Tasmanian Fishing Report Christmas 2023
Joe Mangan with an early season Tassie kingfish
Summer Fishing Is here
The fishing has been absolutely sensational over the last week. This festive holiday should see some of the best fishing around. With a marine heat wave in effect Kingfish, Tuna, Snapper, King George Whiting and a few other species all turning up at the same time. Spot On The Fishing Connection would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Spot On the Fishing Connection Christmas Opening times:
Sunday 24th December open 10am till 3pm
Closed: Christmas Day Monday 25th and Boxing Day Tuesday 26th
Wednesday 27th – Friday the 29th Open 9am till 5pm
Saturday 30th 9am till 3pm
Monday 1st January Closed
Fishing Report
Saltwater
Snapper
Are being caught in good numbers throughout storm bay with reports of people starting to stumble across them on the east coast as well. Fresh bait and Hayabusa snapper rigs are still the go too method with a few people also doing well fishing Berkely gulp plastics up a berley trail.
Tuna
Are a bit quite on the east coast with the odd small bluefin been seen on the shelf but not much else. Pedra and down south is firing though with large school of bluefin in he 70-100kg bracket been seen and hooked. Zacatak Smoka, Meridian Pacifica and Halco electric storm all performing well down there.
Squid
Lots of small squid throughout the channel area with bigger models being caught up the east coast. A few arrow squid have started showing up out of Marion Bay as well.
Australian Salmon
The salmon are the best they have been in years with plentiful numbers in most waterways at the moment. Good sized fish up to 3kg are being caught, these are fantastic fun on light gear.
King Flathead
Kingys have been fishing well lately down the bottom and top of maria, fresh bait like bluebait or strips of Australian salmon are working very well.
Bream
Wide spread and easily accessed the fishing for bream has been very good. Derwent and Huon estuaries have been firing lately as well as a few of the east coast lagoons. Shallow baitfish patterns on the flats at high tide are highly effective while small vibes like TN35 are working well around structure when the flats start to quieten down.
Kingfish
The Kings have shown up in force with lots of areas firing. Big kings caught around Dover and Port Arthur have got people excited while lots of smaller models have been showing up in north west bay and the Derwent area. George’s bay is also teeming with kings in a multitude of sizes as is the tamar river. The always reliable sluggos have been catching well as well as bait junkies and Sawarash minnows.
Blue Eye
The shelf has been alive the last couple of weeks for those able to find a nice weather window with lots of tasty bottom fish being caught. Most noticeably though is an influx of good-sized Blue Eye being caught. Fresh octopus has been a very popular bait lately.
Gummy Shark
Some really good-sized gummies are being caught in storm bay at the moment. A running sinker rig and some good burley is key to success.
Makos
Makos have started to show up in good number a long the shelf with many people reporting them coming up to check out their boats while bottom fishing.
Freshwater
Little Pine
Fish are starting to look up with people starting to get some good numbers of fish on mayfly patterns. Fish are also still tailing and feeding on the edge’s early morning and late evening.
Great Lake
Is one of the standouts at the moment with large numbers of fishing being caught by both lure and fly anglers. Early morning midge feeders have been fantastic for fly anglers on calm days.
Westerns
Have been very challenging with hatches not really starting yet in most places. Cruising fish have still been willing to take a well-presented dry fly like a sedge hog or yum yum though.
Woods Lake
Is still fishing well for both lure and fly anglers. Levels are low and water is discolored so trolling/spinning shallow minnows is working well while fly anglers have been having good success floating around caddis and mayfly imitations on the shallow edges and letting cruising fish find them.
Penstock
Continues to get some good hatches but fish have been hard to fool and action is starting to get patchy. Shaving brushes and small black spinners are working well.
Arthurs Lake
Big numbers of fish coming from the top end of arthurs still with all methods working well. Fish are in excellent condition and are very aggressive towards moving flies/lures.
Please don’t forget to send in your pictures so we can share your fantastic catches to info@spotonfishinghobart.com.au
Recent Photos
The bream above were caught by polaroiding big schools tailing and cruising, throughout the in the Little Swamport River. All the fish were 25-35cm in the school, tossing small hard body minnows worked a treat. In the picture is Angus and Bella
Penstock sunset
