November means business time!

The water has begun to gradually warm and the cool spring winds should have slowly dissipated.

Estuary anglers should be in their element with the local bream population amongst other well-respected sportfish on the move.

To find the action anglers should be concentrating on the lower reaches of the Huon, Lune and Esperance rivers and some of the small estuarine systems on Bruny Island.

Typical soft plastic techniques will be effective as will bait fishing with pretty fish, prawns, shrimps and mussels.

In the southern rivers besides bream, Australian salmon are also on offer as are flathead and the occasional Atlantic salmon.

The sea trout fishing also peaks in November with the majority of the southern estuaries holding numbers of whitebait and along with them resident and sea run trout.

Flyfishing with whitebait flies such as the well-respected BMS is effective as is drift spinning from a boat with small bibbed minnows.

As mentioned above, the Channel at this time of year offers some spectacular fishing throughout; in particular the estuary fishing is the highlight.

The Huon River will give up the occasional Atlantic salmon with a slowly retrieved unweighted pretty fish being the most productive method.

Proven productive locations include Castle Forbes Bay and Waterloo.

For those targeting a feed of fresh flathead, the Channel in November also holds a very healthy population of sand flathead and although they are often small in size they most certainly make up for this in numbers.

Soft plastics and saltwater fly are the two preferred sportfishing methods. Recommended soft plastics are Berkley minnows and gulps and the Squidgy fish patterns. In the deeper water don’t forget the humble Mr Twister.

The majority of areas hold fish with the land-based angler best to concentrate on jetties/wharves located at Margate, Woodbridge, Kettering and Gordon.

Boat anglers should concentrate on fishing around the abundant fish farms, as this is often where some larger fish hold.

Dover, located south of Huonville is also a renowned fishing port and is easily accessible for both land-based and boat anglers. The area offers a variety of pelagic sportfish, for example anglers can fish off the wharf located in the bay targeting species such as yellowtail mackerel, yellow eye mullet, Australian salmon, barracouta and the occasional warehou.

A berley trail and bait or small soft plastics are the most effective methods.

The lower channel towards Woodbridge, Kettering and Gordon also holds a healthy population of calamari squid and although not renowned for their sporting prowess there is no denying their table qualities!

Although I have not fished this location, it has been on my hit list for years!

Typical of most southern rivers October and November can be extremely productive months.

As weather conditions improve anglers to become keener to spend longer hours on the water, whatever the results maybe.

Similar to the above general November report the D’Entrecasteaux River holds a very healthy population of bream, sea trout and no doubt juvenile Australian salmon and yellow eye mullet.

Beyond the mouth anglers who have boats will tackle wrasse, leather jackets, calamari, sharks, larger Australian salmon and barracouta.

Anglers who fish up river, whether that be land or boat-based, will be welcomed by generally tannin coloured water and plenty of fish holding structure.

Fishing first light and late afternoon is best. Fly and lure anglers will have success as will bait anglers who have access to a small boat and are able to track down the deeper pockets of water.