Climate change keeps the heat on anglers

CAPTION: Sally Charleston with a solid female brown trout she caught at Lake Crescent on January 3.

IT HAS been revealed that 2024 was the second hottest year on record and obviously this is a concern and we all have to try and adapt to the ongoing changing conditions.

Trout fishing continues to be challenging with cormorant activity still being blamed for low catch rates and obviously the increasing heat of summer makes fishing even more difficult.

Knowing this look to fish deeper, colder water which is where fish will move to and out of reach of cormorants and also try and get out at night which is when water temperatures cool down and when cormorants are least active.

Saying that anglers trolling and spinning lures in deeper water during an overcast day have seen the most success with fish also being caught on fly, lures and floating baits in the shallows during low light and temps of the morning and evening.

Fisheries mentioned the most over the break were Lake King WIlliam, Great Lake, Wood's Lake, Bronte Lagoon, Lake Sorell, Lake Pedder and keep in mind Laughing Jack Lagoon which has risen five metres since September 2024.

Bream fishing which is usually a highlight at this time of the year has also been challenging with activity in the Derwent still good but catch rates not as high as usual through to the tidal reaches.

Bream, mullet, Australian salmon and tailor are all available in the Derwent Estuary and from most estuaries statewide but fish are "flightier" than usual at this time of the year which could also be a result of cormorant activity.

Anglers are getting excited about yellowtail kingfish and some good fish are being caught from the North and North West of the state with some "rats" also landed off the East Coast.

I recently saw a report from a diver at Kingston who filmed a school of good sized kings swimming through kelp beds which shows they're about but anglers just haven't been able to crack the code in the south just yet.

Snapper catches are similar,they're there but just random and unreliable but just like kingies these two fish are something good to come out of climate change and our increasing temperatures.

VARIOUS fishing competitions are scheduled to be held during January and February 2025 both in salt and freshwater.

The Northern Gamefishing Club of Tasmania is hosting the Bass Strait Shootout on January 18 which targets tuna, mako and thresher sharks.

The Tuna Club of Tasmania is also hosting the Australia Day Shark and Gamefishing Challenge also targeting the same species on January 25.

The St Helens Gamefishing Club ran the 2025 Tamar Marine Shark fishing competition last weekend and 12 mako shark were landed.The heaviest overall was caught by Zac Johnson with a 227.8 kg shark and young Spencer Cashion caught a pending Australian, state and club record in the small fry category for landing a 141.6 kg mako shark as well.

In freshwater the Lake Pedder Anglers Club is hosting the "Back To Pedder" trout fishing competition at Lake Pedder from Friday January 24 through to Monday January 27.

Also in early February the Wayatinah Social Club is hosting the Dave Gasson Memorial trout fishing competition at Wayatinah Lagoon from February 7 to 9.

For more information and entry details check all above mentioned club social pages. A number of fishing clinics are set to take place through January as well run by "Fishcare" volunteers with the aid to help all ages of life learn about the love of everything angling.

Clinics will be held at Squeaking Point in the North West of Tasmania from 10am-noon on January 13; Squeaking Point Jetty, St Helens from 2pm-4pm January 20; St Helens Wharf, Clarence Point, 10am-noon, January 23; and Clarence Point Pontoon, and at Bellerive for three sessions from 11.30 am-12.30 pm,1pm-2pm and 2pm-3 pm on January 23 at Bellerive Pier. All clinics are free of charge but you should contact Fishcare Volunteers North-by phone on 03 6777 2082 or email at fishcarenorth@nre.tas.gov.au and Fishcare Volunteers South by phone on 03 6165 3039 or email at fishcaresouth@nre.tas.gov.au to reserve a spot.

EARLIER in December 2024 the second tagged trout worth $5000 was landed by a lucky angler fishing at Lake Leake which was the only tagged trout released there.

The angler was Phil Bryan who is very familiar with Lake Leake and he spends a lot of time in his shack and has fished the lake for around 70 years.

Funnily enough Phil almost missed out on the opportunity to catch the tagged trout and after landing four fish he was heading back to the shack and unfortunately or luckily his outboard motor broke down.

Fortunately Phil still had an electric motor on his boat and he decided to troll some lures back to shore and bang that's when he caught the tagged $5000 fish.

There are 14 chances left to catch a $5000 tagged trout which are at Lake Mackintosh (2), Lake Rowallan  (2), Huntsman Lake (1), Great Lake (2), Bradys Lake (2), Arthurs Lake (2), Lake Sorell (2) and Craigbourne Dam (1).

Remember to claim a winning tagged trout anglers need to report the details of the catch with photo evidence to the IFS and the trout must be kept with tag intact for verification. Entry to the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion is open to holders of a current freshwater angling licence or persons aged under 14 who have the permission of their parent or guardian.

SOME other interesting news was also released back in mid December as well in regards to estuary perch which is a vulnerable and protected native fish species only found in the Arthur River in Tasmania.

While fishing for Australian salmon at the mouth of the Arthur River an angler hooked and landed an estuary perch which was around 30 cm long which amazingly could of been around 23 years of age.

Anglers are reminded if fishing in the area that if an estuary perch is caught it must be released back into the water as soon as possible. Ongoing monitoring of the Arthur Rivers population is being done and to help with this research and also contribute to the sustainable management of the species anglers are asked to report any tagged perch if caught as bycatch while fishing for other species. Take note of the tag number in the fish before releasing it and afterwards report it to 1300 INFISH or email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au. Tight lines until next week.

Tip of the Week - Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged before heading out on a mission.If the worst case scenario happens you'll have phone life which ultimately can save yours and other lives if needed.

Send in your fishing reports,pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com and keep track of the Derwent Valley Gazette Fishing column at derwentvalleygazette.com

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