Offshore, the Golden Lure has been the focus of the week with some great action on offer. Close in, black marlin have been quite common which is great for the smaller vessels, while wider out, blue marlin have been encountered. In addition, some terrific mahi mahi have been landed, like the one caught by Rowan Dawson shown in our picture, as have the odd wahoo.

Let’s hope the weather and ocean stay reasonable for the remainder of the tournament. Also on the pelagic scene, rumour has it a couple of mackerel have already shown up in Barries Bay, however the start of the season proper will likely still be a few weeks off.

For those content to fish the bottom, some nice snapper to 8 kilos have been taken in around 50 meters off Shelley’s, while the reefs off Plomer continue to yield a few kingfish and pearl perch.

In the estuaries, the break walls have been fishing quite well with a few mulloway to around 15 kilos taken, together with a sprinkling of bream and flathead. Bream remain terrific further up river, with surface again the tactic of choice.

On the flathead front, Blackmans Point and around Hibbard have both been productive, as to Lake Cathie despite the heavily tannin stained water.

On the whiting scene, Limeburners, Blackmans Point and the back channel have all been worth a look with either beach worms or yabbies.

Off the beaches, results have been a little subdued although a far better tide phase begins this weekend. School mulloway should be viable targets from both Lighthouse and North beaches, with both locations fishing very consistently over recent months.

For day time anglers, bream and whiting should be worth chasing, particularly at first light. These improved tides should also benefit those fishing the rocks, which apart from a few tailor and bream have been a little quiet over the past week.

Finally, great news for local anglers, with our major sponsors Penn and Berkley again coming on board for our 2018 Fish of the Year and Pic of the Week competitions.

Penn will be offering a terrific prize consisting of a Penn Conflict 2 fishing reel for largest fish of the year in each of the following species categories: Bream, whiting, blackfish, mulloway, drummer, tailor and snapper.

Berkley will also providing a great prize pack for the fishing pic of week published Friday weekly in the Port News. This year’s competition starts Tuesday next week, so let’s see some great fish once again. 

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