Cool nights, a bit of wind from several directions and a drop or two of rain has been the standard fare for the past week.
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In the estuary, blackfish have slowed a little in the lower reaches, although the breakwalls and Lake Cathie are still worth a look. Bream have picked up since the passing of the full moon, with Limeburners holding some nice fish. Yabbies and mullet gut have proven effective.
Flathead numbers have picked up, with nice fish on offer between Settlement Point and the Dennis Bridge on lures and whitebait.
Mulloway numbers remain terrific around the breakwalls and up river, with plenty of fish from barely legal up to about 12 kilo. Soft plastics of several varieties have been snaring most of them. We also continue to get positive reports for mud crabs from those who haven’t shelved the traps.
Off the beaches, the full moon phase saw a sprinkling of mulloway from Lighthouse and North beaches. Most were in the school range with beach worms by far the most effective bait. A few reasonable bream, tailor and salmon have also registered at most local beaches.
Off the rocks, drummer remain the pick of targets, with those travelling south seeing the more consistent results. On the tailor front, Big Hill continues to give up some above average fish, whilst locally Lighthouse and Blueface have both produced a few nice bags.
A few school mulloway have been on offer from around Plomer, with tailor fillets and squid enjoying equal success. Bream have been reasonable, with those fishing the dawn session enjoying better results.
Offshore this past week has seen reasonable conditions, but a few managed to get out. A few snapper and mulloway are around, and leather jackets have turned up in a big way. Bag limit catches have been common from the wider grounds, while solid numbers have been notched up as close as 30 metres.
NSW fisheries have posted footage showing snapper, pearl perch and flathead among 16 different species now inhabiting the the new artificial reef structures. It’s definitely worth exploring.