The good news is it will be back bigger and better in 2022, subject to the pandemic situation.

The event, normally held in February each year, boasts over $250,000 in prizemoney and typically draws over a 1000 anglers to the area, injecting millions into the local economy.

"We normally start organising in July," Newcastle-Port Stephens Game Fishing Club manager Nigel Rushworth said yesterday.

"We held off for a month as things improved from that first wave of Covid, but then unfortunately Victoria bubbled up.

"We have a duty of care to anglers, the community and our sponsors.

"It would do irreparable damage to the tournament and club going ahead and inviting everyone in and then something happened.

"Social distancing rules still apply, on land and in boats. They may well lift in the future, but then again, they may not.

"Our briefing and presentation nights are the two biggest events where everyone gets together but under the present conditions you literally just can't do it.

"From an organising point of view, you can't roll the dice and hope you can do it next year.

"Although we've cancelled the Shootout for 2021, we're looking at doing something on a smaller scale in that February window.

"It won't be called the Garmin Shootout but we are expecting to make an announcement soon."

It's transition time as far as fishing goes in local waters, according to Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fishermans Warehouse at Marks Point.

Winter species are on the way out, summer species are heading in, and the nor-easters are starting to blow.

"Flathead are moving into the shallows, there's reasonable numbers of whiting popping up, and the bream are a bit skittish and probably won're really come on until the first prawn run in mid-October.

"There's been massive schools of salmon in the channel which is another typical September scenario, in peak condition and ready to spawn. Tailor have been trailing about too, and with that we've seen a few jew caught this week - predominantly schoolies. The best strategy this time of year is aim to fish early morning, late afternoon on the bottom and top of the tides."

Tailor and jew are chasing bait, which is in good supply throughout the lake.

"People are catching jew on soft plastics but another good strategy is deep divers, using braid to get that lure right down on the bottom," Jason said. "You get a lot of bycatch that way - tailor, jew and big flatties."

Offshore, there were a few striped marlin spotted last weekend which is encouraging, as well as yellowfin and albacore.

"Jared Banek (Reel Issues) and crew got yellowfin up to 40.5kg on Saturday and again on Monday, as well as albacore (7)," Jason said.

"The deep water on The Farm is producing snapper but unfortunately barracouta and leatherjackets are causing some interuptions.

"We've also seen a few king and perch coming off the reefs down south."

Charlestown Anglers enjoyed their annual freshwater trip to Glenbawn last weekend with lots of bass and yellowbelly caught and great times had by all.

"We had 20-plus members up there and everyone caught bass," club spokesperson Troy Terrill said.

"Plastics, hard bodies and bait, the fish took them all, with bass varying in size from mid 30s to the mid 40s with Steve "The Drifter" Cornish getting a 45cm and Dan Hutchinson a 43.5cm fish.

"All up 23 members presented to the weigh-in which was unbelievable.

"Members also got amongst the golden perch with 26 yellowbellys presented, and some big models too, like Mark Hilliers' 54cm, Micky Jeffs' 50cm and Gary Newman and Paul McDonald getting 48cm."

Brad Morton took out overall honours and Jye Morton claimed the junior prize.

Amusing tales were not in short supply (nor strange body noises in the campside area, apparently), but the pick of the yarns according to Troy was Gaz Newman who in trying to release a yellowbelly ended up releasing his phone into the drink, never to be seen again.

The club also presented trophies at the weigh-in on Sunday for the 2019-20 season. Winners were:

Mark Redman (Senior Male Champion), Christine Law (Snr Female Champion), Jye Morton (Junior Male Champion) and Ella McKinnon (Jnr Female Champion).

The club's next meeting via ZOOM will be October 6 after the long weekend, at 6.30pm. For more information contact Troy on 0402 531 682 or Brad 0400 543 733.

For your chance to win a prize to the value of $45 each week, courtesy of Tackle Power Sandgate, email your Fish of the Week pics to fishing@newcastleherald.com.au with catch and contact details.