ANGLERS couldn’t have wished for better weather for the start of the 2026-27 brown trout season. Over the years, getting out for a fish across “opening weekend” has become a tradition passed on from generation to generation, and this year was no exception.
“It was great to see so many young anglers with their families having fun in the sun and catching the prized brown and rainbow trout from waters around the state,” says the Inland Fisheries Service (IFS).
IFS officers, supported by the Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania Police and Marine and Safety Tasmania, were out and about, assisting with information and checking to make sure everyone was doing the right thing.
Across Saturday and Sunday, more than 400 anglers were asked about their experience during the weekend and the results of their angling efforts. Only 16 offences were detected, with most of those being cautions for boat safety equipment issues.
There was no shortage of quality fish caught this opening weekend with some great fish coming from a number of waters including the River Derwent, Lake Pedder, Lake Meadowbank, Four Springs Lake, Blackmans Lagoon, Big Waterhouse Lagoon, Curries River Reservoir, Tooms Lake, Bronte Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon, Little Pine Lagoon, lakes Duncan and Lynch, Lake Echo, the Brady’s chain, Lake Mikany and the Mersey River to name a few.
Also, as a reminder there are some great opportunities this season to make fishing more accessible:
- Children under 14 can fish without a licence.
- Junior anglers (14–17 years) still require a licence, but it remains free.
- Young anglers (18–21 years) can take advantage of the discounted Young Angler Licence.
- Anglers aged 80 and over can now access discounted licences, encouraging their continued participation in Tasmania’s inland fishery.
Get your licence from Service Tasmania, participating tackle stores such as Williams Outdoors at New Norfolk and Hall’s Ammo at Bothwell, or online at the IFS website.
The Inland Fisheries Service is continuing the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion for the 2026-27 trout fishing season. There are even more chances to win with a total of 45 tagged trout released into 13 different waters across the state.
George Town angler Tony O’Shannessy has landed the season’s first $5,000 tagged trout, continuing a remarkable run of success at Curries River Reservoir.
Tony moved to Tasmania around nine years ago and has become a familiar face on the reservoir. Since the trout season opened on 1 August 2026, he has been making the most of every opportunity to get on the water, regularly kayaking across the reservoir in search of trout. His persistence has already paid off, with around 20 fish landed so far this season, including a healthy mix of brown and rainbow trout.
Earlier this week, one particular rainbow trout caught Tony’s attention. As he brought the fish alongside his kayak, he noticed something unusual: a bright yellow tag attached to the trout. Realising what he had found, Tony contacted the Inland Fisheries Service to confirm the capture.
That yellow tag turned out to be worth $5,000. For most anglers, catching a tagged trout would be a once-in-a-lifetime story. But remarkably, this isn’t Tony’s first. He previously caught a $2,000 tagged troutat Curries River Reservoir, giving him an enviable record when it comes to finding prize fish.
So what’s the secret behind Tony’s success? He says it’s simple: time on the water. The more time spent fishing, the greater the chance of being in the right place at the right time. Of course, it probably doesn’t hurt that he has confidence in his favourite setup, a yellow Tassie Devil lure paired with a bright red bead, which has helped him fool plenty of trout over the years.
With two tagged trout captures now under his belt, some anglers might be wondering if Tony could kindly leave a few prize fish for everyone else. The good news is there are still 44 tagged trout swimming in Tasmanian inland waters this season, waiting to be caught.
And the biggest prize of all remains unclaimed. The first tagged trout captured from Great Lake will earn its lucky angler an incredible $25,000. All other tagged trout caught from Great Lake and waters around Tasmania during the Promotion are worth $5,000 (conditions apply).
So if Tony’s story proves anything, it’s that the next winning trout could be just one cast away. For more information, updates on tagged trout captures and the full terms and conditions of the Promotion, visit the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion 2026-27 page on the Inland Fisheries Service website.
There are plenty more tagged trout still to be caught, and more exciting promotion updates to come throughout the season. For more information, updates on tagged trout captures and the full terms and conditions of the promotion, visit: Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion – Inland Fisheries Service 2026-27.
Here’s looking forward to a great 2026-27 fishing season. Tight lines!
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