania’s most sought estuarine fish during the cooler months. They are plentiful, great fun to catch and delicious to eat. You don’t need to go zooming around the bay looking for them as they will come to you. Kids love catching them — and so do I.
The cooler months are best, and finds the bigger fish inshore and in many Tasmanian estuaries.
My season was filled with a mixture of highs and lows. I spent some time in the Kimberley and experienced some great fishing there. I thought previously that Cape York probably had the best salt water fishing in Australia, but northwestern Australia also has its fair share.
The highlight was polaroiding a sailfish and seeing the hookup. That is as good as it gets.
My trout season though had its good, bad and ugly side though.
by Daniel Paull - Presented from Issue 92
What is the ultimate shark fishing experience? Is it the action packed moment when you witness a large mako leaping clear of the water, accompanied with a series of sharp twists and turns, or is it just the peaceful relaxation you get while bobbing around on the sea, waiting for that first dorsal fin to break the surface of a well spread burley trail? For me, the very thought of encountering something large, and toothy, is enough to keep me heading out onto the ocean with an esky full of burley.
The Mercury Dealer Sale is now on, and your local participating dealer has an amazing offer to get you on the water sooner. With savings of up to $750 on the 40–75hp Mercury FourStroke outboard range, plus a free stainless steel prop upgrade… and with a Mercury Finance offer of No Deposit and a LOW 3.99% comparison rate… there has never been a better time to power up.Such a good deal on such great engines – engines which will deliver the performance, reliability and efficiency to take your time on the water to a whole new level. Read all the details in this press release.
Biotoxin researchers need help from Tassie fishers who are out there on the water taking and eating rock lobster.
SARDI (South Australian Research & Development Institute) are assessing the risk of eating lobsters during a biotoxin outbreak. A 2015 survey showed that 21% of Western Region fishers eat the liver (or mustard) and only 15% in the Eastern Region. By comparison, in South Australia only 5% consume this part of the lobster.
SARDI are now doing a follow-up survey to learn more including to see if eating habits have changed due to recent biotoxin events.
Please complete the survey which only takes 5 minutes.
4 new colours make their into the 4 inch Gulp! Nemesis range. The clear transluscent finish in Clear Purple Shimmer, Clear Red Black Silver, Clear Green Silver and Clear Lavender Pearl Holo is going to prove deadly on all manner of species.
Combine the fish catching profile of a Jerkshad and the enticing tail action of a grub and you get the Berkley Nemesis. Designed in Australia the Nemesis shape is now available in a 4” size. The tail action of this shape has to be seen to be believed. On the drop or on the wind, the Nemesis tail swims at the slowest of speeds delivering continuous lifelike action. View the PDF here
Handy information and links to fisheries,weather etc
Fishing books
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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.
Please contact me via www.rwtt.com.au/contact-me/ for further information - Stephen Smith.
Recently Atlantic salmon seems to be a very hot topic amongst local anglers, especially those in the south of the state in the D'Entrecasteaux area. Northern anglers should take a close look at the Tamar as there are opportunities here as well.
The recent "great escape" has provided a perfect opportunity for fresh and saltwater anglers alike to experience some truly memorable sport. Tasmania's pristine, clean and cool waters are the perfect nursery for the Atlantic Salmon and as our local fish farms produce more and more fresh quality seafood it is a fact that there are going to be tangible consequences.