In the words of DIY meteorologist Brent "Hammer" Hancock from Tackle World Port Stephens (and I quote):

"If it forms to south, we should be right; but if it forms to the north we will be in shit creek."

The good news is it hasn't formed off the coast yet so it's a case of wait and see.

"In meantime, the weather looks sensational this weekend, so take advantage of super winter conditions," Hammer said.

Looking to the horizon, Brent says water and altimeter look good for yellowfin tuna.

"Not many boats got out through the week due to poor conditions but I reckon a few will be heading out this weekend, and I suspect they will find fish," he sadi.

"The charts indicate there's good water in about that 1000 to 2000 fathom mark; a really good temp break and good current pushing north that then swings in.

"If there is going to be tuna, they will be in that eddy."

Snapper fishing will be worth a crack off the back of the past week's full moon.

"Brad and the team on Pacific Blue Charters got some great fish last weeekend in about 40 metres on the local reefs between Broughton and Little Island," Hammer said.

"In the washes around the islands out the front of Port Stephens, there's plenty of tailor and salmon and the odd big bonito.

"It's a great way to keep the kids entertained."

Rock fishing is really pumping for bread and butter species at the moment.

"Plenty of good drummer around, bream in the washes and salmon and tailor if you're keen for a spin off the headland, around Fingal, One Mile Point and Box Beach," Hammer said.

Big shoutout to young Jacko Beale, 14, who's been getting into the jew inside Port Stephens over the holidays.

"He's got a little tinnie and been boating a couple of nice mulloway, up around the 80cm-90cm mark - typical -size fish this time of year with the colder water," Hammer said.

The breakwall at Nelson Bay has been standing room only as the holiday hordes take on the luderick which have come on real strong after the full moon.

Hammer say's it's also well known that some locals "own" rocks down on the breakwall.

"If you're not aware of the pecking order and get to close you might get a friendly local welcome which usually starts with an "F" and ends with an "off".

Beaches are well worth a shot for salmon and tailor with some nice jew and bream operating in the gutters too.

Meanwhile, trumpeter whiting abound throughout the bay and are loving live beach worms.

Hammer's shop is a mere five-minute walk from the breakwall and he reckons he sees some funny things during the holidays.

"People get sent up for emergency supplies when the fish are on," he laughed..

"Husbands, wives, kids - it wouldn't be a family holiday without a screaming match.

"I had a lady in here today got sent up by the hubby to get a retractable net. There were two options, the expensive one and the not so expensive one.

"Hubby didn't pick up the phone when she rang to inquire which one, probably because he was fishing, so she went with the not so expensive. Five minutes later she was back to get the other one."

This week's Fish of the Week winner Allan Stace had an amusing "Who's Jew Is That" experience in the lead-up to his catch.

Seems a couple of days before he landed his 1.2m behemoth, Al was down on Stockton beach and got involved in an intense double hook up with a stranger.

"There was actually four people with fish on in the same area at that moment," Al said. "It was dark but you could hear the excitement. This fish I had was about 90cm. Then it suddenly seemed me and this lady were now fighting the same fish.

"We got it in close but then it broke off so I grabbed it and took it up the beach.

"I could see my hooks in its mouth because I use swivel hooks, but I couldn't see hers. I went to get a torch and by the time I got back she she had the hooks out, handed me my leader and suggested we go halves in the fish. I couldn't see her hooks and I suspect what ever she'd been fighting had busted off and I reckon we must have crossed lines. I just said 'take it'."

Not to worry, Al returned a couple of days later and was rewarded with this week's prize winner.

Al, a member of Wallsend Sporties Fishing Club (which has amalgamated with Wallsend Diggers Fishing Club, is heading outside this Saturday, conditions allowing, to chase snapper.