After years of watching locations north and south of us get the lion's share of the Mid-North Coast's rainfall, last weekend saw the Hastings region cop a direct hit from an east coast low, with well over 200 milimetres soaking the area.
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As a result, we have seen our third minor flood in two months. While some may be complain, you only have to cast your mind back to the drought and fires a little over 12 months ago, to realise it's not so bad after all.
In the estuary, once again we have plenty of colour and some debris coming down the Hastings. As such, the angling action will be limited to the lower reaches for the next week or so.
While it is doubtful this fresh will be significant enough to really fire the mulloway up, I'm sure there will be plenty of effort put in off the breakwalls. Hard bodied lures and large soft plastics will be the offerings of choice, and time will tell how successful they are.
Bream are bound to be throughout the lower reaches in good numbers. Mullet, bonito or mackerel fillets will be gun baits, as well as either mullet or chicken gut.
The breakwalls will also likely hold a few flathead while the river is dirty, but whiting may prove elusive until the clean water begins to push back up the system.
The big winner from this recent deluge could be Lake Cathie. Before the weekend, closure of the entrance seemed imminent, with a large sandbar in front of the rapidly shrinking entrance and a copious amount of sand just inside.
But, as a result the amount of rain over such a short period, the lake's level rose considerably and the entrance has begun to scour out once again. How long this stay of execution lasts is anyone's guess. Fingers crossed mother nature allows it stay open a while.
Off the beaches, the big seas over the past week have again limited opportunities on the open stretches. Some report bream and whiting around in reasonable numbers, with the northern end of Lighthouse quite consistent. Given the dirty water again coming out of the Hastings, the southern end of North Beach will also be worth a look for bream and flathead.
Off the rocks, longtail tuna had arrived in reasonable numbers, but the off-coloured water may put this action on hold. It's a similar story with tailor and bonito, however bream will be well worth chasing.
Nothing to report from the reefs, however mackerel numbers in close remained terrific. The latest flood might see this action come to a sudden halt until the currents sweep the dirty water away.
