With the abundance of bait about at present things are looking very promising for the months ahead with some superb bream and sea trout already being bought to hand.

Resident trout enthusiasts are also catered for with December being a good time to hit up the southern streams.

The channel offers similar sea run trout fishing to the Derwent estuary but as an added bonus the channel also holds a healthy population of escapee Atlantic salmon.

The Atlantic salmon can be caught using similar methods as you would to target sea trout, such as a slowly retrieved, unweighted pretty fish being the most productive method.

Proven productive locations include; Castle Forbes Bay, Waterloo, Cygnet and Dover.

The lower reaches also hold a very healthy population of sand flathead and although they are often small in size they most certainly make up for this in numbers.

Soft plastics and saltwater fly are the two preferred methods. Recommended soft plastics are Berkley minnows and the Ecogear range.

The majority of areas hold fish with the land-based angler best to concentrate on jetties/wharves located at Margate, Woodbridge, Kettering and Gordon.

Boat anglers should concentrate on fishing around the abundant fish farms, as this is often where some larger fish hold.

The nearby Esperance River is also a great sheltered location that can be a saviour in rough weather. The river mouth holds good numbers of flathead, juvenile Australian salmon and bream during the warmer months.

A berley trail and bait or soft plastics are the most effective methods.

The lower channel towards Woodbridge, Kettering and Gordon also holds a healthy population of calamari squid and although not renowned for their sporting prowess there is no denying there table qualities!

Besides the calamari it will also not be long until we are blessed with large numbers of arrow squid, this species normally turning up around Christmas.

The Huon River and the upstream feeder streams are fished by many over the coming months.

The Russell, Denison, Judds Creek, Arve and Weld rivers all hold a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout.

Although the fish are often quite spooky the dominant brown trout and occasional rainbow are very fond of a 5cm floating brown or rainbow trout Rapala lure, otherwise the traditional Rublex Celta is effective.

Fly anglers will also have success and even though the lack of casting room is frustrating the flyfishing can be superb.

On warm afternoons fish will rise freely with a well-presented size 14 CDC Emerger or Elk Hair Caddis fished on 3lb tippet the fly choice of the day.

For those prepared to search for larger pools bait fishing can also be effective.

The author with a sea run brown trout spotted cruising in less than 30cm of water.