Port Stephens is famous for its marlin fishery and February is the month where it all starts to happen with consistent numbers appearing both inshore and on the shelf.

It’s also the time of year when longtail tuna start to make an appearance along the coastline sparking the start of the LBG season for many anglers.

In the estuary you will find good numbers of flathead towards the mouth of the system around Shoal Bay through to Bagnalls Beach, as well as on the opposite side of the bay from Jimmys Beach through to Pindimar.

Whiting have been in good numbers in these same areas, especially around the high tide. Live worms or nippers have had the most success. The sand whiting’s smaller yet just as delicious cousin the trumpeter whiting have been thick for those drifting around the moorings at Corlette, over the top of West Bank and the back of Soldiers Point Through to Taylors Beach.

Monster mulloway still lurk in the deep water around Soldiers Point and have also been caught recently along both the Nelson Bay and Anchorage Rockwalls.

Off the stones and its time for LBG anglers to dust off their gear with longtail tuna and even the odd prized cobia a real chance over the next couple of months.

Smaller pelagics like bonito and tailor also provide plenty of fun for anglers spinning metals early morning and late afternoon. The best spots to hit will be stones at Box Beach, Fingal Head and Sunny Corner.

The surf beaches always fish excellent this time of year with whiting plentiful along the Stockton, Samurai, One mile and Fingal beaches, however if you’re not using live worms, you’re simply not in the game.

I find it also makes a massive difference to your catch rates to fish on the top of the tide and ideally late in the afternoon or early morning.