Offshore

OFFSHORE Kelly Hunt

It’s undeniable. We cannot avoid it any longer. It’s cold, the days are short and… did I mention it’s cold? We have a bleak outlook most mornings in Tasmania at this time of year, but April does hold some positives: it’s big southern bluefin time, and the winds are stable and on point when it comes to the forecast. There is no possibility of leader size can climb in breaking strain and quality.

It pays to be prudent to strip 50m off the top of your main line and re-tie your double, as it’s been a long summer season and there could be some nicks and abrasion. A large, powerful 100kg bluefin will find any chink in your armour.

Use your eyes and fingers to look at and feel for any issues. Make sure your rollers on your rods are moving freely and there aren’t any dents or sharp edges on your rod

Bass Strait jumbos are extra oversize and have been caught in super shallow water. Glenn Saltnarsh and Craig Tuthill have found multiple jumbos off Devonport, proving it’s no fluke.

any late afternoon breeze springing up due to the heat rising off the land, mainly because there is no heat… everything is frigid.

JUMBO FEVER

The only heat is on the brow of the seasoned jumbo fisher, as the fever of catching a fish in excess of 100kg courses through mind and soul. These fish are in big numbers at this time of year across the coast of Tasmania, and they should not be underestimated. They demand a checking of gear, and up-rating of equipment and a different mindset. The bigger lures can come out for a swim and the eyes. The speed and power of these fish generates a considerable amount of strain and friction. Friction is the enemy of mono and braided lines, and needs to be avoided at all costs. GAFFING

A very important tool in your arsenal if you are going to take a jumbo is the gaff. We prefer the Hook’em range for their excellent quality and value. However, it doesn’t really matter what gaff you have, or if it is home-made or purchased from a store, as long as it has two essential traits: it must be fit for purpose, and someone on the boat must be able to use it. The last thing you want on hooking and fighting a fish of a lifetime is not having anyone keen or confident to gaff the fish. The fish is still in the box seat at the side of the boat, and has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. If you have fought this fish for 1-2 hours, the last thing you need is a bungled gaff shot and the fish taking off again and taking another 100m of line with it.

To maximise your chances of success, make sure the people on your boat have a good idea where the gaff is kept, get it in hand and have a feel of it, and even have a few practice swings. In all other sports it’s acceptable to go through a few practice shots and swings, so why not with something as technical and as important as a gaff shot? There is no reason why you can’t put something in the water and at trundle speed, try to gaff it back into the boat. A good item to use is the lowly plastic bag. It will float low in the water on the surface, and at trundle speed it’s a simple yet effective practice target. This will allow you to get an idea of your feet position and the sea state condition in relation to the swing of your arm.

Then, after you have managed to gaff the plastic bag a few times, you can move onto something a bit trickier. Have a couple of goes at gaffing some school-sized or smaller fish, and get your confidence up. WHERE

TO FIND THEM

Nowadays, finding the bluefin is very exciting. There used to be just two spots where they were thick – the hallowed bluefin grounds of Eaglehawk Neck out of Pirates Bay and Pedra Branca were the places to be in April. Pedra is not for the lighthearted, as is situated some 16 nautical miles off the south coast of Tasmania. It’s out there in the middle of nowhere, so a really good weather window is needed and a good all-day forecast. Fishing in a group of boats is always a good idea here as well.

This place is wild and prehistoric, with rock formations lifting out of the water as cliffs. The grounds hold plenty of bait, and that is what the big hungry 100kg tuna are after. Get your spread out and running true, and it shouldn’t be long before you have a big fight on your hands in April.

Eaglehawk is a sensational starting point for those new to jumbo hunting. You can fish it in most sea conditions and wind directions, as there are plenty of coves and bluffs to hide and tuck into. Anglers used to think you had to be off the bottom of Tasman Island or in and

around the Hippolyte rocks to have success. However, this has been proven wrong on many occasions. The area holds sensational amounts of bait in every cove and point. Tow your lures over them running nice and free of weed, and you are in with a chance.

The east coast also has runs on the board when it comes to these giant swimming torpedoes. Leaving Triabunna and fishing the eastern side of Maria Island can prove effective, and further north at Coles Bay the area in and around Schouten Island also holds plenty of big fish in April. The forgotten game fishing area of St Helens can also give up big southern bluefin at this time of year, and I believe it still holds the record for the heaviest bluefin caught at around 160kg.

NEW GROUND

The buzz around the fishing circles is of the brand-new fishing grounds off Devonport for jumbo tuna. Glen Saltmarsh pioneered it, and there are several people who have followed his lead and captured very big fish in