Category Archives: Fishing Reports

Fishing Reports, TAS

Tassie’s tagged $$$$ trout

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

oplus_0

Tasmania’s Great Lake …. home of $25k tagged trout

The Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion for the 2025-26 trout fishing season continues.

A total of 30 tagged trout were released into 13 different waters across the state.

The first of three tagged trout captured from Great Lake wins $25,000! All other tagged trout from Great Lake win $5000.

The tags are yellow and have unique identifying details.

The waters with tagged fish are:

    • Lake Mackintosh
    • Lake Rowallan
    • Lake Burbury
    • Huntsman Lake
    • South Riana Lake
    • Curries River Reservoir
    • Lake Leake
    • Yingina / Great Lake
    • Bradys Lake
    • Arthurs Lake
    • Lake Sorell
    • Craigbourne Lake
    • River Derwent

To win a prize, catch a fish with the correct tag and report the details with photo evidence to the IFS within 72 hours of capture.

Fish caught during the promotion must be kept with tag intact for verification.

The tagged trout promotion is open to all holders of a current freshwater angling licence, or persons aged under 14 who have the permission of their parent or guardian.

Tagged fish from previous promotions prior to 2024, are also not eligible.

For more information, updates on tagged trout captures and the full terms and conditions of the promotion visit: Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion – Inland Fisheries Service 2025-26.

NT

New NT FADs

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

NT Fisheries press release

****

NT Fisheries has deployed four new Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) off the Darwin coastline, around the Fenton Patches and North Gutter.

These FADs are designed to attract pelagic species like mackerel, queenfish, and trevally — giving recreational fishers more chances to hook these prized sports fish while helping reduce pressure on our vulnerable reef fish species.

This deployment is part of a trial to test heavy duty mooring gear through the wet season and see how well the FADs hold up in the Top End’s tough marine conditions.

Two of the devices will also feature sub surface habitats to test if this boosts baitfish numbers and attract more pelagic predators.

NT Fisheries will be monitoring the FADs with GPS trackers, surveying fish abundance, and working closely with the fishing community to evaluate the outcomes. Fisheries would love to hear from anyone who does fish them so drop us a line with your feedback and results to fisheries@nt.gov.au

Coordinates for the new FADs are as follows:
◾ FAD 1 – 12°09.500′S, 130°44.833′E
◾ FAD 2 – 12°08.933′S, 130°44.833′E
◾ FAD 3 – 12°10.300′S, 130°38.500′E
◾ FAD 4 – 12°06.667′S, 130°34.133′E

Fishers must not moor their boats to the FADs, as this can damage the equipment or drag it off its mark. Please follow the rules and etiquette outlined on the NT Fisheries website to keep these devices safe and effective for everyone.

Fishing Reports, TAS

Tasmanian kingfish

Leave a comment

WFS Admin

The recreational kingfish catch across Tasmania
ABOVE: The recreational kingfish catch across Tasmania – data adapted from 2022/23 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Tasmania by UTAS/IMAS.

Though there has been damage to endemic habitat, Tasmanian fishos are seeing some benefits to warming waters.

Catches of yellowtail kingfish, pink snapper and king george whiting are increasing in the island state’s coastal waters.

Perhaps the elusive mulloway will show up in due course?

A steady decline in the recreational catch of endemic species such as sand flathead, black bream and yelloweye mullet and the introduced gamefish trout has also been noted, likely the result of various factors.

For anglers considering chasing “kingies”, peak kingfish action off Tasmania is usually in January/February. They show up at many inshore hotspots, and fall to much the same methods that take Aussie salmon, which are also abundant in Tassie waters.