You cannot get a better time than February to fish Tathra. School holidays are finished, there are not as many people around and there is action aplenty.

The highlight has to be the estuaries, which are in excellent condition and the fish are on the chew.

The upper Bega River is producing bass over 50cm. In the deep holes spinnerbaits have accounted for the larger ones while of an evening when the cicadas start to sing these fish will move in the shallows, providing some good fly and surface lure action.

Throughout the salty sections nearly every species is active. Black bream can be targeted on lures or bait with the section around Blackfellows Lake one of the best.

Flathead are throughout the river and lure anglers are having field day with the bonus of some excellent jewfish in the deeper sections towards the bridge.

Plenty of whiting, blackfish and mullet are responding well to fresh nippers or worms over the flats around the weed beds.

For a tasty treat use striped tuna or slimy mackerel berley to bring in big numbers of garfish.

Surrounding lakes like Nelsons Lagoon and Wapengo are also excellent with many of the same species. Both these systems are excellent for wading or kayaking.

There has been an excellent run of whiting, especially on Tathra Beach where the Bega River meets the ocean.

Beach worms are the best bait and you can expect bream or mullet on the same bait.

Salmon are in good numbers along most beaches and at night anglers can expect some good tailor, gummy sharks or small whalers and possibly a jewfish.

The historic wharf has its share of baitfish which attract kingfish, salmon, sharks and the odd tuna.

There are sand flathead on the bottom, luderick close to the rocks, garfish on the surface and at night tailor.

Up north off Wapengo there are plenty of sand flathead along with gummy sharks and the odd red gurnard.

These fish are also down south out from Bournda and the wider you go, you’re likely to encounter large tiger flathead in the deep water.

Out wide over the continental shelf are black, blue and the more common striped marlin. Lures are the best way to find where they are concentrated, then live baits may work better.