Southerly conditions will dominate the weather this weekend but thing should remain fishable, according to Paul "Ringo" Lennon, from Port Stephens Estuary Fishing Charters.
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"The southerly will be good for fishing actually," Ringo said.
"It will keep the good water there and a bit of rain will help flush the estuaries."
Ringo is of the opinion that March-April-May are the probably the best couple of months for fishing each year.
Winter species like bream, luderick and mullet are starting to mobilise, but there's still plenty of summer species and pelagics about.
"The flathead fishing in Nelson Bay has been phenomenal," Ringo said.
"Really good numbers with big fish up to 80cm, which you should release.
"Big plastics do the job, 120mm flicking around rocks walls and bars where they meet sand."
Been some jew fish showing up on beaches and in the bay.
"It will only get better as luderick and mullet get ready to travel," Ringo said.
"Harley Price got a nice jew through the week fishing the back olf Soldiers Point
"Live baiting the deeper holes on tide changes, putting in the hours and getting results."
Been some few blue fin tuna showing up in close.
"They're a bit early, but the water has been beautiful out the front - deep blue, 25 degrees," Ringo said.
"Greg Harrison got one about 18kg on the weekend, live baiting inshore reefs and headlands."
Been a few marlin in close, mainly blacks.
"Marlin haven’t been fantastic this year yet, considering how good the water is now, but they are out there and worth chasing," Ringo said.
"Also been a fair few cobia in that water too.
"Could be the cobes are chasing bonito which have been about in good numbers in close."
Back in the estuaries, there are big schools of tailor chasing bait inside the bay.
Meanwhile, beaches are holding a few whiting and bream.
"Anglers are getting a nice mixed bag this time of year using tube worms in the gutters, fishing the high tide along all the beaches.
"It's a beautiful time of year for fishing, that's for sure. You get a bit of everything and it will stay that way for the next month or more."
Classic success
Last weekend's East Coast Classic Game Fishing Tournament hosted by Newcastle Game Fishing Club was hailed a success by all concernrf.
The weather gods smiled reasonably well and the marlin turned up.
Over 244 angler in 55 boats took to the water, with over 40 marlin tagged, supporting hopes we're in for a late-season bite.
The $5000 prize for champion boat tag and release went to Geoff Leonard's boat Born Free.
Reel Crazy landed the $5000 cheque for heaviest shark over 350kg with a 483.4kg tiger on 37kg.
Jason "One For" Nunn who took out the heaviest other game fish prize of $750 for his 70.3kg yellowfin tuna fishing on Fifi.
Rhys Jolly, fishing on Zanzibar, was champion junior angler tag and release.
"All the feedback was great," NGFC secretary Scott Morris said of the tournament.
"We had a record number of juniors fish which is great because as a club we see them as the future of game fishing.
"There was over 40 marlin tagged, and we had over 150 people at the mid-week presentation on Wednesday at the Newcastle Yacht Club."
Overall results will be available on the NGFC website and Facebook page soon.
On the March
Charlestown Anglers held their monthly outing last weekend and reported a mix bag of fish in local waters.
Jas Maher, who ventured outside last Saturday and picked up bonito and snapper while Troy Terrill boated a 60cm kingfish around Moon Island that had the reel screaming.
There was some nice flathead recorded in Lake Macquarie with fish nudging 80cm, the biggest being released as is recommended to sustain breeding stocks.
Swansea Bridged produced some small kingfish on the Sunday.
"It was great to see a fair few species weighed in with jew, flathead, snapper, bream, bonito, tailor, whiting and mullet weighed in," club weighmaster Troy said.
The club's next outing is April 5 from 4pm to April 7, 3pm
Twin Rivers
The Junction Inn Fishing Club (Raymond Terrace) will host the 14th annual "Twin Rivers Fishing Classic" next weekend, March 22-24.
Approximately $6000 in prizes will be on offer, most of which are lucky draw and mystery fish.
For more information email Peter Hughes on peter.hughes59@me.com for online rego.
Trailer entries
Don't forget entries for the 2019 Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament being held April 5-7 at Port Stephens are open online at www.tbft.net.au.