ANOTHER week of persistent rain and overcast skies has left many eager anglers longing for a chance to head offshore.
The seemingly endless run of southerly winds and rain continues to make weekend fishing trips an impossibility.
However, there’s good news on the horizon!
The Lake Cathie Fishing Club is casting its net wide to support local heroes with their annual Charity Fish Auction.
This free community event will take place on Sunday 15 June, at Club Lake Cathie and is open to everyone.
All proceeds raised will be donated to the invaluable Lake Cathie Rural Fire Service and Marine Rescue Camden Haven.
If you’re a fishing enthusiast, you can contribute by wetting a line on 13, 14 and 15 June.
The fish weigh-in will commence at 11:00am, followed by the exciting auction at 1:00pm on the Sunday.
Even if fishing isn’t your passion, come along to snag some fresh, locally caught fish and support these vital community services.
For more details, simply search “Lake Cathie Fishing Club” on Facebook.
The Camden Haven has been a hive of luderick fishing activity this week, with anglers reporting fantastic catches, often reaching their bag limits, around the breakwalls.
Green weed, cabbage, and weed flies are proving to be highly effective baits, and encouragingly, both high and low tides are producing fish.
Bream fishing also remains productive, offering opportunities throughout the day and night.
After dark, strip baits and mullet gut are the preferred choices, while soft plastic vibes continue to be a successful artificial lure option.
Rock fishing enthusiasts targeting drummer can anticipate consistent catches.
Look for rocky ledges with minimal sand disturbance and maintain a steady berley trail.
Both morning and evening sessions are yielding good sized bream, with tailor strips being the top bait.
For those who managed to venture offshore during the midweek break in the weather, snapper catches closer to the coast proved rewarding.
The Hastings River continues to be a prime location for flathead anglers, with reports of catches throughout its length.
Luderick fishing has also improved at the breakwalls, with some impressive catches around the one-kilogram mark reported throughout the week.
Bream are also active near the breakwalls and further upstream, with the evening hours proving most fruitful. While the elusive large mulloway might still be out of reach, plenty of fish around a metre have been landed near the Coal Wharf and on the breakwalls.
Rock fishing enthusiasts are also enjoying success, with tailor catches reported at almost all headlands.
While most of these fish are on the smaller side, anglers venturing further south have landed some impressive tailor exceeding two kilograms.
Drummer catches remain consistent, with Queens Head boasting excellent numbers, and catches increasing around the various ledges of Port Macquarie.
Unfortunately, rough seas kept offshore anglers ashore last weekend, and the weather forecast isn’t looking promising for this weekend either.
Finally, the Macleay River is proving to be another fishing hotspot.
The breakwalls have yielded mangrove jack, bream, and flathead this week, providing exciting action for both local and visiting anglers.
For those heading offshore, snapper and pearl perch remain reliable targets, with the occasional tusk fish offering a delicious surprise.
BY Kate SHELTON
