While only about 40 milimetres at present, the growth rate of mulloway is quite rapid, with most reaching maturity, or around 70 centimetres, within three to four years.

In the estuary, blackfish numbers are terrific with bag limit catches quite common around the breakwalls and Westport area. Green weed, cabbage and weed flies have all proven effective offerings, with both tides seeing good results in varying locations.

Flathead numbers and quality remain reasonable despite the water now cooling considerably, while there are still plenty of bream on offer both day and night. Best baits for the bream after dark have been strip baits and mullet gut, while soft vibes are still proving deadly.

On the mulloway front, a few solid fish are still being taken off the breakwalls on either live baits or whole squid, while up river larger soft plastics have been working well.

There have also been plenty of salmon in both the Hastings and Lake Cathie, providing great fun on light estuary gear. Small metals and shallow running, hard-bodied lures have been particularly effective, with whitebait and bluebait also having good success.

Off the rocks, some quality tailor to over 2 kilograms continue to haunt the washes, with Plomer and Crescent Head fishing particularly well. Late afternoon sessions have produced the better class of fish.

Drummer remain consistent, with practically all ledges which are free of sand producing well. Best results over the past week have come from Point Perpendicular and the Lighthouse.

Those few fishing with bread have been doing particularly well of late. Makes sense when most drummer burleys are bread based, doesn't it.

Blackfish action remains terrific with Plomer and Miners locally both worth a look. Bream remain reasonable, with most ledges around Plomer worth visiting.

Off the beaches, the constant swell has limited options to the more protected corners over the past week. Tailor reports have been down as you would expect with few deep water options fishable. Salmon remain common and do venture into shallower water.

A few bream and nice winter whiting have also been around, particularly during afternoon and evening sessions.

Offshore, little to report over the past week, with the swell quite relentless and the bar really baring its teeth, particularly on the run-out tide. It seems quite a bit of sand has built up on the bar over recent times, with this build up uncannily commencing after sand dredged from the Hastings was deposited on the North Shore.

Hopefully mother nature comes to the rescue with a huge southerly swell in the near future, which may restore the reasonable passage we have grown accustom to.