WFS Admin

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.

WFS Admin

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.

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?