A big windshift is expected Friday night, with warm NW winds swinging rapidly to the south-south west, and as Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fishermans Warehouse put it likely to "blow like a bastard".

Expect relentless gusts up to 45km and more, generating big seas and climaxing Monday into Tuesday.

"First advice to anyone keen to wet a line this weekend is stay away from the rocks and don't venture outside," Jason said.

"These winds are going to be force anglers to sheltered western sou-west corners of the lake.

"Places like Toronto, Rathmines, Fishing Point, Bonnels Bay and Gwandalan.

"The good news is that those areas have been producing plenty of flathead, tailor and courtesy of the eight inches of rain we've had recently, there is bream."

Apart from that, Jason reports there's a few salmon in the channel, particularly on the run-in tide and the channel is another place you can get out of the wind.

"Still plenty of luderick around Swansea Bridge and the weigh station," he added.

"The only other thing you might do is fish for leatherjackets on the Swansea side of channel."

"Areas up round Port Stephens will be another option, possibly inside Newcastle Harbour and areas on Stockton breakwall - basically any area with big rock structures.

"Outside that, maybe pencil in this weekend for that maintenance regime you've been putting off all winter."

Blair from Tackle World Port Stephens paints a similarly windy picture up at the bay.

"The recent big wet and the big swell slowed fishing down a bit and now the big blow ain't going to help much either," he said.

"On the positive side, there's bream everywhere throughout the estuary."

If you're desperate, he suggests Fingal Beach and the jetty at Salamander Shores as areas that offer protection in a sou-westerly.

"Otherwise you might be better off going on a shopping spree and restocking the tacklebox," he said.

You often assume the bigger the fish, the older the fish.

But not according to research into mulloway by DPI, which recently released some data on big jew caught around NSW, including a couple by Novocastrians David and Matthew Birt.

Chris Graham caught the biggest fish, a 142cm jew, at South West Rocks which proved to be the oldest at 18 years of age.

David's jew measured 105cm and was found to be eight years old.

But a couple of much larger fish proved to be younger in age.

A 125cm mulloway caught by John St Vincent Welch in the Clarence River was only seven years old.

And a 116cm fish caught in Newcastle by Matthew Birt was just five years of age.

The research is part of the Research Angler Program (RAP) run by DPI.

As part of that DPI monitors mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, snapper, dusky flathead, tailor, black bream, Spanish or spotted mackerel.

Crucial to the research is fish frames. DPI encourages anglers to donate all legal size frames of the species above.

You can drop frames into any participating tackle shop. Be sure to include the name and contact details of who caught the fish, plus when and where the fish was caught, date, location and latitude/longitude if available.

Data collected by the RAP program works towards ensuring the sustainability of recreational fishing into the future.

Riagan Dowling enjoyed a bountiful day off Broughton Island last Sunday, fishing with good mate Jamie Culver. Between the two of them, they pulled in over a dozen snapper, the best one taking Fish of the Week honours.

The boys also love their social media. Jamie admins the Facebook page Port Stephens Fishing which showcases local catches, and both Jamie and Riagan have great Instagram pages. Check them out if you're seeking inspiration.

Nominations are being sought from interested local community members for membership of four Marine Park Advisory Committees along the NSW coast.

There are six marine parks in NSW and the committees of four expired in August - Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay and Batemans.

The advisory committees include up to 12 members and alternates with skills, expertise and knowledge in areas such as Aboriginal culture, fishing, local government, boating, tourism, marine conservation, marine science, recreational water use and the maritime industry to ensure the wide range of community values can be considered. Membership is voluntary.

Successful nominees are appointed as members of the committee for a term of up to four years.

Nominations close September 22.