It was the culmination of months of efffort fishing two or three times a week for no real reward and it's a real tale of man against tuna - mano a tuna.

"It happened Tuesday and there was a bit of rain about," Steve said, setting the scene. "I heard the bluefin was about and so I've been chasing them solid. Like, I"ve been chasing anything, but in my heart, I was really hoping for a bluefin.

"About four-thirty in the morning on Tuesday, my mate's pulled out, and you know what, I was spewing, but I thought "f... it, I'm going'."

Reluctant to give an exact location, Steve did admit that he normally sources live yellow tail for bait.

"But this day I get slimey mackerel - bit of a change," he said. "I whacked one on and then waited about two hours. Nothing. Then I hooked onto what felt like a Mercedes public transport bus. Couldn't believe it. I didn't have a heavy set-up and I was in the fight of me life. Up and back and up and back on the rocks, one hundred per cent on my own, early morning. I was thinking all along it was quite a dangerous spot and I don't want to slip in here."

About an hour and 10 minutes later, Steve landed his fish. "I tell you, I shed a small tear when it was over," he said. "No witnesses. Solo effort my friend."

Steve reckons the fact his mate pulled out the morning of the trip helped him land the fish. "I reckon if he was there would I would have fished it different and lost it," Steve said.

Steve has been "super duper popular" the last five days with friends and family.

"I've got about 60 steaks out of this fish," said Steve, still aching from the encounter. Mate, I feel retired to be honest - still sore - back, legs and arms. It was the biggest fish I've ever caught and a real prize."

If that doesn't set the scene for fishing this weekend, then check the weather forecast.

We're in for a cracker and one not to be missed from a fishing perspective, according to Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse at Marks Point.

"Full moon, favourable tides with early morning/late arvo highs, flat seas, light winds and boardshort balmy autumnal temperatures," Jason said.

"You just have to get out this weekend, even if you don't catch anything.

"Offshore, inshore, estuary, beach, rock or lake, it's going to be unbelievably good and shouldn't be missed because it's going to come to a shuddering halt sooner or later."

Jason and his mates are thinking of heading out to the Shelf on Saturday just to have a run.

"Daniel from Sandy Bottom Charters tells me there has been a lot of current in close," Jason said.

"The temperature on the Shelf is about 23 degrees and I fancy there will be a few of the game fishing guys thinking about fishing overnight what with these conditions."

Been some great fish caught around The Farm this week - long-fin perch, snapper, trag and kingfish.

"May is the time to fish the deeper water and that area between 90m and 120m deep is where you want to be," Jason said.

If you want to stay inshore, the stretch of reef that hugs our coastline in about 25m of water is very productive at the moment.

"Tailor, trag, bream, squire, tarwhine - you know it's May when they start catching tarwhine," Jason said.

"And there's been a stack of flathead."

Jason is not surprised by Steve's Stefanovski's prize northern bluefin tuna coming out of Catho.

"People kind of forget that they are attainable off our rock platforms," Jason said.

"They don't just stop at Port Stephens, and with the beautiful tides and flat seas, beach and rock fishing this weekend is going to be ideal.

"There's huge amounts of mullet about attracting jew and tailor. Plus the Knights are playing at Mudgee this weekend so there's another reason to go fishing."

Lake Macquarie is producing lots of tailor and jew at the moment but should be appreciated for all its natural glory.

"I was down there midweek throwing a line in late arvo and it was just that calm on the lake and comfortable balmy conditions," Jason said.

"There was only a hanful of boats about and I tell you, that sunset was as good as I've ever seen it.

"You have to make the effort to take advantage of this weather because winter is coming

"And when it turns the corner and raises its ugly head, we'll all be sobbing."

Word of warning if you're heading out to the FADS to target mahi mahi this weekend - you won't find them. The FADs I mean. Fisheries have pulled them in as they do this time each year. Maybe look for trap lines because that's where the dollies will relocate.