Fishing - Tagged trout makes angler $5K richer

Great Autumn weather continues to offer anglers opportunities, but we're in for some rain and showers this week.

We're starting to see less predictable weather, and we're losing heat and light, about 1- 3 minutes of light each day.

Remember to make the most of daylight saving time before it ends on April 5.
The 2025/26 season IFS tagged trout promotion started well, but it's been a really quiet few months.

Enter Launceston-based angler Wayne Collins, who changed all this at Curries River Reservoir last week.

In good weather, Wayne and his sister-in-law, Lonnie, headed out for their first fishing trip to Curries River Reservoir.

Wayne, in his tinny powered by an electric motor, was trolling an old school brown bomber lure, and it hadn't been in the water long before the rod bent over.

After a solid fight, Wayne landed a rainbow trout with a surprise hiding in plain sight. Wayne, a keen catch‑and‑release angler, didn't notice the yellow tag in the trout at first and only planned to keep the fish so he could give it to his daughter.

It wasn’t until later, back at home, that he noticed the tag, and he then called the Inland Fisheries Service.

It was then confirmed he had won $5000 cash, which he said would be spent on more fishing gear.

There's not long left in the season, and there's still 27 tagged trout in waters across Tasmania waiting to be caught.

Remember that the first tagged trout caught in the Great Lakes this season is worth $25,000, and others caught after that are worth $5,000 each.
Congratulations to Katie Russell and Bryce Kube on their Tasmanian Game Fishing Association records.

Katie now officially holds the female State record for the heaviest Southern Bluefin Tuna caught in the 24 kg line class.

Katie's 89.40 kg SBT was landed at Pedra Branca on the 16th of November 2025. Bryce is now also the State record holder in the small fry male category after landing an 80.20 kg Mako Shark on a 10 kg line at St Helens on the 3rd of January 2026.

The Southern Game Fish Club hosted the East Coast Classic off Southport last Saturday and Sunday with a large fleet fishing in what were great conditions. Keep an eye out for results in future reports.

The Sportfishing Club of Tasmania is hosting the Tasmanian Broadbill Swordfish Championships at Eaglehawk Neck from Saturday, March 28, through to Saturday, April 4.

Teams can fish for a maximum of five days, from 7 am to 4 pm, with weigh-ins each day from 5 pm to 6 pm during the competition.

With some good catches of Swordfish weighing up to and over 200kg at the weekend, it looks like it will be a productive and rewarding week for competitors.
Tip Of The Week- A Broadbill Swordfish's brain has its own central heating system.

This protects their brain, eyes, and central nervous system from rapid temperature changes and allows swordfish to tolerate prolonged exposure to cold water at depth.
Send in your fishing report, tips and pics to valleyfishes@gmail.com
Tight Lines until next week.Great Autumn weather continues to offer anglers opportunities, but we're in for some rain and showers this week.

We're starting to see less predictable weather, and we're losing heat and light, about 1- 3 minutes of light each day.

Remember to make the most of daylight saving time before it ends on April 5.
The 2025/26 season IFS tagged trout promotion started well, but it's been a really quiet few months.

Enter Launceston-based angler Wayne Collins, who changed all this at Curries River Reservoir last week.

In good weather, Wayne and his sister-in-law, Lonnie, headed out for their first fishing trip to Curries River Reservoir.

Wayne, in his tinny powered by an electric motor, was trolling an old school brown bomber lure, and it hadn't been in the water long before the rod bent over.

After a solid fight, Wayne landed a rainbow trout with a surprise hiding in plain sight. Wayne, a keen catch‑and‑release angler, didn't notice the yellow tag in the trout at first and only planned to keep the fish so he could give it to his daughter.

It wasn’t until later, back at home, that he noticed the tag, and he then called the Inland Fisheries Service.

It was then confirmed he had won $5000 cash, which he said would be spent on more fishing gear.

There's not long left in the season, and there's still 27 tagged trout in waters across Tasmania waiting to be caught.

Remember that the first tagged trout caught in the Great Lakes this season is worth $25,000, and others caught after that are worth $5,000 each.
Congratulations to Katie Russell and Bryce Kube on their Tasmanian Game Fishing Association records.

Katie now officially holds the female State record for the heaviest Southern Bluefin Tuna caught in the 24 kg line class.

Katie's 89.40 kg SBT was landed at Pedra Branca on the 16th of November 2025. Bryce is now also the State record holder in the small fry male category after landing an 80.20 kg Mako Shark on a 10 kg line at St Helens on the 3rd of January 2026.

The Southern Game Fish Club hosted the East Coast Classic off Southport last Saturday and Sunday with a large fleet fishing in what were great conditions. Keep an eye out for results in future reports.

The Sportfishing Club of Tasmania is hosting the Tasmanian Broadbill Swordfish Championships at Eaglehawk Neck from Saturday, March 28, through to Saturday, April 4.

Teams can fish for a maximum of five days, from 7 am to 4 pm, with weigh-ins each day from 5 pm to 6 pm during the competition.

With some good catches of Swordfish weighing up to and over 200kg at the weekend, it looks like it will be a productive and rewarding week for competitors.
Tip Of The Week- A Broadbill Swordfish's brain has its own central heating system.

This protects their brain, eyes, and central nervous system from rapid temperature changes and allows swordfish to tolerate prolonged exposure to cold water at depth.
Send in your fishing report, tips and pics to valleyfishes@gmail.com
Tight Lines until next week.