At least the early forecast for this weekend is a little more civilized, which is welcome news for all anglers, particularly those wishing to head offshore.

In the estuary, flathead and whiting are both improving daily. If whiting is your passion, Lake Cathie is well worth visiting or alternately the flats around Pelican Island or the back channel in the Hastings. Live worms and yabbies are the best live bait, while most surface poppers or stick baits will produce the goods for lure enthusiasts.

On the flattie front, the breakwalls and Settlement Point are both giving up some nice fish, as are most areas around Rawdon Island and Blackmans Point.

Blackfish numbers also remain reasonable, with the breakwalls and Lady Nelson Wharf worth a look. The north wall has also held a few nice bream on mullet gut fished after dark. 

On the mulloway front, those throwing lures continue to encounter a few school-sized fish in several up river locations, while the tides this weekend will be terrific for chasing a larger model from the lower reaches.

In the fresh water, our summer bass season is firing already with terrific action from most local waterways. To date, best results have been achieved by those throwing spinnerbaits, soft vibes and hard bodied divers, but in the past few days some great results have been enjoyed on surface lures. Look for these to really come into their own as the weather warms and the insects come out in force.

Off the beaches, the odd reasonable bream is still on offer, with Lighthouse producing as well as anywhere. Those fishing the shallower sand spits on the northern section have also been scoring a few nice whiting on the run-up tide. Mulloway and tailor have both been a little quiet, however, the tides from the latter section of this week onwards should see an improvement on both fronts.

On the rocks, tailor numbers remain reasonable with early morning sessions from Lighthouse as reliable as ever. Further south, a few solid groper have been taken from Diamond Head when the swell is down, along with a sprinkling of drummer.

Offshore, conditions have been average at best although hopefully this weekend will see a few more able to venture out. Of the few reports we’ve had in, kingfish and teraglin are still active around trag rock and the reefs in 75 to 80m ENE of the bar, snapper are about in close south of the light, while those keen to head real wide are still a chance of scoring some cracking yellowfin.

Until next week, good fishing and tight lines to all.