Perhaps the pick of the spots locally during, and just after the rough seas has been Shelly Beach, with good numbers of blackfish being taken on both cabbage and cunjevoi.

Action just in front of the car park was at time quite fast and furious, with most who braved the elements managing a good bag.

Fishing for blackfish in this type of location, particularly during windy weather and rough seas, is quite a challenge when compared the relative calm of most estuary locations.

Gone are the subtle downs and gentle drifts often associated with blackfish fishing, with savage takes in amongst breaking waves the norm.

In addition, landing fish by washing them up the beach rather than with the assistance of a landing net is also a refreshing change.

Perhaps some of our “gun” wall anglers who are looking for a change could do a lot worse than to head to Shellys next time the really big seas kick in.

In addition to blackfish, the rough seas also saw a few late season drummer snared, with fish taken from around Shellys and Flagstaff locally, Point Perpendicular to the south and Plommer to the North.

No great numbers of fish were taken, however all were of good size and condition for this time of year.

Elsewhere off the rocks, a few tailor are beginning to show although the size as yet is not great, whilst a few nice bream have also been snared when conditions allow.

On the jew side, we are now approaching another full moon with many jew anglers champing at the bit to get out and try their hand this weekend.

With high tides just after dark, conditions should be great, weather permitting of course.

Earlier this week one local angler managed a top fish of 19 kilos cleaned, with a tailor slab being the successful bait.

With tailor numbers beginning to increase again, tailor either live or freshly slabbed would be the pick of the baits from the rocks, whilst for those keen to try the beaches, as mentions many times live beach worms are way to go.

Also on the beaches, the rough seas had the desired effect of scouring out the coastline to a degree, with some nice sand spits and gutters now beginning to both reform and more importantly, fish well.

During the week we had an excellent run of whiting from Lighthouse beach, whilst a few bream, dart and soapie jew have also been taken.

Live worms have been the pick of the baits, however the humble pippi has also accounted for a few fish .

With the whiting, the last couple of hours of the run in tide, and the first hour or so after high has been the most productive by far.

Similarly, the evening high tides this weekend should also fish well for jew.

In the estuary, as mentioned we have not received sufficient rain to see any real colour in the water and as such, fish are still spread reasonably well upstream albeit not as far during the past month or so.

Flathead continue to be the best bet with reasonable numbers of fish taken from most areas between Wauchope and the walls.

For those keen to snare a few nice whiting, Blackmans Point has been the place to go, particularly the sand spit right on the point itself.

Best baits have been either yabbies or worms, with the top of the tide again fishing best.

In addition to whiting, the point has also given up some nice bream which is a little unusual for this time of year.

Further downstream, some reasonable numbers of blackfish are beginning to show, although the average size is still not great.

Outside reports have been limited as you would expect with sea conditions not at all favourable on most days.

When conditions allow, some reasonable snapper have been taken in close off Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills, whilst flathead numbers continue to be good for those drifting the sand flats.

Little reports in the way of surface fish as yet, however if we get a reasonable period of good warm weather and the warmer currents move a little closer to shore, look for this action to pick up over the next few week.

Finally, it’s just about that time of the moon for those keen to score a great feed of Lake Cathie prawns.

If the last couple of months are anything to go by, expect a lot of traffic on the water over the next couple of weeks or so.

Lets keep of fingers crossed for the excellent run to continue.

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

Tide times

FRIDAY, November 30: 2.24am, 0.4m; 8.51am, 1.7m; 3.21pm, 0.3m; 9.16pm, 1.4m.

SATURDAY, December 1: 3.02am, 0.4m; 9.30am, 1.8m; 4.04pm, 1.3m; 10.01pm, 1.3m.

SUNDAY, December2: 3.41am, 0.4m; 10.12am, 1.8m;4.49pm, 0.2m; 10.49am, 1.2m.

MONDAY, December 3: 4.25am, 0.4m; 10.56am, 1.8m; 5.39pm, 0.2m; 11.49am, 1.3pm.

TUESDAY, December 4: 5.16am, 0.4m; 11.44am, 1.8m; 6.29pm, 0.2m.

WEDNESDAY, December 5: 12.34am, 1.3m; 6.04am, 0.5m; 7.24pm, 0.3m.

FRIDAY, December 6: 1.32am, 1.2m; 7.03am, 0.5m; 1.30pm, 1.7m; 6.21pm, 0.3m.

Moon: Full moon, Saturday, December 1.

The tidal information has been supplied by the National Tidal Facility, Flinders University, South Australia, and is taken from Fort Denison.

Moon phase data has been supplied by Auslig, Canberra.