Offshore, the Golden Lure has once again been successful with the final day of competition finishing today. Conditions have at times been challenging with the fish often proving elusive, but some great catches were achieved. Congratulations to the Port Macquarie Game Fishing Club for again hosting a terrific event that showcases game fishing on the Mid-North Coast.

Variable currents and water temperatures in close have led to up and down results for bottom fishers. One day the water is still and a cool 18 degrees, the next the current is flying and the water a beautiful blue and 24 degrees. Despite this, a few reasonable snapper and pearl perch have been on offer, together with the odd kingfish around trag rock.

Bream and whiting have been on most beaches, along with plenty of pesky dart. Worms and pipis have been the go. A few tailor have also been around although again in sporadic numbers and locations.

Off the rocks, bream and blackfish have both been reasonable from around Plomer, along with consistent numbers of bream. Tailor however have been rather fickle although the Lighthouse has held a few fish consistently at first light. Still a few drummer around Lighthouse and Diamond Head for those fishing the washes with either prawns, cunjevoi or cabbage.

In the estuaries, whiting and flathead remain excellent as is usually the case at this time year. Flathead are being taken from all parts of the Hastings on both bait and lures, while Limeburners, Blackmans Point and around Pelican Island have yielded the better results on whiting. For the whiting, worms and yabbies are your best bet from a bait perspective, while for lure enthusiasts surface presentations are well worth the effort.

Also in the estuaries, good bream have been taken on surface lures from the very upper reaches of the salt, with some cracking bass mixed in. The breakwalls have also produced a few nice bream, predominately after dark. On the mulloway front, while the lower reaches have been largely devoid of action, a few solid school fish have been taken up the Maria and around the Rawdon Island area.

Our 2020 Penn Fish of the Year competition is now underway, with terrific prizes again up for grabs.

Competition Rules: All fish to be weighed at Ned Kelly's Bait Tackle, 42 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie. Only fish taken between South West Rocks and Seal Rocks are eligible. All fish presented must be of the minimum size and taken on line fishing methods as per NSW Fisheries regulations. Any locally caught fish, irrespective of species, are eligible for Pic of the Week. Email field shots to to jas.ned@bigpond.com with details.

Species: Tailor, drummer, bream whiting, Jewfish, blackfish, snapper. Please note flathead have been omitted to encourage the catch and release of large breeding females.

Fish of the Year Competition entries close 6pm, Tuesday, December 15. Winners are announced December 18, 2020.