BEST WHITING FISHING ON THE PLANET? - Port Sorell, Tasmania

These days, northern Tasmania can justifiably claim to be home to the best whiting fishing on the planet! Port Sorell, between Devonport and Launceston, is one of many destinations in this part of the island that regularly turns on massive King George whiting in excellent numbers. Join us as we find out how to tap into this truly remarkable fishery.
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Thanks... and cheers!

[@lesteraizlewood8457]

We have been to Tassie and Port Sorell twice. As soon as I looked at the estuary from the boat ramp for the first time, I remarked to my wife that I reckoned there would some awesome KG's and Flathead in there. The very next day the was a photo of a guy holding up a huge flattie that he had caught in there. Damn, I was so disappointed that we didn't have the time to throw a line in.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes, great spot!

[@franksaunders6534]

Can see you both thoroughly enjoyed your time in Tassie. When I was in my early thirties (I'm 47 now), off a small jetty (now gone) at the base of the clay cliffs approaching the boat ramp at Stieglitz, Georges Bay TAS, once had an epic session on elbow slapper sized weed whiting using fresh pipis. Some were close to 1kg and we were often getting double headers. It was freezing cold, wet and rough and the rougher and more stirred up it got, the harder the whiting bit and the bigger they got.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Nice!

[@lesteraizlewood8457]

I was hooking huge sand whiting out of Albany one day and they were going off. The weather was crappy, cold and rough and I couldn't get my line back in fast enough every drop, never had a hope of pulling up with nothing on that day. Have also had a lovely few trips out and done the same with KG's .... what fun it is.

[@johnnyvee8062]

Thanks for the video Starlo, Looked like a great day on the water.

[@StarloGetsReel]

It was! Thanks.

[@StjerneDK]

Always love your uploads 🙏

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks so much, Steffen!

[@tomhenry7891]

Nice video. Also first comment. Tasmania really is so beautiful!

[@StarloGetsReel]

You were quick off the mark, Tom! Yes, gotta love Tassie. 👍

[@TLKLures]

Hey Starlo and Jo, Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@StarloGetsReel]

No worries! Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@TheMickadams]

Great work guys 🎣 was very entertaining and enjoyable to watch the masters in action ❤👍

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thank you! We had fun making it, too.

[@johnlighton7025]

Great video. Loved the sound of the chop hitting the hull throughout the vid. Takes one straight back to being on the water.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@Swandoully]

Fantastic Video Starlo & Joe, since we last had a beer together I have got my very first KGW in my own backyard of Port Sorell, thanks for the positive enthusiasm, I’ll certainly be out again in the Kayak to catch more Cheers Mark (The Cosy Cottage)

[@StarloGetsReel]

That’s great to hear Mark, and thanks for your positive feedback on the video! We LOVED staying at Cosy Cottage. Perfect accommodation for the visiting fisho, especially with their own boat in tow. Make sure you tell your mates about my Tassie vids! We’ll have to get to Talbots next time and do one in the yaks. 👍

[@matthoffy]

Great video guys ,🎣🎣🎣

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@rodgeorge7244]

Awesome Starlo king George Whiting one of the best eating fish around and the Silver Trevally aren't to shabby either and you got some Calamari as well what a trifecta well done to you both.

[@StarloGetsReel]

So true! Thanks mate.

[@02bigkev]

Great fishing, I've never tasted King George whiting but I hear they are one of the best to eat.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks Kev. Yes, they're very tasty!

[@TazzzieAdventures]

Some sweet KG's there we get some nice ones at Smithton and Stanley way also. I use strips of Ox or Lamb heart for them tends to keep the leatherjackets away as they just love the old squid. ATB Brad

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good to know! Will try that next time. Did you have a look at my recent video shot at Montagu, west of Smithton? What a great part of the world that is!

[@Ayden-yx4fn]

awesome video! this is my local and im so lucky to have such an amazing fishery. you get alot of gummy sharks although they are protected in the river

[@StarloGetsReel]

Very cool!

[@SteveOutside]

Your first Tassie KG whiting?.. I was quite surprised to hear that, with your background... Well done mate. Ripper video!

[@StarloGetsReel]

This trip was the first time I’d ever chased them down there… won’t be my last, though! 😉

[@feartheduck6664]

The Yorke Peninsula is a good whiting spot too but I haven’t seen many of the sizes you caught at Sorrell. Nice trevalley!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks!

[@zadar1]

Ripper fish guys. One species thats on my wish list!

[@StarloGetsReel]

They’re very cool fish.

[@brettchatwin7788]

awesome video. Only started chasing KGW a couple of weeks ago and got my first at Port Sorell and was 50cm. OMG do they fight and taste even better. Cheers for the tips in your video.

[@StarloGetsReel]

No worries! 50cm is a nice way to start! 👍

[@jamesbusch7605]

Yeeeeew

[@StarloGetsReel]

Is that a good yeeeew? 😂

[@peterstaunton-smith586]

out of curiosity Starlo, is there anywhere for us land based anglers to get a feed of whiting?

[@StarloGetsReel]

I believe so but I haven’t tried down there. Jump on the Tasmanian King George Whiting page on Facebook. They’re mostly pretty helpful and a few post about land-based stuff. 👍

[@Power_Prawnstar]

Excellent vid mate, question, do you ever go out and not catch fish?

[@StarloGetsReel]

You bet! I just don’t make videos about it. 🤣😉

[@Power_Prawnstar]

@@StarloGetsReel That's actually kinda good to know 😃

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@Power_Prawnstar 👍

[@darrenholmes5167]

Have you ever caught KG whiting on the surface? I've tried but no luck, had some fishos tell me KG won't take surface lures? I'd live to catch these guys on top!

[@StarloGetsReel]

I reckon if you found them in the right place and mood, they would. That'd probably mean on the flats in a metre or less of water. Sadly, I've never encountered that scenario, but I have heard of the odd (very odd) small one being taken on surface lures in SA by anglers targeting sand whiting.

[@keithprinn720]

as I have said before squid entree and legs for bait for the whiting what a great dinn er the jackets too, 4 lb mono for me and what about flies?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks Keith. Yep, definitely catch-able on fly, too.

[@keithprinn720]

@@StarloGetsReel now winter and so impressed still want to hook up my 5metre full boar to the 4wd triton and head over there with bream gear

[@robbot9877]

20 years ago there were no whiting at port sorell

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes, the development of the Tasmanian whiting fishery is remarkable.

[@Justin-wf7op]

Vic fisheries need to wake up and change bag and size limit, 10 fish at 30-35cm is more than enough. Same with these charter operators raping tuna and wrasse stocks, one tuna per person is plenty.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes, I do think VIC's bag could come down and their size go up... if they did that they might start seeing a few more Tassie-sized whiting! The Tasmanians have definitely done a great job on their regulations for this species.

[@bluntforc3studios198]

Port Sorell Is very very very hit and miss .

[@StarloGetsReel]

We must’ve got lucky. 👍

[@bradleyhalfacre7992]

Why any body would want to promote their own home fishing grounds to the world , a very limited fishing ground to the entire world is beyond my understanding. When it is fished out ,then wattya gunna do?

[@StarloGetsReel]

The fact is that - far from being "limited" - there are numerous locations just like this right across the north and around onto the northeast coast of Tasmania... the point I was making is that this northern part of Tasmania arguably offers the best King George whiting fishing on earth. Few who've experienced it would argue. As for it being "fished out", Tasmania's excellent bag and size limits for that species effectively preclude this from ever happening... and as for "who would want to promote it?"... well, I dunno, maybe Tourism Tasmania, TT Lines, every caravan park, motel, Air BnB and other accommodation provider in that part of the world, tackle shops, boat hire outlets, restaurants, liquor stores,... it's a pretty long list. ;) Bottom line is, sustainable recreational fishing tourism is enormously beneficial to regional economies... not to mention the health and mental wellbeing of its particpants. Tight Lines.

[@bradleyhalfacre7992]

@@StarloGetsReel Well when the spots are over run with mainlanders and locals and you cant get on the drop and fish are wiped out I hope you feel good about it.....and tourism sucks! All the surfing and camping spots are choked with tourists and their shit , tourism jobs are shit , low wages and seasonal and us locals are now strangers in our own backyard, You remind me of the blokes who do KZbin videos about surf breaks and then are stunned when the place is packed out, all for a bit of KZbin cash and celebrity , this is just ruining our local spots and you are a part of it , congratulations.