Highest-ever winter water temperatures recorded off East Coast

by Craig Macaulay
Tasmania’s east coast is recording its highest-ever winter water temperatures of more than 13ºC  – up to 1.5ºC above normal – due to a strengthening of an ocean current originating north of Australia.
Satellites have given oceanographers an insight into a remarkable phenomenon – a significant extension of the Leeuwin Current curling around the southern tip of Tasmania and reaching as far north as St Helens.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 05 July 2010

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East Coast lagoons backyard secrets

Jamie Henderson looks at his backyard lagoons around St Helens at some fantastic fisheries that are all but deserted at this time of the year. Access is easy, a boat is not essential and accommodation is bargain priced. Why not take a break in Tassie and enjoy the fishing.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 08 September 2009

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Hot spot - North-east coast

Tasmania's north-east is one of the premium locations around the state. The real bonus for many are the shore-based opportunities. This combined with good camping creates an area that is treasured by many.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 17 July 2009

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East Coast Winter Fishing Fun

By Patrick Sullivan

It would be untrue to say the winter in Tassie isn't cold because it is!!! But given that you dress accordingly it is possible to stay warm, catch a few fish and more importantly have fun doing it. Many people see winter as a time to stay home and rug up. While those that do make the effort to get out there and have a fish are often rewarded with more than just a few fish.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 19 June 2009

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The East Australian Current

The East Australian Current is the largest ocean current close to the coasts of Australia, generating and enriching life on the driest continent. With its source in the tropical Coral Sea, north-east of Queensland, the East Australian Current (EAC) moves a substantial volume of low-nutrient tropical water south down the Australian coastline towards the temperate regions, with ocean eddies peeling off into the Tasman Sea on the way.
Few Australians realise the EAC is especially relevant to their lifestyle and livelihood - renewing fish stocks and aiding fisheries sustainability; dispersing effluent and marine pollution from coastal cities and renewing water quality; providing a "comfortable" water temperature for beachgoers, swimmers and surfers; and for assisting yachts sailing south in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 11 June 2009

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The White-breasted sea eagle in Tasmania

The edges of Macquarie Harbour, Freycinet Peninsula and Maria Island National Park are typical habitats for one of Tasmania's most spectacular birds - the white-breasted sea eagle - a bird of prey with a wing span sometimes exceeding 2 m and a weight of up to 4.5 kg.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 19 November 2008

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Black bream fishing East Coast style

Luck, persistence and live bait

With Michael Morse

Arrangements were finalised with Jack to fish the Scamander River for bream. Jack is known in the region as Zane Grey, for reading Westerns and for his exceptional recreational fisherman skills.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 30 September 2008

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Ansons Bay

The secrets revealed - local Ansons Bay angler Bert Blackwell takes a look at what is available in his favourite place.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 30 September 2008

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East coast - productive fishing over winter and spring

by Michael Bok

Recently I had the chance to enjoy a days reef fishing with Rocky Carosi aboard Adosinda 11. I am a fisherman who will jump at any chance to fish with professional guides, as I am a firm believer that a days fishing with a good guide can teach you more than you can learn in ages by yourself.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 22 September 2008

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Great Oyster Bay and Freycinet Peninsula

Best time to fish; All year

Getting there; 2 1/2 hours from Hobart, 2 hours+ from Launceston.

Major angling species; Rock lobster, flathead, couta and striped trumpeter, albacore, southern bluefin tuna, Australian Salmon, bream.

Other attractions; Swimming, surfing, sight seeing, National Parks - Douglas, Apsley and Freycinet, wineries.

The mid-east coast of Tasmania boasts some tremendous fishing with St Helens, at the northern end of the east coast and Tasman Peninsula at the southern end rated as Tasmania's premium game fishing areas.

The 15 kilometre run from Coles Bay at the northern end of Freycinet Peninsula out to open water - through Schouten Passage is probably the reason more game fishing is not undertaken here. Most game fishing is undertaken by holiday home owners in the area. Coles Bay is a superb protected bay with many holiday homes.

Flathead are the prime target in Great Oyster Bay as are seasonal squid. Large wrasse are also easily caught, but rarely kept as food. Whiting are targeted by a few anglers, but these seem to be in isolated pockets.

Shore and boat fishing is popular in the Swan River, just north of Swansea - especially for bream. One kilogram specimens are common and 2 kg fish regularly taken. There are several easily reached access points on the Swan River - mostly along the Dolphin Sands road. Crabs, prawns, pretty fish and nippers all make good bait. The Swan River also has good fishing in the lower reaches for large garfish and leatherjacket. While a boat can be useful here it is not essential for success.

On the southern side of Dolphin Sands is Great Oyster Bay. Nine Mile Beach and the many other beaches and rocky outcrops that flank the northern and western sides of Great Oyster Bay are great and popular fisheries.

While boat owners can access more water, the flat, mostly featureless sandy bottom of Great Oyster Bay yields little more than those outlined earlier. Most boat anglers drift for flathead with baits. Recently some anglers also successfully use large, bibbed lures in the more shallow areas with great results.

Anglers without a boat need not despair as fishing from many access points beside the main highway, on the western side of Great Oyster Bay, is often just as productive as from a boat in the more open waters.

The main pier at both Swansea and Coles Bay often has good congregations of squid that can be caught by anglers with jigs especially at evening. Schools of small Australian salmon and long fin pike are also common off these jetties as are mackerel.

A day on Great Oyster Bay can reward anglers with schools of dolphins, seals and whales as well as sea eagles and other extraordinary sights of nature.

A run down Great Oyster Bay takes you to Schouten Passage a deep water channel between Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island - a channel that is rich in food, fish and often turbulent currents. Down deep there are big flathead and wrasse with an infrequent striped trumpeter. It is often difficult to fish the bottom through the channel and large sinkers are needed.

Out through "the passage"striped trumpeter and large flathead are more common, yet certainly not prolific. A daily catch of four or five trumpeter is considered good.

Tuna can be caught close to shore. Albacore are more common here, while southern bluefin and sometime yellowfin are caught. Mako and blue shark are also taken. The southern tip and eastern shores of Schouten Island are the most productive.

A charter boat operates from Coles Bay and as well as fishing, offers sight-seeing and dive charters. This is one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of Tasmania. It would be a rare day when you couldn't catch a fish or be held spellbound by the beauty of the area.

Parent Category: Saltwater and Estuary Fishing

Category: East Coast

Published: 18 August 2008

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