Spring has well and truly sprung, and the summer is almost upon us.

With the warm weather the water temperature will also begin to rise; our excitement will also rise with anticipation of the fishing to come.

Offshore from Cape Conran we will be looking forward for the first signs of the baitfish to arrive, and as the schools begin to grow larger, we will allow minds to drift back to last season, and the fantastic fishing we all enjoyed.

Schools of striped tuna were easily found among the huge schools of slimy mackerel, thus giving our gear a sure workout. Mako sharks of all sizes were also here attracted by the schools of baitfish, and with regular hook-ups really tested our gear and stamina.

The best of all is looking forward with excitement to the arrival of the yellowtail kingfish, the best kilo for kilo battlers of them all. With all that action yours truly better stock up on plenty of X-RAP, Pakula UZI, Tuna catchers, Albacore feathers, Poppers, Blades and many other of your favourite lures. That’s for the future fishing in the summer.

The present is also ok, reports of good bins of big flathead, gurnard, pinkie snapper, morwong, barracouta, squid and gummy sharks.

Local anglers Vince and Michael Joiner fishing off Conran recently had a day to remember, fishing a drop-off 24-30 fathoms bagged out on big flathead in very short time and also managed a couple of gummy shark to boot.

Vince and Michael were using Black Magic 4/0 bleeding pilchard rigs with small amount of white bait for scent. Another tip anglers should be aware of; spiky gurnard have a very nasty sting, if you are unfortunate enough to get stung, always have a thermos of hot water, tea etc that you could use to immerse you hand to ease the pain until you get medical treatment.

With a very good entrance at Marlo the tides are moving large amounts of water in and out of the estuary system, thus enabling schools of fish to enter and leave at will, resulting in fresh new fish regularly replenishing the system.

Big schools of mullet have entered the system for the first time in a few seasons and are moving up the rivers, and with them other fish follow.

Luderick are in good numbers, bream are also moving on their spawning run, big trevally are also present and giving anglers plenty of fight, salmon and tailor are taking lures and giving lure anglers plenty of action.

Lure and fly anglers are getting their share fishing the system. Greg Jerkins, one of the local lure anglers has had good results fishing the Snowy capturing and releasing bass and estuary perch, such as his best beauty, a 53cm estuary perch.

Greg Jenkins with a massive 53cm estuary perch.