Putting aside the cold winds and Covid, this weekend we'll see a big tide coinciding with the full moon, and that's always a plus for fishing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"The tide is tipped to push 2.02 metres on Saturday which will be the biggest tide of the month," Jason "One For" Nunn, from Fisherman's Warehouse, at Marks Point, said.
"We might see a bit of water on the street in low lying areas around Pelican and Swansea. It's something to keep in mind if rock fishing or driving a boat under Swansea Bridge.
"There won't be a lot of clearance on high tide, which is set to be in the morning this weekend."
The beauty of the big tide is you'll get a lot of ocean water coming in replenishing estuaries and the lake.
"I think it will help the bream fishing," Jason said.
"There will be water up on those flat areas and guys will be able to benefit.
"We may see bit of surge of tailor and salmon moving into Swansea channel.
"The birds were going crazy in Salts Bay last Saturday despite the cold and wind.
"Lots of salmon and tailor and we may see similar activity this weekend."
Curse the wind
The question for anglers this winter seems to be, why is it so calm all week and so windy on the weekend?
It's been the story throughout July and it seems this weekend will be no different.
Big nor-westers are tipped to blow through Saturday and Sunday, easing into Monday, curbing opportunities to get out wide, but opening up options along the beaches and rocks and anywhere in the estuaries that afford some cover.
"It was a similar story last weekend and it's really highlighted the advantage of being flexible if you're able, to fish mid-week," Jason said.
"So many of us are locked into the working week cycle, looking forward to the weekend. But the weather just hasn't been co-operating this year."
The water offshore in the deeper areas has looked alight but winds have kept people from going out.
"Its why people have not been out chasing yellowfin of a weekend," Jason said.
"There were catches coming off Sydney over the last month but conditions up here just didn't allow.
"You think back to this time last year and we were having one of the best yellowfin seasons in many a year. This year at the moment you wouldn't know because for one reason or another - the weather, Covid restrictions - no one has been going out."
There have been some excellent reports of snapper and kingfish coming off Norah Head this week.
"But you have to be mindful that these areas are technically in the lockdown region of the Central Coast," Jason said. "Consequently, you can't drive down and launch your boat.
"You can boat down, but then, with the wind, you have to work out how much discomfort you might be prepared to endure.
"This whole no travelling no more than 10km from your home in the locked down areas is something all fishos need to bear in mind.
"Last year it seemed a little more flexible, but with the Delta thing, and the fears of contagiousness, this year seems a little more complicated. It's affecting fishing and boating right across the board down in Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast.
"Most tackle shops are closed, or doing click n collect. Boat dealers are shut, mobile repairers can't move.
"Victorians have felt this for a long time, but we've been fortunate here in the Hunter thus far.
"It's on the doorstep but so far we have had a reprieve."
Tailor mobile
Jason fished Swansea channel on Monday and although it was a bit uncomfortable in the fresh nor-west winds, he still managed to catch a feed of tailor.
"I ended up with nine - threw five back, kept four - a reasonable feed," he said.
"They were there in relatively good numbers so I decided to give them another crack on Tuesday and they were gone.
"Again it was blowing hard and freezing and I caught zero.
"It just goes to show these tailor schools are moving around a lot at the moment."
There have been good reports of tailor and salmon chasing big bait schools around the Pulbah Island area and along the western side of the lake.
"Flathead are there, too, but have dropped back a bit," Jason said. "There's been some nice lizards tagged and released and a few good school jew too. The key this weekend will be to locate the bait schools and seek protection."
Balmy beaches
Good news on the beaches is that tailor have been making their presence known.
"Run of the mill fish," Jason said. "But early morning or late arvo have been productive.
"Some really nice bream coming off Blacksmiths and surprisingly enough, some nice whiting. They do turn up this time of year although people don't necessarily target them.
"You look at the water temp in the ocean on the beaches at the moment and it's still pushing 18 degrees which is quite conducive to whiting. In the lake, it's getting down to 16.
"With the swell down and the wind at your back this weekend, a shot of the beaches for either tailor, whiting or bream might be on."