Craigbourne Lake was a hub of excitement over the weekend with two $5,000 tagged fish caught in quick succession.

The first tagged fish from Craigbourne Lake this season, and second tagged fish for the 2026-27 Tagged Trout Promotion, was caught by lucky angler Mario Dalli on Friday 7 August 2026. 

Mario was trolling from his kayak for approximately 4.5 hours when he hooked the tagged rainbow trout at around 10:00 am. Fishing in about five metres of water, he was using a flat fish lure when the fish struck.

The catch was one of two rainbow trout Mario landed during the session. In an unusual twist, he didn't realise one of the fish was carrying a tag until he had returned to shore and was examining his catch.

A passionate angler, Mario has been trout fishing since he was 17 years old and was thrilled to discover he had landed a $5,000 tagged fish.

"It was a great surprise when I noticed the tag after getting back to shore," Mario said. "I was very excited."

Craigbourne Lake was apparently the place to be with Elizabeth Bester catching a second tagged trout on Saturday 8 August 2026.

Fishing from the shoreline at one of their favourite spots, Elizabeth and her husband Noel, were rewarded for sticking with a time-tested bait choice: the humble garden worm. “You can’t beat the trusty old garden worm,” Elizabeth said.

Passionate anglers who have fished Craigbourne Lake regularly for many years, the pair were thrilled when the tagged fish was landed. However, they were just as pleased to take home a quality fish for the dinner table, making the memorable catch a win on all fronts.

Mario and Elizabeth’s success on the water highlights the rewarding fishing opportunities currently available at Craigbourne Lake and adds another exciting chapter to this season's tagged trout competition. Congratulations to Mario and Elizabeth on your memorable catches!

With the season off to a positive start and fish biting around the state, there are still 42 tagged trout out there to be captured.

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).

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. 🎣💰🏆