Encouraging news for game fishers heading into the first week of school holidays with reports of yellowfin tuna off Sydney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse, suspect they may be off Newcastle as well, as water conditions mirror those further south
"The currents are looking favourable and there is a suggestion of warm water - it's definitely yellowfin water," Jason said. "Going down that road, there may also be the chance of a striped marlin."
That may be all the encouragement gamefishing people need this weekend, with a light southerlly posing a slight challenge on Saturday, settling into reasonably benign conditions on Sunday.
Kings hit
There has been a lot of kingfish action off Texas and further south in deeper water.
"It is the peak king-fishing season," Jason said.
"Jigging and live baiting have both proved to be effective, with live slimeys getting the best results.
"Some of these fish have ranged from 85cm and live baiters getting them up and over a metre weighing from 8kg to 10kg."
Kingfish have also been coming out of shallow water too.
"A local diver - one of the Green boys - speared a 32kg kingfish in behind the Moon island this week," Jason said.
"It's not uncommon for this time of year around the island and along the coast.
"You wan't stop a fish that size on a rod and reel in shallow water, but it shows you what sort of creatures are around.
"It would be chasing squid and salmon and is an encouraging indication."
Reds alerts
Snapper continue to provide anglers with great entertainment, responding to old school methods like berley trails and floating baits.
"September can do that if you get warm enough water, the snapper bite up, particularly after a NE sea," Jason said.
"A bit of persistence pays off. Even the Farm has been producing late season reds.
"You just never know this time of year, it might be worth a look this weekend."
Transition time
It's an interesting time of year for fishing as we not only transition out of winter into the warmer months, but also link into the next lunar cycle.
"We're into the first week of dark moon this week after last week's super moon," Jason said.
"There's been a few prawns around, but nothing spectacular.
"But this time next month the first prawn run should start to happen.
"It's all coming together particularly as it combines with warm weather."
Lizards lurk
There has been encouraging movement of flathead throughout local estuaries, as our Fish of the Week winner Will Kuter can attest.
"They are now on the move, coming out of deeper water to the shallows for summer," Will's mate Brandt Archer said.
"We've been having some successful sessions around Warners Bay using soft plastics the last week or so and it's been very really productive."
Jason says the lizards are migrating out of deeper water into the warmer shallows and with that movement you will get a bit more spread.
"I've had feedback this week of flatties In the lake, the channel and even up the Hunter River," Jason said.
"Good reports of fish over 70cm."
Also lots of feedback on whiting too, with Jason predicting those numbers to increase by November with the king tides.
"Water temp is hovering up to 19 degrees on the run-in tide and anglers have been getting consistent whiting on the sandflats from Marks Point to Coon Island," Jason said.
"I've even had reports of them coming from Rathmines, so don't rule out any shoreline areas around lake."
North exposure
Jason is just back from a week's fishing up in Queensland at beautiful 1770.
He reports conditions were generally beautiful although water temps were surprisingly "chilly" for that area of the world, hovering around 21-22 degrees.
"Water blue as blue can be but not a lot of temp," Jason said.
"There was a million whales. They were jumping like mullet. The most I've ever seen."
Of interest to anyone in the habit of venturing north, as of September 1 this year, authorities have implemented a new possession limit of 20 fish per person.
"Gone are the days you can head up with the intention of filling your freezer with fillets," Jason said.
"It's a combined catch of 20 fish per person per day and they are checking as you come in so you need to be aware. The are issuing warnings at the moment, but clearly the intention will be to get stricker.
"It's all about looking after the resource and if it's happening up there, you can imagine, sooner or later, it'll happen down here."