Tagged trout in mine hole

By Tony Scott,
July 28, 2021

People angling to catch a trout from Derby’s Briseis mine hole, or Derby Lake, as it’s being referred to in sophisticated circles, in the new season could find themselves $2000 better off.

The water is one of 15 around Tasmania to be part of a promotion for inland fisheries.

A total of 50 tagged brown trout have been released into the waters, each worth $2000 to the fisher that catches them and returns the tag to the Inland Fisheries Service.

Two of the tagged fish have been liberated in the mine hole.

Last year, five tagged trout worth $10,000 each were released, with only one caught by 12-year-old Fiona Batterham, from the Westbury Angling Club, who landed the fish last October at Lake Rowallan. 

The remaining four fish from last year are no longer eligible for prizes.

Tasmania’s world class inland fishery attracts more than 24,000 licensed anglers and generates about $90 million, much of it in regional communities.

State Minister for Primary Industries and Water Guy Barnett said it had been decided to double the potential prize pool to $100,000 and increase the number of waters to encourage people to try fishing, making it easier for anglers to try their luck and also encourage anglers to visit different waters.

Another two of the 50 tagged fish could be caught at Curries River Dam near George Town.

The other waters and number of fish are: Arthurs Lake (5), yingina/Great Lake (5), Lake Mackintosh (5), Lake Pedder (5), Lake Burbury (5), Lake Rosebery (5), River Derwent (3), Bronte Lagoon (2), Craigbourne Dam (2), Huntsman Lake (2), Lake Leake (3), Lake Parangana (2) and Lake Rowallan (2).

There’s more information on the tagged trout promotion at the www.ifs.tas.gov.au website. Anglers can buy or renew their licence online, with licences also available at all Service Tasmania shops and many tackle, outdoor and sports stores throughout Tasmania.

The Government, through the IFS, has also developed a Draft Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania’s Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28. 

The Draft Strategy outlines the goals, strategies and actions that will be used to increase participation of inland fisheries and will put in place measures to inform fisheries management decisions.

The Draft Strategy is open for public consultation until midnight Friday 13 August 2021 and is on the IFS website: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/draft-strategy-to-increase-participation-in-tasmanias-inland-recreational-fishery