As to be expected at this time of year the weather conditions have cooled down to such an extent that we now have the water temperature down to 12C in many places.

This will be off putting to many boaters and land-based anglers but there are still good numbers of fish about, just that the conditions are a bit on the cold side.

As is always the case there are fish to be caught inside Anderson Inlet. I always call in at the local jetty and often come across boaters returning from a day on the water and the news is generally positive.

There have been very good numbers of Australian salmon being caught virtually right throughout the inlet where a variety of natural baits and surface lures have been doing the job. On a recent look at the jetty I came across the visiting Rayzman and Gelbrak families from Russia. They have decided to settle in Australia and now live in the Melbourne suburb of Carnegie. At the time they had a very nice bag of salmon, mullet and silvers and were happy with their efforts. This is not the first time they have fished the area and say that they will be back and love this country.

In the vicinity of the entrance there have been good numbers of salmon, silvers and mullet being taken in good numbers where the best results have been on the last half of the run-out tide. There have been a few whiting being bagged but not in great numbers as is usually the case at this time of year.

Boaters have been doing very well on the salmon to 1.5kg taken mainly on surface lures.

Further up towards Stevies Gutter appears to be good for whiting where they are to 36cm and taking Bass yabbies, pipis and squid. Harry Bright is a regular visitor and on a recent outing just before this report he and a mate caught a very impressive bag of royals that were all around 36cm and took Bass yabbies.

The area around the A frame house which is just to the west of Mahers Landing there have been good numbers of silvers, mullet and salmon that are being caught mainly on natural baits.

Mahers Landing is always worth a visit for garfish especially for land-based anglers. The run-in tide is the best time to try your luck and the fish are being caught right up to where there are two markers about 150m to the left of the boat ramp. Mullet, silvers, barracouta and whiting are being caught along with the occasional gummy shark.

At the top end of the inlet is what is known as the double islands. Local knowledge is essential but the area is marked but still take care should be taken as the shallow water can be a trap and there can be a long wait before the incoming water comes to the rescue.

Just before this report there was a big downpour of rain that flooded the Tarwin River there were quite good numbers of perch, mullet and silvers were caught by boaters and those fishing from the bank. There were also bream in fairly good numbers to 32cm and taking Bass yabbies caught on both sides of the low tide.

Andrew Starrett runs the Caravan Park at Shallow Inlet and says that the water temperature is down to around 14C as it usually is at this time of year. He says that there have been good numbers of small salmon that have been taking baits but not the lures as they usually like to chase.

There have also been big numbers of small flathead being caught which is a good sign for the future but not now. He says that the big torpedo fish should not be far off and when they arrive there will be plenty of action as they will be to 4kg and really try out gear and fishing skills.

They are usually accompanied by big silver trevally, which are also tackle wreckers but great on the table when fresh.