June on the Mid North Coast usually brings with it some cool, dry and reasonably settled conditions. One thing is for sure though; if you get it right, there is still some red-hot fishing action available.

With a little persistence you will find that there are many species on offer at this time of year with the last few summer pelagic species still kicking around as well as a whole range of bottom species offshore and the flow on effects of the spawning migrations along our stretch of coastline.

The mackerel that will still be caught throughout June will become few and far between, and their numbers will reduce even further as the water temperature begins to drop. Longtail tuna should stick around a little longer, as well as the odd cobia hanging off the bait schools on the inshore reefs.

Offshore, out into the 50-120m zones, there is a vast array of species on the chew right now. Snapper, teraglin, pearl perch and pigfish have been in reasonable numbers on the reefs. To mix things up it is always worth dropping a live yellowtail down when fishing these depths, as it’s likely there are kingfish, mulloway and bar cod around. Hopefully we get a good run of all these quality species of bottom fish before the current pushes north and the inevitable leatherjacket plagues arrive to destroy some tackle.

With the current laying off most of the time now, it’s possible to venture out further to sea on a good day with the electric reels where bar cod, blue-eye and bass groper can regularly be found as well as a vast array of weird and wonderful species.

The beaches have got a lot of bream along them at present. These fish have been well above legal length and in very good condition. Mullet strips and beach worms are all that is required if you are after some of these fish. Flathead and tailor are also being found in the gutters for those that like to fish lures off the sand and the chance of a school mulloway is always on the cards, especially when using soft plastics. Better-sized mulloway are being caught off the beaches after dark using fresh fish baits and large balls of beach worms.

The headlands and rock ledges are producing tailor and bream quite regularly around a tide change as well as drummer and luderick. Mulloway are never far away and sending out a large live or dead bait or paddle-tailed soft plastic will usually end up in some fun.

Fishing in the river can be tough at this time of year, especially after the flood activity we had a few months back. Mulloway are along the rock walls, as are bream, luderick and even tailor. From there the further you head up stream, the quieter the fishing has been.

Fishing the deeper holes is producing the odd whiting and flathead, but most of these fish are out on the beaches this year. Bass have migrated down to Smithtown, so be aware of seasonal closures and rules associated with these fish when fishing in this area.