Warm blue water has moved down the coast, sparking an early run of blue marlin.

“The warm push started around last Thursday and we saw temps push up from 23 degrees to 25 and as a result there were blue marlin in it and in front of it,” Jason “One For” Nunn, from Fisherman’s Warehouse at Marks Point said. “Plus lots of sharks – tigers, makos and blue. The boat Compton got a blue marlin, estimated around 180kg.

“Mick Kennedy fished with wife Bev and step-daughter Clare and Clare got a stripe, and Bev lost a blue which said was the biggest blue he has ever seen, and Mick’s seen a lot of big fish. Gary Hoff dropped a couple of fish on the Saturday as well.

Last week  off Port Stephens, Josh Sowter, on White Dog, weighed a 178kg blue and missed another one. And the weekend before, Rob Danckert, skipper of Hoodlum, caught  a blue estimated 150kg to 180kg. 

“So we have an early run of blues, and the forecast this weekend looks very sweet,” Jason said.

“It’s looking very interesting but until we get out there no one will know.” 

Jason is heading out  on  Saturday aboard Fifi with son Patrick and skipper Mick Stansfield.

Estuaries are firing at the moment.

On the back of the prawn run which kicked off last weekend, Lake Macquarie  has been producing great catches of school bream and whiting.

“Don Convery’s and his wife fished last weekend in the heat and wind  along the shallows where Mrs Convery got a 43cm whiting among five beauties,” Jason said.

“Reports this week have been very positive, with lots of good flathead about.

“John “Sok” caught and released a 93cm lizard fishing with Craig Walcomb. They also got an 80cm jew. Both on lures. And guys have been catching kings in the lake and channel.”

Chris “Man” Drake, from Tackle World Port Stephens, reports similar estuary conditions up Nelson Bay way.  

“The flattie are on fire around the rivers,” he said. “We’ve had a great  run on the jewies up around the bridges and on the beaches

“The whiting are  starting to show up. Live tube worms have been working and they have also been getting them on the surface.  Clear poppers or stick bait of an early morning on the high tide around the shallow flats is the way to go.”

The kingfish keep coming off Nelson Bay breakwall.  

“It’s a bit of a seasonal thing,” Chris said. “They tend to move in around September, then come on good in October. They’ve been thick the last two weeks and we can expect them to stick around till Easter.”

Offshore, Chris reports some nice trag, kings and snapper about on the deeper reefs, mixed in with pesky barracoutta. 

Scott Nugent reigned supreme at the inaugural Charlestown Anglers Flathead Classic held in sweltering conditions on Lake Macquarie last weekend.

Mick Jeffs was runner-up and Yasmin Dolman third.

Jackson Gould claimed junior honours ahead of Dustin Mrcela and Oliver Gould.

A fantastic roll-up of 84 anglers competed in the event, sponsored by   Fishermans Warehouse Marks Point.  

“We had a great turnout at Warners Bay Hotel for the presentation with a few drinks and sausage sangers provided by Andrew at WBH,” event organiser Troy Terrill said.

”I would like to say thank you to everyone that entered as we will have a good sum of money to donate to the Leukemia Foundation and this couldn’t have happened without your great support. 

Matthew Small took out the Newcastle District Anglers Association freshwater comp held at Lake St Clair last weekend

It was the second year in a row that that the winning angler got their bag of 17 fish over the two days (five catfish, five silvers, five yellowbelly and two bass).

Shannon Denning was runner-up and also bagged out but fell 100g in arrears. 

Jan Jeffs was lady champ, Bob Hodges took out the veteran category and Jan’s husband Les won super vets.

Jack Hodges – son of Adam who is son of Bob – claimed junior honours. Sub-junior champ was Blake Small, son of Matthew.

“The weather was hot and windy on the Saturday, but Sunday morning was beautiful with no wind and slightly overcast,” NDAA spokesperson Craig Oaten said. “Everyone got fish and it was pretty close across all divisions. Saturday was the more productive day.”

The next NDAA event is the beach comp on February 9-10 next year.

All affiliated clubs are welcome to fish. For more information contact Craig Oaten 0406 240 008.