All major estuaries are producing whiting and bream, according to Logan from Fisherman’s Warehouse at Marks Point.

“Not just whiting either, I mean tail-slappers,” Logan said. “Same thing along local beaches this week. Guys are getting their bag limits each day. They’re responding to metho’d beach worms. Fish love metho.”

Methylated spirits is a great way to preserve beach worms and they make great bait.

Bonito have turned up in force along the coast.

“Football fields of them,” Logan said. “We’ve even seen a couple of dolphin fish and a few cobia turning up in the channel too.

“There’s heaps of yakka about for those who are after live bait.”

 Offshore, water temp is up around 22 degree on the inshore reefs and the snapper are back, along with a mountain of dolphin fish.

“The FAD is full of mahi mahi,” Logan said. “Guys can’t get away from them – fish in the 5kg to 10kg mark.”

Inside the lake, there’s been a few nice kingfish caught this week and plenty of school jew ranging in size from 70cm up to a metre. 

Interesting news from out on the Shelf this week, courtesy of Justin Allen, brother of  Fish of the Week winner Brendon.

Justin was on the boat two Sunday’s ago when Brendon caught his 14kg prize-winning mahi mahi.

He reports the waters were awash with dollies, which would be a good thing, except the boys were chasing marlin.

“We found good water  about 10 nautical mile past the shelf and trolled a bit south of Newcastle,” Justin said.

“Water was about  21.5 degrees that weekend and there were no marlin about.

“Too many dolphins [mahi mahi, not the Flipper variety]. Dolphins galore, just mucking around.”

Justin went out  last  Sunday too and got nothing again, but there was a distinct change in water temp.

“We got 27 degrees water this time – it was like a mill pond and again thousands of dolphin fish, but not marlin.”

Mahi mahi are nothing to sneezed at when it comes to eating fish, but for focused  fishos like Justin and Brendon and their mate Ben, it’s all about the marlin, and they reckon it’s been a bit slow on that front.

“We heard there was 12 or 15 Lake Macquarie Game Fishing Boats went out last weekend, and only two got marlin – two 80kg blacks –  the rest didn’t get a tickle,” Justin said. “That’s why they call it fishing, not catching.” 

 Charlestown Anglers Club had a cracking weigh-in last weekend, providing a nice overview of fishing in local waters and what a family friendly activity fishing really is.

Chad Kelly saluted in the men’s division with a great haul of jew, bream and whiting.

Troy Terrill was runner up with the same catch minus one bream he alleged flicked out of his boat.

Carla Kelly took lady honours with some nice bream and whiting.

Jye Morton won junior boys with a nice mixed bag and Sabine Ingham claimed junior girls.

“It was great to see a fair few members turn up  as this time of year most members are away on holidays,” club scribe Troy Terrel reported.

“The bonus species for the outing was whiting and we ended up with 20  weighed in,  ranging from 36cm to 40cm.

“Chad and Carla Kelly were on the lake Sat morning chasing some early bream then onto the flats for whiting.

“It was great to see Carla cleaning up on whiting and getting the biggest going 41cm.”

 Brad Morton and son Jye followed suit last Saturday morning and Brad nailed a 42cm bream, but Jye had a the last laugh, outfishing the old man with   his bag limit of bream, whiting and a flathead.  

Paul and Jody Harvey stayed overnight at Broughton.

“Jody again outfished Paul, getting her bag limit of snapper and flathead,” Troy reported.

“Paul’s excuse was that he was always looking after Jody so he wasn’t able to fish as much as her.”

There were high hopes of kingfish off Broughton on Sunday but most players headed home with doughnuts.

“Micky G seems to think that the red algae must have put the fish off,” Troy said.

Troy and Chad enjoyed success in Newcastle Harbour fishing for jew on live baits before the southerly turned up.

Back at club HQ, the Warners Bay Hotel,   beer battered fillets flowed generously to pub patrons after Chad and Troy brought back about 5kg of fillets. 

“Andrew [WBH] boss  organised the chef to stay back to cook them up for the weigh-in,” Troy said.

“We would all like to thank him for his great hospitality and theatre.”

The club’s next meeting at WBH is on February 5 from 6.30pm and the next outing is the Harrington away trip  Feb 15-17.