The past week or so has seen a continuation of some excellent summer angling, despite the red weed remaining a major issue along our coastline and throughout the lower estuary.
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In the estuary, flathead and whiting numbers remain consistent with good numbers throughout the system. Flathead remain responsive to lures and baits, with whitebait and live poddies seeing good results if you can find them.
The lower reaches around Limeburners are worth a look, as too the Maria, around Rawdon Island and throughout Lake Cathie, despite the low water level. Best of the whiting action has been in the lower Maria, with worms, yabbies and surface lures all working well.
A few nice trevally are in the vicinity, with surface lures or shallow running minnows worth throwing for these feisty fish. Best results for bream continue to come from up river on surface lures. Big bay is also worth a look with either yabbies or gut baits. Mulloway action has been a little quiet apart from a few school-sized fish towards Wauchope.
A few nice blue swimmer crabs have been of offer around big bay, Hibbard and the back channel, while muddies have been cooperative further upstream.
Off the beaches, your best bet is to check each one on a daily basis as the weed is at the whim of the winds and currents, and conditions can change noticeably. On the positive side, there have been reasonable numbers of bream with the odd quality fish to around a kilogram thrown in.
In addition to bream there are some good sized whiting about, although there are plenty of throwbacks among them. Lighthouse has also held a few tailor if you find some clean water.
Off the rocks, results have been subdued and will likely stay that way until the warmer currents come back in. Of the limited reports of late, Diamond Head has held a few tailor, while Plomer is worth a look for blackfish.
No news as yet on the pelagic front, however this could change if we ever get an offshore wind change for a couple of days.
Offshore results continue to be a little mixed courtesy of variable currents and cold water close in. Reports from Barries Bay suggest the water is about 16 degrees and green, not what the mackerel enthusiasts are after. The water around South West Rocks has been a little better with the odd mackerel and cobia taken.
On the bottom fishing front, Fish Port Macquarie Charters has scored good numbers of snapper and pearl perch in about 70 metres when the current is reasonable. A few teraglin, pigfish and early season leather jackets have also been about.
