It is over a year since big rains raised river levels and restructured the environment of the Bega River.

More rain has kept this river flowing in a way locals haven’t been seen for several decades and if this month fishes anything like last October, there are exciting times ahead.

The bream fishing in the Bega was sensational last year and shouldn’t be any different early this season.

The upper reaches, from Thompsons through to the brackish water of Jellat Jellat, are the target areas, especially over the shallow margins where bream are likely to be fossicking for juvenile prawns, shrimps, worms and nippers.

In the cool, clear Spring water, most of these fish will be able to be spotted in the shallows through polarised sunglasses. Anglers can choose whether they wish to target these fish with lures or fresh bait.

Those working lures will have to use some patience and present them to many fish before a fish is willing to take it. Small hard-bodied floating bibbed lures will probably work best, but those using soft plastics or blades will also have success if they persist.

For best results cast fresh nippers, worms, or prawns over shallow gravel areas where the fish are gathering.

You might think sounders are a waste of time in these shallows but most have water temperature gauges fitted. Where you find a few degrees of temperature rise is where you are likely to find the majority of the fish.

Anglers can also expect to encounter flathead, luderick, whiting and estuary perch in the same areas.

Spread out a little berley and those delicious garfish should be biting aplenty around the seagrass beds.

The upper reaches of the salt and into the sweetwater are well worth a look as the bass are keen to get back on the chew after their breeding season. If this year is anything like 2010, there should be some fish of 50cm to 60cm about.

Back down at the entrance, anglers chasing bream and flathead on lures have also encountered some very nice jewfish.

School holidays are always great fun for the kids and one of the best places to while away the hours is Tathra Wharf.

Ever-present schools of yellowtail and silver trevally, the occasional slimy mackerel and some of those lovely big sea garfish will keep them entertained.

Offshore the game fishing is quiet although there may be a scattering of striped tuna with the odd small yellowfin or albacore.

Mako sharks are also likely; berley with tuna for best results.

The best offshore fun at this time of year is definitely the flathead. The tigers are becoming prolific in 40m and more; go deeper for bigger fish.

There is the odd sand flathead, quite a few gummy sharks and over the reefs quite a few snapper and morwong.

It is also time to get back to Brogo Dam and on those warm evenings as the fish become active.

Following regular input from the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, there are plenty of fish in the dam and another 20,000 are to be released in November following the funds raised from last years Brogo Bass Bash.

The 2011 Bash is on December 3 and 4; to participate call me on 0427 934 688.