THE Mid North Coast has continued to provide excellent fishing opportunities, with anglers enjoying success across rivers, beaches, rock platforms and offshore grounds over the long weekend.
The Camden Haven River remains a standout destination. Rock fishers targeting drummer have experienced mixed results, although Camden Head has continued to produce reliable catches, with nearby headlands also holding fish. Anglers chasing luderick and bream have enjoyed excellent action, particularly around Perpendicular Point and Crowdy. Fresh weed and light tackle have been the key ingredients for success.
Offshore, snapper, kingfish and bar cod have been the main attractions, with Rowlands proving especially productive. Other deep reefs throughout the region are also fishing well. Kingfish anglers have found the best results using live baits and knife jigs.
Port Macquarie has offered diverse fishing options for both beach and estuary anglers. Local beaches have produced quality catches of bream and tailor, particularly during the run-in tide at dawn and dusk when fresh bait has significantly improved catch rates.
As swell conditions ease, beach fishing is expected to improve further. In the Hastings River, bream have been the dominant species, with anglers finding success around the top of the tide using surface lures, soft plastics and traditional baits.
Tailor have also provided exciting sport around the river mouth on high tide, especially on light tackle. Mulloway have made occasional appearances along the breakwalls, taking both lures and live bait, although persistence has been required.
Offshore fishing out of Port Macquarie was a highlight last weekend, with snapper biting strongly on shallow reefs in 20 to 30 metres of water. Pilchards, soft plastics and a range of lures all accounted for quality fish.
Further offshore, kingfish have been caught around Trag Rock off Plomer and the Lighthouse-wide grounds in
60 to 80 metres of water, with live baits proving most effective.
With favourable weather forecast for the weekend, many anglers are expected to take advantage of the conditions and head offshore for deep-dropping opportunities.
The Macleay River continues to produce consistent catches of bream and flathead around local wharves and breakwalls.
Beach anglers have also reported good numbers of bream, along with the occasional quality flathead.
Offshore, snapper fishing has remained outstanding for both bait and lure anglers. Those venturing wider have encountered kingfish, bar cod and pearl perch, while deep-dropping efforts have been rewarded with blue-eye cod.
By Kate SHELTON
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