After a fairly torrid few weeks on the bushfire front, we are finally beginning to see some respite locally, due to the fantastic efforts of countless firefighters and some isolated rainfall from a few very welcome storms.
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In the estuaries, flathead and whiting continue to be the best bet with the Hastings and tributaries producing some good bags of quality fish. Best catches of flatties have come from around the Highway bridges, while Settlement Point, Limeburners and Blackmans Point are all worth a throw for whiting on worms or yabbies.
Bream however remain a little quiet, although the upper reaches have seen a reasonable degree of action for lure enthusiasts. On the blackfish front, the break walls in Port have been only fair however North Haven wall has been fishing well, as too along Settlement Point Road.
For crabbing enthusiasts, although muddies have been a little scarce, blue swimmer numbers and quality remain excellent with anywhere from Rawdon Island down the back channel worth a look.
On the beaches, conditions have again been challenging however there are a few fish around if you put in the time. Lighthouse has been producing some nice whiting particularly from the northern end, as has Shelley's in town. Beach worms have been the gun bait.
We have also had a few positive reports on tailor from around Lake Cathie, although there are plenty of throw backs in among the better fish.
Off the rocks, there is also a sprinkling of tailor from most headlands although the quality is not great. Bream however, have been quite good with fish to around a kilogram caught around Lighthouse and up at Plomer.
A few solid blackfish have also been on offer around Shelleys and Miners, however a bit of rough water is a must.
The next few weeks may also be well worth a throw for a late season drummer, as divers report there are plenty of fish still inhabiting our shoreline.
Offshore , there have been some terrific snapper about which is great news for this time of year. If only we could get the winds to be a little more civilised to allow a few more opportunities to chase them.
Best reports have been from off Plomer in around 50m, however the close in reefs off Lighthouse have also been worth a look with lures. The reefs have also been producing a few pearl perch and pigfish, both top shelf in the culinary stakes.
Wider out the FAD is holding a few mahi mahi, however, inconsistently to date. As a bit of growth develops, and the water temperature picks up, no doubt results will improve considerably.