Sea-run trout fishing this year got off to a cracking start in most areas, with the majority of anglers employing nearly every trout fishing technique to secure fish in local estuaries statewide.
Even those anglers fishing the "off-season" lower down in our estuaries for sea-trout commented on the number of fish moving in early August.
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.
Having enjoyed early starts to the past few game seasons this season was looking ominously like it wasn’t going to shape up all that well.
Over the past two or three seasons we have had fish as early as the last weekend in November and certainly here in numbers by the end of December, however over the past two weeks fish have been reported in reasonable numbers down the entire East Coast and appear to be getting thicker by the day and also, starting to move in closer to shore where the smaller boats can get at them – time to pull the lures out at last.
The Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is the most streamlined, spindle shaped member of the Mackerel Shark family. Along with its distinctive long and conical snout and triangular dorsal fin, this species has short pectoral fins and a crescent shaped caudal fin. Their slender teeth, which curve inward and have no cusps at their bases or serrations along their edges, are easily separate from Great White, Blue, Thresher and Porbeagle Sharks. There is evident countershading on this particular species of shark; dorsally, they are a metallic blue colour whilst ventrally, they are a snowy white. These sharks are pelagic, solitary and fast swimming and have been known to travel vast distances of water in search of breeding grounds and prey. One individual shark is known to have travelled 1322 miles in 37 days with an average of 36 miles per day.
Shortfin Mako Sharks thrive offshore in both tropical and temperate waters, from the surface down to depths of over 150 metre. These sharks are potentially dangerous and have attacked people on some occasions, most of which have occurred when a shark has jumped and landed in a boat after it has been hooked by recreational game fishing anglers. Whilst breeding, litters of 4 to 16 pups are common. Older embryos eat some of the eggs while still in the uterus. Female Mako Sharks usually reach sexual maturity once they attain a length of over 3 metre s. It is believed that large female specimens may rest for up to 18 months before the next batch of eggs are fertilized by a sexually mature male.
Overfishing of the Shortfin Mako Shark, mostly in the northern hemisphere, has seen it listed on the world’s endangered list, making this species more vulnerable than ever before.
Still some nice nice bluefin on the East Coast at St Helens.
Mike Stevens
The Spot On Shimano Light Line Game Fishing Contest 2015
This month sees the Tuna Club of Tasmania hosting their Premier light line game fishing contest in the picturesque waters surrounding the Tasman Peninsula in South East Tasmania. This Tasmanian Game Fishing Association (TGFA) sanctioned event will see Game Fishing Association (GFAA) affiliated club members from all around Tasmania testing there angling skills in the waters off Pirates Bay and Eagle Hawk Neck on Saturday the 21st of February 2015.
Read more: Tuna Club of Tasmania Light Line Fishing Event 2015
Mersey Yacht Club
Wednesday 26th November from 6.30pm
Great lucky door prizes
The Game Fishing Club of Northern Tasmania would like invite you to our very first information night of the year.
We are hosting this event for our members and members of the public who are interested in learning a few tips on Mako shark fishing, sounder and GPS basics, tag and release techniques, general game fishing information and more.
Striped marlin caught, tagged and released 11 March on Professional Charters boat Saltshaker with Rocky Carosi.
Click Read More for pictures
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Presented from Issue 100
Considering the world class quality of our sea trout fishery, these fish are not sought after by enough anglers. Sea runners live in the salt water and run up our estuaries and rivers from the start of August to the middle of November. At this time of the year, they are here to eat the many species of fish that are either running up the rivers to spawn or are living in and around the estuary systems. Trout, both sea run and resident (Slob Trout) feed heavily on these small fish which darken in colouration as they move further into fresh water reaches.
The majority of these predatory fish are brown trout with rainbows making up a very small percentage of the catch. They can be found all around the state but it would be fair to say that the east coast is the least prolific of all the areas. They still run up such rivers as the Georges (and many others) but their numbers along with the quality of the fishing elsewhere make it difficult to recommend the area above the larger northern, southern and western rivers.
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