With those wild westerly winds behind us, it will be good to get out and have a play with some fish.

Out on the Shoalhaven River we have seen a good run of tailor and jewfish are feeding on the schools, mainly in the lower regions but with the odd fish being caught up past the bridge.

There have also been some nice blackfish and bream caught off the Greenwell Point wharf. The blackfish have been taken on green weed and the bream on peeled pawns.

A bit of fun on the wharf is a great way to soak up a bit of time with the kids on the weekend and with the Shoalhaven City Council slowly putting in new jetties and picnic areas up and down the river, it’s becoming a lot easier to get a good spot.

Down at St Georges Basin we should see those big flathead start to bite.

Some people like to use live or dead bait but I prefer soft plastic. My favourite? I have a few, led by the 80mm Squidgy in killer tomato on a 3/8oz jig head and the 4” Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet in camo or pearl white on the same head.

You really need to give the lure a vigorous action to get the fish fired up for a bite but it works, just go out and give it a go.

The whiting and bream should be slowly moving their way up onto the flats towards the latter part of the month and we all love a bit of surface action.

We didn’t seen much of the big tailor over winter so maybe they might show their faces in the warmer months

In Jervis Bay you will find good numbers of rat kingfish under cliffs and the odd samson fish among them.

If it’s bigger kingfish you’re after, there have been good ones taken out at the Block and Cheese, which is about 5NM wide of the Sir John Young Banks. For more information about these spots just call in to a local tackle shop and I’m sure they will help you out with some marks.

The snapper have been a little hit and miss lately but with the winds of the past few months it’s been hard to get out at the right time to target them. With the onset of nicer conditions I will be out there giving them a go.

The squid seem to be getting easier to find lately and let’s hope it stays that way. With an inaugural McCallum’s Sports Squid Comp on the cards, it should be good times ahead for squidders, contact the boys down at McCallum’s for details.

Down around Ulladulla/Mollymook we have seen good bream up in the back creeks. Young Paul Woods has been getting some nice fish up Blackwater Creek on Ecogear hardbodies.

There have also been some good snapper off the rocks on bait and plastics.

Burrill Lake is still closed, with moves to open the lake permanently, which would be great for the fishing and the locals that live by the water.

If you have any good photos of your catch from around the beautiful Shoalhaven, email me and you may see your mug in the magazine.