The good, the bad and the ugly: Tassie offshore

The winter months in Tasmania can be particularly harsh, making fishing difficult for even the most experienced anglers. Winter isn’t too far away now, so let’s take a quick look at what winter can mean for throughout winter here in Tasmania, we are blessed with two of the best fisheries in Australia. These species grow as big as you will find anywhere, and can be found both offshore and in coastal waters.

The first species is, of course, southern bluefin. Jumbo bluefin are the target for a lot of anglers this month

Tasman Island. These famous tuna grounds can be accessed from Pirates Bay, Fortescue Bay, or the ramp at Port Arthur. The headlands, coves and bays and multi access allows you to fish in a range of weather conditions.

Speaking of the weather, Tasmania is well known for its unpredictable weather patterns, and winter is no exception. Temperatures can drop rapidly, and cold winds can make it difficult to fish in exposed areas.

Comfort is not the first concern, however. It is the safety of crew and yourself. Always err on the side of caution, make sure your radio is in good working order, and don’t risk lives for a fish. It’s crucial in winter to have a sound understanding of how to read a weather map and get an understanding of what the as the angler. If you rest on the fish, the fish is getting a rest as well.

Most people believe that big red mass down either side of the tuna’s spine is a blood line, and that it indicates you have not bled the fish properly. This is, in fact, a muscle group of fasttwitch fibres. The fish will fight you on that muscle group early, and if tension and pressure is maintained on the hooked fish, it will tire of a big broad bill swordfish. These are gladiators of the high seas, and are a prize in any offshore fisho’s eyes. These monsters of the deep patrol the depths of the continental shelf, looking to turn anything they can find into a protein snack. Very astute fishos will be sending down baits and hoping that a large swordfish will choose their offering as their source of protein at that moment. These fish fight incredibly the avid angler in what I sometimes call, ‘the winter of our discontent’.

First and foremost, it’s not all doom and gloom here in Tasmania when the days get shorter and colder. I am a huge fan of daylight savings, and I grieve hard when we lose those extra daylight hours. We have to say good-bye to those after-work fishing sessions, and even going fishing after 3pm is no longer practical, due to the loss of fishable light. However, there are amazing positives to be had in Tasmania during the colder months, and it all centres around monsters for me. Yes, that’s right, monsters!

During April and in the south of Tasmania. Traditionally, the first snow on Mt Wellington gets ardent anglers excited, and preparing their gear for battle. Make no mistake, it is a battle and you need to be well prepared, both with the right gear and tactical approach. More on that later.

Unlike years gone by, the fish population growth and seasonal changes have now made for a year-round fishery to a degree. Very large jumbo tuna have been caught off Devonport and Port Sorell in the very shallow waters of Bass Strait. Totally mind boggling.

At this time of year the focus is still the south at Pedra Branca or the southeast areas around the Hippolytes and weather is actually doing. Is it building or falling away? What’s the swell doing? Is the wind dropping out in the afternoon or freshening? Does the tide push at the base of The Pillar and the Lanterns, making for nasty conditions? These all need to be taken into account when you’re the skipper, and it doesn’t hurt for everyone else aboard to learn and come to a consensus about what action to take.

You should also make sure you have gone over your gear and also checked your knots and terminal tackle. A big southern bluefin in cold water is a strong, powerful fish that will take some knocking over. Get some drag pressure on the fish early, and try to break the fish’s spirit as soon as you can without knocking yourself up reasonably quickly. Should the fish transition out of that muscle set and into its body muscles, you are in for a long battle – the rest of the tuna is practically one big muscle. Keep your wits about you during the fight, and have the boat downwind of the fish so the line stays away from the side of the boat. The wind will hold the boat off and away from the fish, allowing you to fight the fish much more easily. If you do the opposite, and have the boat topside or upwind, the boat will want to wash over the fish and it will be a pain keeping the line away from all the sharp edges on a boat.

This time of year in Tasmania is when we see a lot of fishing effort put towards capturing the ultimate prize hard and are a real challenge. They also yield a great deal of very tasty flesh. The meat of a swordfish can be utilised in a number of interesting and easy to cook recipes, which you can find with a Google search.

In conclusion, winter in Tasmania can indeed be harsh due to a combination of factors, including unpredictable weather and cold water temperatures. Despite these challenges though, Tasmania still retains its pristine, natural beauty and abundance of monster fish. The right gear and preparation will hold anglers in good stead to capture that fish of a lifetime, so dress warmly and take extra care to stay safe in the cold conditions. Until next time, tight lines.