With the footballs packed away and the weather improving there have been more boats out, and they have been returning with some good catches of fish.

The inlet at Port Albert is producing some good catches of whiting, along with mullet and salmon. The quality of the whiting is impressive, with some fish being over 40cm. The whiting are being taken from the Entrance and the Old Port area, with both Bass yabbies and cockles being the baits of choice. Just remember to open and leave your cockles on the bait board for a while so they will dry out a little and then stay on your hook longer.

The large flathead have made their presence felt, with the soft plastic fishers landing some nice fish in the shallows and around the drop-offs.

Salmon are a bit scarce this season, but hopefully they will show up and give anglers a good fight on light gear.

Offshore there have been some good catches of salmon and flathead, along with the odd snapper and a few gummy sharks.

The flathead, as always, have been a good source of action over the winter, and this will continue on through spring, with waters from Whale Bay to the Island producing good fish. There have been reports of fish to 60cm.

With only a few reports of pinkie snapper about, the diehards are waiting for the run of good reds. From Manns to McLoughlins is worth a try and so is the Franklin Channel at Welshpool. Squid, sauries and silver whiting are the baits of choice. A good by-catch for snapper fishers has been some nice flathead and the odd gummy shark.

Gummy sharks are starting to make their presence felt in Whale Bay and the inshore waters, with good catches being taken on cured eel, yakkas and squid.

As the water warms up, more of the nuisance fish will disappear and the bronze whalers and makos will move in.

Feel free to ring the Alberton Roadhouse on 03 5183 2450 for a fishing and weather update.

Natalie Whelan with a cracking flathead from Port Albert. These tasty fish should become even more active as the water warms.