by Sarah Graham
Many anglers are preparing for the opening of the new angling season on Saturday 7 August and it's shaping up to be another good one with the fishery in excellent health as a result of last year’s drought breaking rains. There are many great fishing locations around the State from which to choose for the opening weekend and early season fishing but here are a few suggestions.
In June, Sarah Courtney, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, launched the Tasmanian Inland Recreational Fishery Management Plan 2018-28.
The Plan will guide the management of the recreational trout fishery in Tasmania for the next 10 years. It aims to provide a sustainable, vibrant and healthy fishery.
After extensive public consultation, the Plan provides better opportunities for anglers, assesses fishery performance and conserves fish stocks as a recreational resource for future generations.
The plan outlines measures to increase participation locally and from tourism markets. It balances the needs for individual fishery management while standardising regulations.
It supports the actions to grow and develop recreational fishing in Tasmania. These include a freeze on trout fishing licences, improved access for anglers and better facilities that encourage female participation and angling tourism.
Our inland fisheries are amongst the best trout fisheries available in the world.
Over the first couple of weeks of this season, we have become aware that some anglers are not following size and bag limits. Of particular concern is
The Inland Fishing Code, supplied each year with your licence, is a great pocket reference to keep in your tackle box. The regulations are readily available on our website, the InFish App and on signage at major angling waters around the state.
Read more: Inland Fisheries Service Report to Anglers 2018 - Know the bag and size limits
The north coast spawning closure for calamari and squid comes into effect from next Monday 1st October until 31st October for waters from Cape Grim east to Cape Naturaliste.
Commercially purchased squid bait can be used but you cannot possess a squid jig attached to a fishing line in the closed area.
Temporary signage has been placed at fishing spots and boat ramps. Read more about the closure.
Over the weekend of 4 and 5 August, the 2018-19 angling season took off with a bang! Thousands of anglers around the state tried their luck with some fantastic fish caught. Our Officers were out with five teams patrolling 46 waters right across the state. We inspected 699 angling licences, 546 brown trout and 195 rainbow trout.
Read more: Inland Fisheries Service Report to Anglers 2018 - The 2018-19 trout season begins
Please find attached here the 2018 Tasmanian Carp Management Program Annual Report.
Click on the map for a larger view |
Recreational rock lobster season opening dates are now confirmed:
All waters outside the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone (ECSRZ) - open from Saturday, 3 November 2018
East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone - open from Saturday, 8 December 2018
The need to rebuild stocks of rock lobster on the East Coast has led to the decision to delay the opening date for the recreational season in the ECSRZ. Other areas in the Eastern Region will now open at the same time as the Western Region.
There are no changes to recreational catch limits.
The commercial rock lobster season has also been delayed, opening on 15 November in all waters outside the ECSRZ and on 11 December in the ECSRZ.
Join in discussions on local recreational fishing issues and hear presentations from IMAS researchers and DPIPWE fishery managers.
The recreational rock lobster season in the Western Region closes from Friday 31 August at midnight.
The striped trumpeter fishery closes for a two month period from this Saturday, 1 September to 31 October inclusive for recreational and commercial fishers. The closure protects fish during the spawning season.
If you have bought or renewed a full season licence, you probably don’t have your card yet.
There has been a delay with this season cards. We hope the first ones will arrive in letterboxes next week.
You can still enjoy fishing this weekend. If you have a receipt, take a copy with you. This might be a photo on your phone or the email itself. This makes things a bit easier for our officers. If you don’t have a receipt, but you know you have a licence, don’t worry. Our officers can check the licence database so long as they have phone reception. If there is no reception, they will ask for some information and check later.
There have been some regulation changes for this season. Make sure download the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2018-19 from our website and update your InFish app. This way you will have the latest rules.
You can buy or renew a licence online at any time from www.ifs.tas.gov.au
Each year, recreational fishers report catching sand flathead that have areas of blackened flesh, a phenomenon known as melanisation.
IMAS researchers are conducting a survey to gain a greater understanding of:
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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.
Scott McDonald
The first Atlantic salmon eggs used to begin Tasmania's Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry were introduced into Tasmania in 1984. From these humble beginnings a valuable Tasmanian industry has evolved with a worldwide reputation for having a premium disease free product. This industry provides a spin off to all anglers in the form of regular escapes of salmon from the farms.