The advice in this column last week was that it would be worth exploring out wide after the big seas settled down and so Marki Mark departed from Pittwater last Sunday for a shot with his mates Mike and Fooi.

"We headed up about 70km nor-east," Marki explained.

"My mates had been out the week before and got lucky, so they had the marks.

"We had been looking to go Saturday but the swell was too big.

"Sunday was OK although I wouldn't have recommended it in a small boat.

"The swell was there but there was a big time between them.

"We he got about 70km south east of Newcastle on the temperature break, water was about 18.5 degrees.

"We saw birds and thought we'd give it a go and within five minutes two rods went off."

This was the first time fishing for fin for Marki, who's previous offshore experience has centred around kingfish and reef species.

"We were using heavy gear so there was no mucking around," he said.

"Both fish arrived at the boat about the same time.

"It was all a blur, but I tell you what, you can really feel the power, pure muscle.

"Every wind I could get on the fish I took it."

Marki's fish, pictured, was estimated at between 50kg and 60kg.

"It's an experience I'll never forget and hopefully one I get again," he said.

Amazingly, after 15 minutes of fishing they packed up and headed home.

"We had two good fish and we knew the wind would be coming so we didn't hang around once we had the fish in the boat," Marki explained.

"By the time we got back to base and processed the fish, it was going to be a pretty long day and it's not easy balancing all that out with family and work."

Marki says his mates are now focused on blue fin which have followed the current up off Sydney at the moment.

"They are really holding quite wide and it takes commitment to put in those miles and spend $600-$700 on fuel.

"It's all weather dependent too. You have to monitor the winds, the swell and currents."

Marki Mark has a YouTube channel - Fishin with Marki Mark - and will be posting footage of his catch in the coming weeks when he gets time.

It explains why he keeps the identity under wraps, so to speak, with the mask.

"I was just mucking around one day and the boys said use a mask and see what happens," Marki said.

"It's kind of a thing now.

"I'm just mainly doing the YouTube thing to inspire people to go fishing.

"Get people off the X-Box and out of the house and enjoy the world."

Congratulations to Jason Downey and his Newcastle District Anglers Association teammates for taking out the NSW State Anglers Association rock and beach competition held at Port Stephens last weekend.

Jason took out overall honours while he and his teammates - Matthew Small, Mark Redmond and Craig Oaten - claimed the team prize.

"About 40 anglers competed and conditions were trying," NDAA spokesman Craig Oaten said.

"The seas were very big and made many spots pretty hairy if not unfishable, but there was some good fish weighed in.

"It was Jason's birthday over the weekend and he celebrated with a great bag of drummer, luderick, bream and mullet to take out the overall prize with a weight of 21kg fishing to state bag limits."

Craig reports there was lots of salmon caught, good bream, a lot of luderick and drummer, one nice snapper but not a lot of tailor.

"We only get the state champs up here once every 10 years or so, it was good to win it on home turf," Craig said.

Brent "Hammer" Hancock, from Tackle World Port Stephens, reports some really nice reds caught up around the bay this week.

"A local boy, Kurt, got an 8.5kg fish, and his mate got one 11.5kg, on Wednesday fishing out around the islands," Hammer said. "They brought them in yesterday. I think they're going to get one mounted. Kurt told me Broughton, but he could probably have said Japan. They can get a bit cagey.

"Young Jack Hodges, 13, fishing with his dad, got some 4kg fish on the Jerk shads last weekend. He outfished his old man I heard.

"Brad on Pacific Blue Charters reports plenty of snapper about too."

Beaches have been hammered with erosion this last week but there's still been the odd report of bream about. Similarly, there's been some nice bream getting caught in local estuaries.

As far as fishing goes this weekend, Saturday looks like the best of the days, with a bit of rain predicted on Sunday from what might be another east coast low looming offshore.