In September, sections of the water will become very discoloured after each cold front passes through. This is the result of the kelp being pulverised on the sand bars in the big swells, with the iodine by-product seeping into deeper holes and gutters. Many visiting the beach believe it to be detrimental to fishing, but the opposite is the case. This is a natural berley trail and you will be able to target fish on either side of it.

Most anglers will not be disappointed with the surf fishing on Venus Bay beaches. Bag limits of salmon up to 1.2kg are being caught quite regularly, with the majority around 800g. You will need to use firmer baits, particular salted pilchards, blue bait and squid strips on poppers.

The best beach has been Beach 4, about 70m to the right of the steps. And for those that don’t mind some additional exercise, right of Beach 5 towards Point Smyth has also been very productive.

After dark, we have seen the most productive gummy shark fishing for the season. The dark side of the moon has been the best time and fresh un-bled salmon fillets are the most successful of the baits.

In Andersons Inlet, schools of salmon are running from Point Smyth to the snags. This is a fantastic area to target salmon from your kayak. Trolling lures through this region is very effective but you must be aware of the tides as the water moves fast at either end of the tide. For land-based anglers, the mouth of the Inlet continues to provide plenty of activity around the high tide on metal and soft plastic lures.

As a result of the continuing rain, the dirty water line is progressing towards the mouth. As it pushes through the mouth at Inverloch, this natural berley trail will bring the schools of salmon and trevally deeper around the Flat Rocks area. Fishing from the land over the next month will produce trevally to 2kg and bag limits of salmon.

For those fishing Flat Rocks for the first time, the low tide will allow you to access the structure, the gutters and the run-offs. The water can be heavy in kelp so, to minimise snagging and losing rigs, fish two to three days after a front moves through.

September and October are the premium times to target salmon in the Inlet before the water starts to warm in November, along with the first run of pinkies and King George whiting moving back into the Inlet.

Estuary perch continue to be a little tricky to locate. When planning your trip, allow more time than usual to search for them. Trolling hardbodied lures around the Venus Bay Mud Islands, the snags and the lower reaches of Screw Creek on the run-out tide, should help in your search.