This past week has seen our first real taste of Autumn, with strong westerly based winds, big seas and a noticeable dip in the mercury.
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Whilst not perhaps the most pleasant conditions from a comfort perspective, such a change signifies the start of our winter fishing season and arguably some of the best action of the year.
In the estuaries, bream numbers are quite encouraging and will only improve from now on.
Best reports have been received from around Limeburners and the break walls, with yabbies, mullet strips and gut baits all achieving good results.
Flathead numbers have remained solid throughout most of the system and show no real signs of slowing, as has been the trend in recent seasons.
On the blackfish front, the recent big seas and cool change have seen an improvement in the lower reaches.
Both break walls have been worth a look with either greenweed or cabbage. There are still plenty of mullet in the lower reaches yet to head to sea for their annual migration.
This again has certainly not go unnoticed by the mulloway population with plenty of fish heard feeding on the mullet most nights. As you would guess, live mullet have been the offering of choice although large hard bodies lures or soft plastics are also worth a go.
Off the beaches, the big seas have temporarily seen fishing the more exposed sections virtually impossible.
This is a bit of shame as just before the weather set in some terrific tailor to around 4 kilos were taken off Lighthouse and several beaches further south.
Hopefully conditions will settle in the near future and the fish remain active.
Apart from tailor, some nice bream have been taken from the protected southern corners and from around Middle Rock. Look for their numbers to improve significantly over the coming weeks.
Off the rocks, before the seas came up, tailor were again first class. It has been some time since we have seen such an extended run of such quality fish at this time of year.
Usually they improve as winter sets in, but I doubt we will see better fishing than what has been on offer over the past couple of months. More than happy to be wrong though.
Drummer numbers have also been excellent from many headlands north and south, while bream and blackfish are also about. Still a few longtail tuna on offer from the more renowned locations for those keen on chasing these tenacious sportfish.
On the offshore front, before the seas came up, Barries Bay was again the place to be.
Spanish and spotted mackerel were taken in reasonable numbers along with a few cobia, longtail tuna and mac tuna.
Hopefully they will still be around once the seas settle.
Chasing a snapper could also prove rewarding, with the close in reefs off Plomer or Lighthouse beach well worth prospecting over the coming months.
Soft plastics, or anchoring and burlying will both be worthwhile tactics.