For those wishing to wet a line during this time, as per previous lockdowns, recreational fishing is permitted however you should familiarise yourself with applicable social distancing requirements and other lockdown restrictions. Full details can be sourced from Service NSW and NSW Health web pages.

In the estuary, blackfish continue to slow although fish are still available for those willing to put in the time. The breakwalls again have been the pick of locations with both green weed and weed flies successful, although those fishing lightly-weighted yabbies in either Big Bay, or around weed beds elsewhere, have enjoyed reasonable results.

Bream numbers have been a little quiet, however up river has been fishing quite well with lures the premier method. On the positive side, flathead numbers are picking up with most parts of the Hasting worth prospecting.

You will however find plenty of active juveniles in among the better fish. Best reports over the past week have come from upstream of the highway bridges, and the lower section of the Maria.

On the crustacean front mud crabs, and to a lesser extent blue swimmers, are certainly active throughout the Hastings estuary. It's an ideal time to dust off the traps and witches hats if you have not already done so.

Further south, Lake Cathie is again producing plenty of prawns which is great to see after a barren couple of years. Just be mindful the bag limit for prawns is 10 litres per person, which in all honesty is more than ample.

On the beaches, there are still a few bream about however expect their numbers to taper considerably from this point. Best results over the past week have been achieved on worms or pipis.

Still the odd whiting, tailor, salmon and school mulloway about, with next week's dark moon tides ideal for chasing the latter.

On the rocks, a few drummer are still about with the odd model close to three kilograms. Cunjevoi has been the bait of choice.

On the tailor front, results were only average, with the high rock at the Lighthouse fishing as well as anywhere. For those keen to float a bit of cabbage in the washes for blackfish, Shelly Beach is worth a look.

On the offshore scene, once again conditions have not been favourable on most days, with strong winds from polar opposite points of the compass. Unfortunately, that is standard fare for this time of year.

Those who have managed to take advantage of the few windows of opportunity have generally done quite well, with some terrific snapper to around 6kg still active close in off Lighthouse Beach. Soft plastics have once again been the premier offering.

Wider out, a few pearl perch, kingfish and leather jackets have been active, while the flathead grounds in around 55 metres have been quite consistent.