Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

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alaskanaturally
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Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by alaskanaturally » Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:31 pm

A synopsis of our fishing adventure in Tasmania.

This is a synopsis of our fishing in Tasmania. It is a shortened version of our updates with the emphasis on angling. For a full accounting of our Tasmanian adventure go to alaskanaturally.shutterfly.com and click on Oxymoron Tasmania and Impressions of Australia’s smallest state.

The adventure began at the end of the road, the southernmost point of Australia, Cockle Creek. We set ourselves up in a lovely National Park campground. After dinner we went for a walk along the beach to Fisher’s Light. On the return trip, we made a few casts. Using a DOA Shrimp in a natural color, the lure was hit hard. The fish missed the hook but on the next cast it was hooked up. After a decent fight, a 35 cm dusky flathead, our first, was flipping around on the beach. Martin grabbed the fish. A big mistake! He bled all the back to the camper. A valuable lesson and the fish taste might good for the next day’s dinner.
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A hike was in order. So after breakfast, we walked the 15.4 km trail to South Point. The surf was amazing, 5-7m waves. We cast a lead head adorned with a pink shrimp tail into a gap between the rocks. It was immediately picked up by a beautiful brown and green striped wrasse but it was only 29cm, one short of legal. So back it went.
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The next stop on this fishing adventure was the town of Franklin on Huon River. After a bit of experimenting, we did to catch a 28 cm yellowfin bream on a piece of shrimp. But that was it.

A couple days later, we found ourselves on the Tasman Peninsula. Folks on the blog recommended we try White Beach and Eagle Hawks Nest. It was at the former that we had our first squid experience. Only caught one but had many follows. A few long silvery fish would occasionally hit our squid jigs. After switching our to a hammered silver Hopkins Lure, our first barracouda was landed. And he ate well. The meat was delightful and the bones large, easy to pick out.

Spending that night at the jetty at Eagle Hawks Nest, a night fish was called for. Quite a few anglers were on the pier that night. Martin was the only one to catch a squid and it was rather small.

Couldn’t bypass Bicheno. The water and bottom off the wave wall look ideal for squid and other critters. On the second cast, a really nice cephalopod was hooked and landed. That was it except for fooling around with small trevalli and a nice mackerel. We decided to spend the day and fish in the evening. Not a mistake. The squid really turning on around 19 hours. That’s when the largest one we ever saw took our jig. It weight 2.5 kg. After getting another large one, we quit. Could have caught many more but two was all we wanted.
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The next stop was Lagoons Beach Campground. A lovely location with easy access to the beach. Here our first Australian salmon were taken. Most were undersized but a few did reach the 20cm minimum. They are great eating. Very tasty. Martin did have one in the 35-40 cm range at his feet in the surf but alas it came off the hook and escaped.

We stopped at a small jetty just before St. Helen’s for lunch. The salmon were boiling the water and saw a fellow get one around 40 cm. Changing rigs and walking back out on the pier took time. The action ended before we got to tossing a line. However, loads of fun was had catching 15-19 cm travelli on light tackle.

After a long drive down very windy, rough road, Musselroe Conservation area was reached. Another wonderful free camping area. After talking with a few of our camping neighbors about the local fishing, we decided to give the boat ramp area a try the next morning. After wading out and casting small pieces of squid and blue bait a lot of small salmon were caught. Suddenly something large grabbed a piece of squid. After a very good fight, a 37 cm yellowfin bream was dragged onto the beach. One of our neighbors exclaimed in Australian, “‘at’s a pounder of a fish, mate.” It was and we were so pleased to have caught it.

As our time in Tassie is coming near to the end, we headed toward Bridport and spent the night at the Waterhouse Conservation Area. The camping area is on Anderson Bay off of Bass Straits. We are now on the northern coast of the island. It was a dropping tide upon our arrival. There were huge tide flats that didn’t look very conducive to angling.

In the morning, we learned how little we know. Got down to the water right before sunrise. Waded out as far as we could and made a long cast with blue bait. Before walking back to dry land a very energetic fish was bouncing around on the end of the line. The 40 cm mullet fought well and was landed a few minutes later. This was succeeded with three more, nearly as big within a half hour. Then the flatties began to hit. We’d bring one in on almost every cast. Most were less than the 25 cm minimum but a few were legal.

That evening we went back to the same location. The fish really turned on again. We caught numerous flatties and mullet. In addition, something big hit the bait. Started to real in and thought we were stuck. Then the stuck took off. Didn’t take much to part the 10 lb. test line. This happened twice. A ray? Any other ideas?

One thing we learned by this experience is that when you do not know what you are doing, do not prejudge a situation.
Martin and Ruta Outdoor Writers: Subsistence living, fishing, hunting, wild plant gathering, mushrooming, living off the grid.

Larksy88
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by Larksy88 » Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:34 pm

Great Report and nice Calamari :)

Matt

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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by drew 2 » Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:21 pm

Great read & pic's :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

GTurvs
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by GTurvs » Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:51 pm

What a thumper of a squid!

Great report. A very interesting read. Sounds like you'll be sad to leave Tassie for the mainland but all good things must come to an end.

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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by BIG GAV » Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:19 pm

Great read guys! Always enjoy your posts!!
If I'm not fishing, I'd rather be fishing!

barra mick
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by barra mick » Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:59 pm

Great read !!
you gotta hav a crack even if yr just pissin in the wind

Joker91
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by Joker91 » Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:22 pm

great read and better catches mate (:

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alaskanaturally
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by alaskanaturally » Wed Feb 25, 2015 1:51 am

GTurvs wrote:What a thumper of a squid!

Great report. A very interesting read. Sounds like you'll be sad to leave Tassie for the mainland but all good things must come to an end.
very sad to leave but looking forward to the next adventure.
Martin and Ruta Outdoor Writers: Subsistence living, fishing, hunting, wild plant gathering, mushrooming, living off the grid.

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davek
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Re: Tasmanian Fishing Adventure

Post by davek » Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:08 am

Always good to read your reports, :thumbsup: cheers davo
It's an exhilarating feeling catching a fish
But it's an even better feeling releasing them

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