Classic winter conditions are set to prevail over the weekend, offering anglers a chance to pull the hood over the head and chance their luck in chilly crystal clear westerlies.
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"Real good reds in the Lake at the moment if you find the schools," according to Sean Griffith from Fishermans Warehouse at Marks Point.
"I reckon the big storm last week pushed them in and they've stayed on.
"Plenty of bait fish tucked in the southern corners. They're biting a lot on first light."
Fellow Fishermans Warehouse workmate Kai Axisa got into them on Wednesday with a couple of good fish up around the 60cm, 3kg mark..
"He got them last week too," Sean said.
Some cracking schools of tailor getting around the lake - fish in the 50cm to 60cm range.
"Just look for where the birds are working," Sean said.
"They've been quite active over Wangi way. Just so much bait."
Good reports of leatherjackets in the channel - cracking size fish and great eating.
"We're selling a lot of small school prawns that guys reckon are working a treat," Sean said.
Some decent kings operating down south of Texas, up to 90cm.
Fishermans Warehouse supremo Jason "One For" Nunn got towelled up on a couple of big models and he got a big red fishing with his mate Duncan.
There is a song about loving to have a beer with Duncan and Sean reckons they would have had a few too.
"Mr Nunn also got some great pearl perch fishing Sunday and Monday," Sean added. "He reckons there was heaps of morwong too."
The luderick have showed up with most breakwalls and rocky sections around the lake producing fish..
"I watched a couple guys bagging out near Swansea RSL and they had it down pat floating their weed to the end of the pontoon and bang," Sean said.
"A lot of luderick guys like to use a combination of weed lure and real weed to fish for luderick."
Beaches have been producing salmon, tailor and some beautiful bream.
"Our rod builder Richard and our neighbour next to Fishermans Warehouse, Peter Pont, got some great bream down on Blacksmitths this week," Sean said.
There's been some exciting tuna reports coming off Sydney this week but at this stage there's no reports of them showing up this way.
"Size ranged from small to very encouragingly big," Sean said.
"Enough to lure some Hunter anglers into taking the trip down for a shot."
With big westerlies predicted to blow this weekend Sean's tip is to duck for cover on the western edges of the lake or find protected beach areas like Moonie and have a crack.
"I'm off Friday and me and a mate will be targeting reds in the lake where we got them last week," Sean said.
"We've got this little bay tucked in a corner but I'll get shot if i give that one up."
Bay of delights
Paul "Ringo" Lennon, from Fish Port Stephens Estuary Charters reports it's been a pretty good fishing week inside the bay.
"Water temp is still warm up around 18 or 19 degrees and that's really sparked the bream on the chew and the flathead too which is a bit late for this time of year, but good," Paul said.
"Shoal Bay right around to Jimmy's Beach has been producing.
"We got a few nice jewies up to 15kg on the charter this week fishing the deeper water in the back of the bay - 20m to 40m of water on tide changes with live bait.
"The luderick have been chewing their heads off and the breakwall at Nelson Bay has been chock a block with a lot of guys getting their bag limit on the tide changes.
"Offshore and along the rocks we've seen some really good snapper.
"Jamie Culver backed up again this week fishing down south around Rocky Point and got fish up to 90cm.
"Brodie Auld got a nice one off the rocks at Tomaree.
"I'd expect that trend to continue for the next couple of months but these westerlies might make it a little tough this weekend unless you can find some cover."
Rock hard
The Newcastle District Anglers Association season 2019-20 kicked off in quick time last weekend with their rock comp.
Fresh from a dramatic conclusion to season 2018-19 a fortnight ago, the NDAA guys were right back into it.
Reigning overall champ Craig Oaten, freshly crowned after his barnstorming finish in the Graham Dorse Memorial only two weeks ago, backed up with victory and pledging to defend his crown.
"I wouldn't say I won easily - 40 points or 4kg of fish," Craig reported.
"I only had one more fish than the bloke who ran second, Matt Small, but I had three kilo on his weight.
"Conditions were OK, rained a bit, not wet rain, just drizzly.
"Fishing was great in the afternoon but a bit quiet through the night
"I thought on the high tide at night they might bite, but I found them hard to catch.
"I did most of my damage in the afternoon, with 19 fish before dark.
Craig only ended up with 24 for total weight of 19.4kg.
"Most people fished up around Fingal Bay, with drummer about in good numbers," Craig said.
"Most people also got bream, luderick, a few tailor, lots of little leatherjackets and some snapper.
"Veteran champ Bob Hodges was the only competitor to get his 30 fish."
Redhead won the team event, but in club points Golden Eagle are three points ahead after the first round
The official results from season 2018-19 have been announced too.
Craig Oaten was overall champ but the other winners needed to be tallied, which has now been done.
Craig's wife Melissa was lady's champ, Bob Hodges won veterans, Les Jeffs took out supervets, Sam Mason won juniors and Kane Small saluted in sub-junior.
Redhead Bowling Club were champion club on 187 points in front of Golden Eagle Hotel on 148
NDAA's next event is the freshwater in the first weekend of November.
