GAME SEASON WRAP-UP Kelly ‘Hooch’ Hunt wraps-up the game season that seemingly won’t end. West Coast bluefin are coming on and here is Dean O’Connor with a beauty.
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ell here we all are and I have pieced together an overview of the last game season. It is tricky to do so however because game fishing season 2017/18 just keeps giving. Why just now India Thompson reported of losing a fish off the back of St Helens Island that creamed line off the reel and mid July I was fishing off St Helens myself and there were fish from just outside Burns Bay to the shelf. It has been a fantastic year for game fishing all around Tasmania and I say all around as the West Coast is starting to make a name for itself as well. Jamie Harris has found tuna down off Strahan a number of times while out chasing Striped Trumpeter. One trip this year he found them in so close the water was still a tannin brown colour from the outflow of Macquarie harbor. St Helens has made a great fightback in the game fishing department after having a few lean years. The game fishing clan has been making a bee line for Eaglehawk Neck as the destination of choice but that is changing again. St Helens fishes well early and is your best chance for a marlin or the hallowed Yellowfin tuna. These two fish were elusive this year. We had a great couple of marlin bites a couple seasons back but the currents didn’t flow for us this year. The good news is what we did have and that was a heap of gamefishing action on Mako sharks, Albacore, Bluefin and Broadbill Swordfish. So lets have a look at some of that action. Mason Paull and his son Daniel have had a stella year on the Swords this season. The lads caught 6 swords off St Helens which was better than their last season by 2 fish. They have their technique working a treat and are leaders in releasing these fish to fight another day. They are strong believers in using big circle hooks for this type of fishing. They obviously have some good spots to start their drops, but quite frankly it’s all about the available food at the right depth. These Swordfish are big protein munching machines and live down in the cold waters needing lots of food. Find the food and get a bait down and you are in with a chance. The sword fishing bycatch is also pretty cool with all sorts Fishing News - Page 40
of fish being taken on the big baits meant for the big Broadbill Swords. Still in the waters off St Helens and we saw Melissa Mcgiveron and her husband Jason trolling for big tuna and they found one. 123kg is a sensational fish and on 37kg line a pending state, Australian and world ladies record. These two are Tasmania’s premier fishing couple spending many hours on the water and finding fish often. Their massive fishing weapon “ICE AGE” is set up to hunt and find all manner of game fish and a credit to them both. A fisherman that has a great season is Jonah Yick. He managed to take out friends and family and for the most part caught some fabulous fish. It didn’t seem to matter if it was early in the season or where he went his skill and persistence paid off. He found early season Albacore and mako sharks. He even found some good fish as close as Storm Bay in the states south. Jonah is a prime example of what I say all the time. Watch the weather, organize yourself and spend time on the water and you will be rewarded. The Albacore run this season was early and strong in number and in the size of the fish encountered. When looking for Albacore in the early part of the season try a feather lure like the Zuker and back the speed off a little. Get the speeds down to around 5 – 6 knots and throw some halco deep divers in as well. These bibbed lures work well and dive deeper when trolling slower and on a longer set from the back of the boat. The Zukers run well at a lower speed and you can place some small skirts in with them around the wash of the propeller The other skipper that comes to mind when it comes to time on the water and dedication is Josh Hammersley. Josh and his two daughters Chloe and Molly rack up some serious water time and find fish often. Chloe has some serious line class captures to her name and young Molly has the bug now as well. It is fabulous in this day
Daniel Paull with one of the five swordfish they have tagged this season.
Mellissa Mcgiveron with a cranking 123kg fish that has multiple records pending on 37kg line class.
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