The 2026-27 Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion is only days old, but it's already produced its first big winner.

George Town angler Anthony (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 trout at Curries River Reservoir, giving him an enviable record when it comes to finding prize fish.

So what's the secret behind Tony's success?

According to Tony, 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 Yingina / Great Lake will earn its lucky angler an incredible $25,000. All other tagged trout caught from Yingina / 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.

And keep watching this space. There are plenty more tagged trout still to be caught, and more exciting promotion updates to come throughout the season. 🎣💰🏆