Fishing in Tasmania from March to June
Tasmania offers some spectacular marine fishing options all year round. Here are a few ideas for your next March - June season.
March: Blue-eye trevalla
The summer game fishing in Tasmania has been red hot, with consistent numbers of mako sharks all down the east coast in sizes from 40–250kg. The continental shelf drop-off has been the hotspot for these acrobatic speedsters, with many anglers catching them while deep-dropping for blue-eye trevalla (pictured) and other deep sea bottom dwellers. The tuna schools have been irregular, with albacore and southern bluefin tuna showing up in random locations both inshore and offshore, but disappearing just as quickly.
With the surprise capture of an approximately 150kg swordfish caught on a trolled skirted lure recently, many anglers have now begun using the more conventional method of deep-dropping for these ocean gladiators as March and April is usually the ideal time.
April: Tuna season
The tuna action over the last month has continued to improve, with some great catches of school bluefin on the north, south, east, and west coasts. The east coast run has been inconsistent, with the majority of fish below 10kg, while the bluefin on the west and south coasts range from 20–40kg. Big albacore tuna are also starting to show on the east coast. Mako sharks are still prevalent along the east coast, as well as big numbers of small kingfish over the inshore grounds.
Late April to May is arguably the most exciting period for game fishing, given this is usually the peak period for both barrel-sized bluefin tuna and swordfish, as well as deep-water reef species.
May: Big bluefin tuna
Barrel-sized bluefin tuna arrived along the southeast coast of Tasmania in April, with one around 95kg and a few landed in the 60–85kg range. Most have been caught inshore around the Hippolyte Rocks and Tasman Island, in among the school bluefin. The swordfish season has also started, with numerous fish hooked over the last few weeks. The continental shelf off Eaglehawk Neck has been the main hotspot for swordfish, with fish up to 250kg landed, as well as many lost after long battles.
The swordfish and barrel bluefin action will continue to be the focus for many game anglers in May, with school bluefin and big albacore also likely to be present in reasonable numbers.
June: Broadbill swordfish
Swordfish season has been going strong on the east coast, with what may be the best run of fish in Tasmania in years. The size range has varied from 20kg to 250kg, with Eaglehawk Neck and St Helens being the main hotspots. Barrel-size bluefin tuna have been hit-and-miss, with the odd few caught inshore on the troll, and a few also caught as swordfish bycatch down deep over the continental shelf. School bluefin and albacore have still been plentiful.
In June the swordfish catches will begin to taper off, but hopefully the barrel bluefin run should become more consistent. With plentiful amounts of baitfish still congregating over the inshore reefs, the school bluefin are likely to continue to fire.
Jonah Yick – Black Magic Tackle Pro Team