Weekly fishing column: North Beach the pick of the locations for bream

In the estuary, blackfish remain consistent from all points in the lower section of the Hastings, with some nice fish well over a kilo being encountered.

Weed flies and cabbage seem to be accounting for the better fish. Bream numbers also remain consistent, particularly for those fishing at night, with gut baits and yabbies achieving the better results.

Most areas from Rawdon Island to the break walls are worth a look.

For flattie fans, there are still good numbers of lizards active in most locations downstream from Rawdon Island. Whitebait, soft plastics and soft vibes have all proven successful.

Those throwing lures are also still finding some nice school mulloway, ranging from around 50cm to 90cm which is great fun on light gear.

For those fishing even lighter gear, there are plenty of garfish in the system at the moment. Either bread or small portions of peeled prawns, fished on a size 12 hook under a float is the way to go for the gars.

On the beaches, tailor have pick up, with several fish around and over the two kilogram mark taken from around Crescent Head to the north and Kylies to the south.

Many of the better fish have been taken on slab baits intended for mulloway which are still proving rather elusive in the main.

On the bream front, North Beach has been the pick of locations, with early morning sessions using either pipis or mullet strip seeing fish to around a kilo.

Those using worms are also still scoring the odd nice sized whiting, with the entrance to lake Cathie well worth a look. Salmon numbers are also picking up, and will further do so as the water begins to cool.

Off the rocks, tailor catches are improving as is expected at this time of year. Reports of greenbacks over two kilograms have come from Hat Head and South West Rocks, while a good class of fish is also around locally.

Bream numbers have been reasonable, particularly at night, with fresh tailor and bonito strips achieving the better results.

A few reasonable mulloway have also been active around Plomer and Bonny Hills, with both lures and tailor slabs successful offerings.

On the drummer scene, this season has been exceptional to date with pretty well all locations from Hat Head to Seal Rocks firing.

Cunjevoi, prawns, cabbage and plain old white bread have all been successful. Using bread for pigs has gone out of favour a little over recent years, but can be deadly at times.

Try either using either the crusts or squeezing the bread into a hardy ball. Both methods work although you will need to rebait constantly. Makes sense doesn't it considering it is what many use as their primary berley source.

Offshore, the reefs continue to fish well for most of our common species.

Snapper, pearl perch and kingfish have been regularly on offer, together with some terrific teraglin and mulloway.

We have also had several reports of exceptional flathead to around 60cm from the gravel patches just off the reefs in around 50 to 60 metres.

For those ken on mahi mahi, the FAD is worth visiting however be quick, as all FAD's south of Forster have now been removed for winter maintenance, with ours also likely to go any time.