Ramps have been closed for nearly a month since Coronavirus descended.

The idea being to discourage out-of-town anglers coming up and possibly transmitting the virus.

But council has decided in light of various data to ease restrictions next week.

As of Monday, Port Stephens locals will be able to launch their boats so long as they are observing all other protocol in relation to social distancing and numbers.

"It's been all land-based fishing since the closure, but it will be good to put the boat in again," said Brent "Hammer" Hancock, from Tackle World Port Stephens.

"The way they police it will be through licence plates, I believe.

"People have been observing the social distancing stuff well.

"Most people don't like to fish with crowds anyhow - you like to get away."

Shore-based fishing and the weather have been sensational over the last week.

"It's been one of the best Aprils I've ever seen and it looks like it's going to extend into the weekend," Hammer said.

"The big swells last week stirred up the fish and it's been going off.

"It's been red hot off the beaches. We're in the middle of the mullet run and we've seen jewies coming off the sand along with tailor, bream and whiting.

"There's good tide and moon this weekend, so I'd expect more of the same.

"Off the rocks, they've been getting big tailor, snapper, mac tuna, luderick and drummer.

"The water's still warm enough to be getting bream and whiting inside the bay and guys have also been cleaning up on luderick."

Hammer has been running weekly fishing schools on his Facebook page during lockdown to give anglers a few tips on various things.

"We talk about techniques and tying knots," he said.

"We try tying a few flies."

Indeed, Hammer hooked up a toilet roll to a line the other day and cast it out on the street to see if he'd get a bite. Got smashed apparently.

Fun fact about Brett Hancock - he is a mad passionate saltwater fly fisherman and devotes a lot of his time and creative energy to the dark art.

"It's just such a challenge I reckon," he said.

"There's virtually no fish you can't catch on a fly, but the whole process is just next level.

"Some of the materials they use these days is just incredible and the designs are so realistic.

"It's just a challenge to get fish to take an artificial that you've made from scratch."

Hammer does at least two trips away each year up to Fraser Island to fly fish for marlin.

"It's definitely addictive - you make the fly, you've got the cast, you've got to present the fly and work it, and then there's the retrieve - it's very hands on because you've got the line in your fingers.

"You can make flies that sink or you can work the surface, you can get to areas with a fly that you can't with a lure, it's just a whole new skill set of fishing.

"And catching fish on fly is a whole different feeling too. I love it."

Hammer put the skills to work this week catching a few drummer and luderick with a weed fly.

If this gets you fired up about fly fishing, call into the shop. Hammer stocks a handy range of gear and can point you in the right direction to begin your journey.

Nick Price from Aberdeen Fishing and Outdoors reports freshwater anglers up the valley are looking forward to the reopening of the area's dams.

"Everyone's going crazy," he said.

"Reflections have closed all the caravan parks and State Waters have closed the dams, and people up here aren't supposed to travel to go for a fish down on the coast, so hopefully soon we might see a relaxation on that front - when it's safe.

"Just for mental health. There's a lot of retired people up here and they would love to wet a line just with themselves - it's a big thing."

Nick, who is also the school chaplain at Scone Grammar, has had a bit to do with fishing and mental health in the local area.

"We ran a thing up here last year called Fishing with a Farmer day, which was a mental health thing designed to ease the stress on farmers during the drought," he said.

"All these fishos from everywhere came up and took a farmer fishing.

"It was a massive success and we had something like 77 blokes turn up which is kind of unheard of for a men's mental health thing.

"We're going to run another one as soon as Corona's over."

Brandt Archer reports the Hunter River and Lake have been producing nice snapper and flathead, with the odd kingfish about too. He reckons squid are on the decline though.