WFS Admin

There have been anecdotal reports of a downturn in the Tasmanian river whitebait runs. Here’s an old newspaper clipping that demonstrates how things once were …

From The Mercury newspaper, Wed, Nov 5, 1941 …

“Shoals of whitebait, which are in abundance In the Huon River, are providing an industry at Huonville, where more than four tons, of a value of about £140, have been landed within the past few days. There is a ready market in Hobart, where the fish are canned. Huonville enthusiasts, equipped with nets and dinghies, rake the river methodically. The best catches were obtained on Monday, when more than three tons was lifted. Beginning at 5am and working until dusk, two men filled 40 apple cases, for which they were paid £39. Although the fish were scooped from the surface when they first appeared, they now frequent the bottom. The upriver run to shallow water for spawning should continue for some weeks.”

How are the whitebait runs this year?

WFS Admin

Tasmanian fishing news briefs for 2025 … 

1. Dry Weather 

Tasmania has been hit by ongoing dry weather with a six-month anomaly to July 2025 on the once notoriously wet West Coast of more than -500mm in some areas. The lack of rain affects the trout fishery. Recreational fishers have also complained on social media of huge numbers of cormorants, which predate on trout. Cormorant numbers are cyclical, reaching plague proportions some years. Fishos have called for a cull of the birds, which are currently protected.

3. Iconic Bigeye Tuna Catch

Teenager Jet Worsteling landed an 85kg bigeye tuna off east coast hotspot St Helens, believed to be a state record.

3. Better Fishing Grants Roll Out

January saw Round 5 of the Better Fishing Grants program opened, offered cash for infrastructure and community programs supporting shore-based sea fishing. Projects included Naracoopa Jetty (King Island), Penguin Jetty, Devoi’t & Bonnies Beach pontoons, monitoring FADs, and safety upgrades to Barnes Bay and more.

4. Scallop Catch-Sharing Introduced

From April 9, recreational fishers could share scallop catches legally aboard boats, with a 250 scallop boat limit, reflecting reforms to the Scallop Management Plan.

4. 2025 Recreational Sea Fishing Guide in Effect

The current guide was to be valid to Oct 31, 2025, and included mandatory rock lobster tail‑mark catch reporting after dive or gear checking, and on‑water bag possession limits for sand flathead, and seasonal squid closures.

5. Technology & Research at Agfest

In February 2025 the Agfest Fishing Hub featured AI monitoring tools for scalefish, and species recognition initiatives. Community sessions were held on sardine fishery proposals and stock assessments.

6. Political Debate Over Fisheries Management

In June Independent candidate Peter George advocated for mandatory catch logs (including discards) and higher biomass sustainability thresholds (≥ 50%) drawing criticism from Minister Abetz and peak fishing bodies.

7. Sardine Fishery Developments

Discovery of a 210,000 tonne stock in south-east waters rekindled interest in a commercial sardine fishery. Recreational fishers have not generally welcome any planned harvest as baitfish are a key part of the ecosystem.

8. No‑Go Marine Zones Controversy

Federal marine park rezoning introduced new “no-take” marine areas off Tasmania, impacting the taking of key species such as rock lobster and gummy shark, which stirred opposition from recreational and commercial fishers.