Yellowtail kingfish have turned up in great numbers with hoodlums averaging 7-11kg being caught inshore right along the coastline.

Trolling a wide variety of lures inshore from places such as Port Fairy and Killarney Beach have seen some real tussles going on between angler and fish.

Further out in depths of 100-200m, mako sharks from 60-175kg have been landed by hardy boaters willing to bring a frisky mako alongside the boat, let alone in it! Ballooning large fresh baits out from the stern in conjunction with plenty of berley has seen the best results.

Bottom bouncers fishing out wide in similar depths have been rewarded with Tasmanian striped trumpeter to 7.5kg! Caught on whole baby squid, these have to be one of the best eating fish around and not to be missed if you happen to be out fishing at these depths.

Closer inshore, King George whiting have become somewhat more plentiful with fish averaging 45cm coming on board. Fresh and local pipis will out-fish the frozen variety any day. Remember to use plenty of berley and give each spot at least 30 minutes before a move.

If wrasse turn up and pester your baits, shift position. An underrated and versatile fish is wrasse. If you pick up a male blue throated wrasse or blue nose, consider keeping him for the table. They’re not bad eating fresh. Another smaller female or juvenile will quickly change sex and colour and take over the running of the school.

Right along our coastline, surf fishos, rock hoppers and breakwall anglers have caught some good snapper to over 3kg. The fish are not thick on the ground but they are out there.

The Hopkins River has been prolific for bream averaging 32cm but rising to 42cm as I recently discovered. Estuary perch are also prolific but again averaging just 32cm but some thumpers have been caught, mainly at night, but they are the exception to the rule.

During the day the smaller variety seem to be on offer.

The Curdies River is still sporadic for bream, as they still seem to be scattered far and wide throughout the estuary. I do have two reliable reports of big fish to 43cm falling to soft plastics cast towards the bank upstream of the Curdievale (Boggy Creek) boat ramp.

This fishing frenzy happened from first light through to 10am when everything seemed to shut down.