The salmon have made quite a return to the local beaches recently. Good-sized schools of decent fish have been showing up at Wild Dog Creek Beach, near Pirates Cove, the back beach at Marengo and Johanna Beach.

Spinning with a 9ft shore spin rod and matching reel, 15-20lb braid and fluorocarbon leader is ideal. Juro Laser lures, Gillies Baitfish and Halco Streakers are some good lure choices. I have seen photos of salmon to 4.5lb and had reports of fish close to 10lb, and in good numbers. Early morning and late evening are the best times to get out there and chase them off the beaches.

Out wide I’m still getting reports of good catches of gummies, snapper and some big flatties being caught around the 40m mark off Bald Hill Reef and Blanket Bay Reef. Earlier last month there were a few days where things were pretty quiet, but that seems to have changed with the water clearing up.

There have been many boats out chasing the bluefin tuna of late, as there have been a few good fish caught. On one day five fish came in weighing 105-120kg and a few school fish to 30kg as well. So far the tuna have been taken on various coloured skirts and deep divers. Most of the tuna were caught around 70m out at Big Reef. There have also been good-sized schools of tuna to 20kg sighted off Cape Patton.

The local rivers and streams have been fishing pretty well for bream, with some nice EPs and trout as well.