Flinders Island fishing is now in peak season, which will continue through to next May.

With warmer water flowing down the NSW coast toward the islands, temperatures are on the way up.

Inshore the snapper are back with the fist fish appearing on the west coast off Trousers Point and Marshall Bay.

Off the east coast the gummy and school sharks are running into the deep channels of the Pot Boil shoals, with fish of 15-20kg there to be caught around the slacks of the tide. Flathead, which were slow in September are on the beaches and all around the island in good size and numbers.

Once the water passes 16C yellowtail kingfish will move onto the outer reefs.

Offshore the striped trumpeter season is open again and stays open till September 2012.

These superb eating fish are caught in 80-100m of water just inside the continental slope, and range from 3-15kg in weight.

December sees the first of the tuna arrive with the smaller albacore first, followed by the yellowfin and striped marlin later, so now is a good time to dust off the game fishing gear and have everything ready to go.

For the surf angler, spring has provided some excellent fishing with the 2kg + flatties back on the beach and good-sized Australian salmon running well in the North East River.

With summer easterly weather, the rocky points on the west side also provide some interesting catches.

Using floats and the wind behind the angler, a range of fish can be caught. Kingfish come in close at times and occasional black drummer are possible.

The best spots are Salmon Rocks and Trousers Point.

It is interesting that small and medium mako sharks are caught by boats fishing close to Trousers Point in December, January and February; given the right weather and gear a land-based mako should be possible.

After the winter quiet, Flinders Island is the place to fish right through into early winter. Flights to Flinders Island are available with Sharp Airlines from both Melbourne and Launceston with a range of accommodation all around the island and charter boats working out of Lady Barron and Settlement Point.

James Luddington operates the Strait Lady on Flinders Island and is the islands most experienced skipper for a wide variety of fishing experiences. James can be contacted through www.flindersisland.com.au/fishingtours

Snapper are at full tilt during November.