Newcastle District Anglers Association members braved the windy conditions last weekend and were rewarded with some handy catches at Lake St Clair.
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The group's annual freshwater competition was a 24-hour contest and John Balcomb came out on top as champion angler with a nice bag of yellow belly, silver perch and bass.
Balcomb finished with 16 fish, one under the maximum for weighing at the competition.
Runner-up and also ladies' champion was Melissa Oaten, who had a similar mix of fish but two less than Balcombe.
Robert Smith, from Club Singleton, was the veterans champion, while Jack Hodges defeated Blake Small in the sub-junior category.
Hodges also finished with the largest yellow belly - a 1.8-kilogram specimen.
Jason Downie had the largest silver perch, at 1.3kg, while Simon Howard tied Smith for the biggest bass at 1.25kg. Howard claimed the catfish prize with a 2.5kg catch.
"Conditions were windy but the fish were biting," NDAA's Craig Oaten said.
"A lot of the fish were caught on baits but some were caught on lures."
The freshwater contest was one of six competitions the NDAA hold each year. They also have rock, deep sea, estuary, beach and open events. The beach comp is next on the schedule.
OUTSIDE CHANCE
Estuary fishing looks the best bet still despite some encouraging signs that offshore conditions could be on the improve.
Cold water off the beaches, a lack of rainfall to flush out river systems and nor-easterly winds had led to poor conditions offshore in recent weeks, but southerly changes and the forecast of better weather on the weekend have provided some light at the end of the tunnel.
Chris Drake, from Tackleworld Port Stephens, said he'd received reports of nice snapper being caught outside but fishing was a little patchy because of still low water temperatures.
Change, though, may be on the way.
"The water was 15-17 degrees last week, but reports this morning are that it has warmed up down near Birubi and One Mile and cleared back up, so I'd say that southerly has pushed a bit of good water back in," Drake said.
Geoff "Kanga" Ruse, from Freddy's Fishing World at Broadmeadow, said "there's been quite a few guys getting good snapper, but you just have to pick the days".
"The wind kicking up the swell has helped, they love the bump," he said.
"Up around Broughton Island, Edith Breakers has been the pick. Most guys are using Z-Mans in those areas."
Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse Marks Point, was hoping for better reports this weekend.
"I wouldn't be bothered going outside until we see some improvement, but the water has picked up and was about 19 degrees with the few southerlies we've had," he said.
"This weekend doesn't look too bad and it may be the first opportunity for a number of weeks for people to get back to some normal fishing."
SAFE IN SHALLOWS
It looks like flathead, bream and whiting in the warmer waters should remain the target for anglers this weekend.
Drake said whiting especially had been firing up his way.
"There's plenty happening in the estuaries," he said.
"There's plenty of flathead around and there's really good whiting, and good jew, fishing the tides at nighttime as well.
"There's some cracking whiting in the shallows up in our rivers, the Tilligerry, around Taylors Beach and the Myall River.
"Paul from Fish Port Stephens Estuary Charters, he's been getting some nice flathead and big whiting all during the week, just fishing the edges of the rivers on the high tide in the warmer waters, up around the mangroves."
Nunn said flathead had been the highlight in Lake Macquarie.
"There's nice flathead in the shallow water and lures are working well," he said.
"Hard bodies like double clutches or soft plastics like the weedless are popular.
"The shorelines are the places to go. The guys in boats are fishing the backs of Swansea flats into Belmont bay and the backwater area up to the southern end of the lake. The really shallow flats are the key.
"The shoreline at Valentine is another good spot. There's very shallow water between Green Point and Valentine, so it's perfect fishing there.
"There's good bream as well. Worm sales have increased as well, so more are targetting the whiting."
Nunn said chasing kingfish with downriggers was another good option in the Lake. He had a report on Thursday of three big kings caught near Pulbah Island.
Drake said squid had been plentiful in around Shoal Bay and the protected areas in Boat Harbour, Fishermans Bay and the back of Fingal.
Ruse said reports of solid catches of bass at Glenbawn Dam and Lake St Clair had been coming in
"I think most are using football jigs, TN60s and chubbys as the major lures," he said.
"Also night fishing with surface lures like micro pompadours and micro pompadour juniors."
He said Lake and harbour fishing had found good flathead and bream using vibelicious 85 and 70mm lures.