August 20, 2025

A hint of Spring and a wet weekend ahead

A fantastic 7.3kg snapper for Tim Kelly, caught just off the coast of Port Macquarie.

THE weather is shifting, and there’s a definite change in the air.

After a few spectacular days this week of warm sunny days that felt like a glimpse of spring, another wet weekend is on the horizon, anglers should prepare for another rainy weekend.

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Down in the Camden Haven River region, the fishing has been promising.

Anglers targeting whiting have been having consistent success, with good reports coming in from various parts of the river.

Luderick are also still being caught, although their numbers are starting to decrease as we approach the end of winter.

If you’re looking to catch one, the local wharves and Henry Kendall are great spots to try, with weed or cabbage as bait. For those chasing bigger game, a few mulloway are still being caught around the Dunbogan area.

Your best bet for landing one is to use live bait around the change of tide.

Rock fishers will find plenty to target at Diamond Head and Perpendicular Point.

These spots have been producing some nice drummer, and there have also been reports of decent tailor being reeled in.

The Hastings River area has also been productive. Lighthouse Beach is the spot to be for a chance at catching some well-conditioned bream and the occasional salmon.

The southern end of the beach has also been holding a few school mulloway.

Over on North Shore Beach, anglers are finding a few bream along with a solid showing of tailor.

If you’re targeting whiting, Oxley and Town Beach are both producing some nice winter catches.

On the rocks, tailor have been a reliable catch from most headlands, with the best reports coming from Point Plomer and around the Lighthouse.

Offshore fishing was a bust last weekend due to the weather, but once the swell dies down, the snapper should be biting.

Your best bet for landing the bigger fish is to use soft plastics and various lures during daylight hours. However, anchoring, burleying and using pilchards should also be productive.

The Macleay River continues to be a hotspot for anglers, producing some great-sized flathead and bream.

Offshore, those who have been able to get out to the deeper reefs off South West Rocks have been rewarded with some impressive catches of snapper, tusk fish and kingfish.

Just be mindful that there have been reports of some large leatherjackets in the area.

By Kate SHELTON

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