Whilst summer only officially kicked off last Tuesday, the mercury has already climbed about as high as any of us would like.
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Although these hot and humid conditions are not to everyone's liking, from an angling perspective many of our warm water inclined species really begin to hit their straps from this point onwards.
Time to slap on the hat and sunscreen, and enjoy the summer angling on the Mid North Coast, no matter where your piscatorial passion lies.
In the estuary, whiting numbers and quality continue to improve, with plenty of these tasty fish taken from most areas between the back channel and Blackmans Point.
Pick of the baits have been live yabbies, although live worms too have accounted for many quality fish. Surface lures in a variety of formats are also working well.
Flathead numbers also remain first class, particularly downstream of Rawdon Island and up the Maria, with either baits or lures working well.
Bream numbers have been a little scarce as is usual around a full moon, with best results achieved by those throwing lures up river.
School mulloway numbers also remain above average up river, with large soft plastics and suspending minnows, fished around the deeper holes or structure during tide changes a good recipe for success.
On the crabbing front, east of the highway has been a little slow apart from the odd blue swimmer, however reasonable reports of muddies have come from up around the Wauchope area.
Off the beaches, despite poor water colour and the presence of red weed, some nice fish are about.
Lighthouse and North Beach have both produced bream and whiting, while Lighthouse has also produced salmon and improved numbers of tailor.
A few mulloway were also taken over the recent full moon phase, with Lake Cathie, Grants and South Beach at Dunbogan all yielding fish to around 15 kilos. Beach worms and whole squid were both successful offerings.
Off the rocks, tailor numbers are average as is usual at this time of year, although the recent full moon saw the odd big greenback about.
With a bit of cool water still hugging the coast, there is still the occasional drummer and a few blackfish about, however many of the favoured locations are now somewhat more sanded up than we would like.
Still a bit early for most of the summer pelagics, however keep an eye on the warmer currents which may well kiss the coast early this season.
Offshore, once again conditions could best be described as average with very few days in between wind changes.
When conditions allow, there has been some solid action on the reefs, with both Ocean Star and Fish Port Macquarie Charters finding plenty of snapper and pearl perch, along with the odd venus tusk fish.
The FAD and trap buoys beyond 70m have also held a few mahi mahi albeit a little inconsistently as yet.
No doubt this will change as the warm currents begin to push down the coast.