Tasmanian game-fishing waters stretching from Flinders Island  in the north, past St Helens and all the way down the east coast to the Tasman Peninsula, are home to more than 20 national gamefish records. And there are about a half a dozen world records for southern bluefin tuna with fish of up to 120kg.

Adding to the attraction is that serious fishing can be under way within half an hour of leaving the boat ramp. But by far the greatest lure for sportsmen and women is that the waters are so little known outside Tasmania. Even some locals are just discovering the thrills of excitement of fishing the east coast from late December to June as the currents flowing down the coast of the mainland raise the water temperature as high as 23 degrees celsius. With the currents come the marlin, tuna and shark.

In a single season more than 200 marlin have been struck near St.Helens, with a couple of dozen being caught. Some have been up to 200kg.

During the season the challenges on offer include striped marlin, broadbill swordfish, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, albacore tuna, and mako sharks.

The excitement builds as soon as the boats cast off with flocks of gannets and shearwaters, along with dolphin and seals pointing to the presence of huge schools of baitfish. Increasingly popular these days is the hunt for mako sharks, a superb gamefish.

While St Helens has the largest charter fleet, Bicheno, the Freycinet Peninsula, and the Tasman Peninsula, are also popular. The St Helens Game Fishing Classic, held over a weekend each March, is the highlight of the year for locals and an increasing number of interstate visitors. It is conducted by the Game Fishing Club of Northern Tasmania and the St Helens Game Fishing Club.