Fishing Report 04/01/2021
Welcome back everyone and happy new year, thanks for being patient with us over the Christmas break and first part of the 2021.
Its time to report on some prime Christmas and January captures.
Saltwater
Let’s kick it off by saying Southern Bluefin tuna were in peninsula waters over the Christmas break and seemed to be in reasonable numbers although the size was somewhat small at around 6 - 8kg.
SBT continue to show up on around eaglehawk neck and Tasman Island size is still a bit patchy but larger 15- 25kg fish have been encountered.
Bluefin down south around Mewstone and Pedra have been in the much larger size bracket with fish being caught in the 100kg+ range with a monster fish weighed at 145kg caught this week.
Albacore tuna have been with us for nearly 2 months now. These fish did make it in to the 100m line off Eaglehawk Neck but have since departed and the odd fish is now being taken close to or along the edge of the shelf.
The same thing happened last year when the temperatures rose above 18 degrees. Rumour had some larger specimens in and around the Hippolyte Rocks in recent days. Fish are ranging from 4kg to 21kg.
Striped tuna have been encountered by those out wide late last week.
Im tipping Yellowfin tuna within weeks as temperatures have risen to over 18 degrees inshore.
As temperatures nudge 19 degrees in recent weeks an influx of Yellowtail Kingfish has been seen from the NW coast to coastal towns as far south as Dover in the SE. Northwest Bay has been fishing really well early ... recent years have seen this Bay fish well first up and then go quiet as the day progresses.
This seems to be the magical temperature for these fish, Coles Bay has been a long-standing hot spot on the E coast, and seems to be this year as well with fish in and around the moorings in the past week. Anglers doing very well at times.
Sand flathead continue to bite well with size seeming to be up a tad recently – while Tiger or King Flathead have tapered off a little in recent weeks from the hot bite we experienced in spring and early summer.
Barracouta have made a nuisance of themselves along the entirety of the E coast in recent weeks nipping off many paternoster rigs intended for flathead. Size is reasonable with some fish around 500mm.
Striped Trumpeter have been ticking along nicely mainly in the far south around The Friars and Pedra Blanca. Fresh squid baits working the best.
A Luderick has been caught close to Hobart over the weekend.
Arrow squid have appeared in most areas even as close to the CBD as the Derwent Estuary itself. Further abroad healthy captures are being made wide in Storm Bay, Fortescue Bay , Eaglehawk Neck and Marion Bays.
Mako sharks have been extremely active with larger specimens of around 250kg being taken recently. Smaller sharks in the 80 to 110kg range are keeping anglers entertained as well. Bicheno to Port Arthur being hot coastline.
Calamari have tapered off a fraction as water temps hold in the high teens ... these fish will be found further to the south or seeking depth and cooler water.
Australian Salmon for the moment are still rather light on but occasional schools of fish to 1.5kg are being encountered, especially by those chasing kingfish.
Anglers have enjoyed a healthy run of sand whiting in Storm and Lewisham Bays.
Rock Lobster are still potting well in most areas which is a tad unusual for this time of the year size seems to be up this season as well.
Freshwater
The highlands have been a bit patchy with lure fishers seemingly to do better than those using the fly. Without sugar coating things dry fly fishing has been tough with many fly fishers reverting back to the wets they were using in spring in order to tempt a trout or two.
In the highlands we have Great Lake producing good browns and rainbows to spin and troll fishers. Fly fishing has been a little tough due to the constant easterly weather patterns we have been having.
Atlantic Salmon to 4kg continue to be captured high in our river and creek systems in the south.
Penstock Lagoon has faltered somewhat with many anglers becoming frustrated with the dry and reverting back to the wet in order to entice a fish.
Lure fishers are doing extremely well at Bronte Lagoon drift spinning in amongst the weed while trollers have found it very frustrating to keep lures from fouling up, but rewards are there. Fly fishers are bucking the general trend are faring well on this water too.
For better dry fly action consider some of our local streams in particular places like the Tyenna and Styx.
Good luck over the coming long weekend... the weather is looking a bit average in some places but there is a lot happening at the moment around our coastlines for those that can make it out.
