For those who get a break in the weather and like to head outside, there should be some pelagics on offer as the temperature of the water is warm and the water quality is good.

Macks, tuna, bonito, mahimahi and the odd marlin will be out cruising the coast looking for bait schools and that’s exactly what you should be looking for too. The pelagics will try to ball the bait up, so keep an eye on your sounder and try to bait jig up a slimy or yakka and put out a livie with a small weight. Otherwise you could troll lures around the school and hopefully you should get a strike.

There seems to be no off-season for flathead around the Pin area and they are around in large numbers with some big fish caught recently. Flick up into the shallows and drag your soft plastic into the deeper water so that the lure mimics a wounded baitfish. This has proven to be the best method to catch lizards right now. Try to find an area where weed patches meet sand and work the edges of these patches. The flathead lie camouflaged and wait for an easy feed. According to several soft plastic anglers, Persistence pays off and the general consensus is that you will probably only get one fish about every 150 casts which makes for a hard day of fishing. But if you do find the fish, it is more than likely there will be more there so keep working the area. The same goes for baitfishing and trolling lures; where there is one there’s more. The pick spots to try in February will be along the bottom of Kangaroo Island, Tipplers Island, the deep water off Swan Bay, Tabby Tabby, the Stockyards and the small island across from Little Rocky Point.

If you like to chase whiting, try around the Gold and Green Banks, Slipping Sands, Flatrock, Browns Bay entrance, Ageston Sands and the Junction in the River. Worms are the best baits to tempt these excellent table fish or you could try some squid, pipis or small peeled prawns. If you are ever out there and the water glasses out, preferably late in the afternoon, then try to flick small poppers or walking lures in 1-2ft of water for whiting, it’s an exciting way to chase them and is really popular with lure fishermen.

Bream will be heavily targeted all month, as there are a lot of fishos getting into luring these great fighting fish. Using light 1-2kg braid on a matched flick stick of your choice around canals, jetties, rocks, pylons and other structure is a great way to target bream. They are a very aggressive fish and will smash a moving or sinking lure. Vibes, small poppers, hardbodies and small plastics all work, just be sure to put a little effort in and persistence and the rewards will speak for themselves. For the bait fishers stick to all the usual bream haunts and fish the last couple of hours of the run-in tide along a berley trail to produce some better quality fish.

If you are in search of a big mulloway there have been a few around lately up to the 50lb mark and a couple of stories coming from the Pin bar of fish that just can’t be stopped. Using 6-9” plastics with 1-2oz jigheads seems to be the best set-up. Send the lure to the bottom and jig straight up and down. Persistence is the key to mulloway fishing and those putting in the time and effort will reap the rewards. The Gazebo and Marks Rocks in the river, Giants Grave, Kalinga Bank and the deep water off Swan Bay are the best spots, you just have to put the time in.

Muddies have been everywhere of late as they go on the march in search of food, and after all the creeks and rivers have been flushed out they should go from strength to strength. The mangrove-lined banks of the Logan River all the way to the powerlines are great spots to start to chase muddies. Lucky for us, most of the Pin estuary system is lined with mangroves and perfect hiding holes for crabs so I would suggest you try new spots as you never know – you could find your new favourite spot. Sandies should be available too, try Jacobs Well main channel right to Rocky Point and beyond to the powerlines on the small drop-offs and holes for a feed.

I’ll catch you next month.

• Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden--