The Winter switch for fish in Mallacoota Inlet has been turned on, with great action for a variety of species.

Fishing from the beaches has fired up with plenty of good gutters holding good numbers of salmon with fish up to 3kg being caught.

As usual, these fish aren’t fussy. Anglers fishing with bait are catching fish alongside those tossing metal lures or soft plastics.

Offshore there has been little to report with big seas and poor access to the sea preventing many boats from heading out.

The real action, though, has been in the lakes, both Top and Bottom, with good fish being caught as far upstream as Gypsy Point.

The entrance area has been reliable for salmon but these fish have shown up anywhere in the Bottom Lake, often where you least expect them and with no hint at their presence.

The tailor are much the same, with fish around a kilo common and there are bigger fish out there. Unfortunately, an encounter with these ones often ends with a lost lure.

As usual, good-sized black bream are being caught on hardbody lures with favourites like Rapala Husky Jerks and Stiffy Minnows catching plenty.

Over the past few weeks we have experienced a good edge bite. But out in the deeper water vibes, blades and soft plastic lures have all been catching their share of yellowfin bream, black bream and, to a lesser extent, flathead.

The real action, though, has come from the estuary perch with good numbers of stonker fish being caught. These fish are over 40cm and are coming from a variety of locations in the inlet.

Hardbody lures have been working well with soft plastics also catching fish. The recent rains have brought these fish out and with a bit of local knowledge you should be amongst some good fish.

This is good news as the last few years it has been slow on the perch front. (The Victorian legal size is 27cm and the bag limit is 5. – Ed.)

Plenty of good-sized silver trevally are also being caught with soft plastics and blades catching good numbers.

The Betka River is again closed to the ocean but is full to the brim and it won’t be long before it breaks open to the ocean once more.

The front section has been fishing well for bream with quality fish caught around the bridge. Fingers crossed that it is open at the right time to let in the prawn spawn, ensuring good prawning for the coming season.