Cold water temperatures as well as howling winds had a negative effect on fishing but there have been small windows of opportunity where fish have been caught.

There have been scattered reports from the boat storage where it would be fair to say that most boats have not moved. However there have been times when locals such as Graham Gooding and long time fishing mate Malcolm Green have defied the elements and had some reasonable returns given the conditions.

Outside the entrance there have been a few occasions when the wind has died down enough to get out. This is when salmon have been making an appearance along with flathead that have been taking a variety of baits and surface lures. Even further out wide there have been reports of kingfish being bagged but its fair to say there is plenty of water mixed in with them but as we all know, you won’t catch them at home.

For those who know the area well enough there have been very good size garfish being caught on the run-in tide. The mini marlin have been up to 350g which are well worth the effort and can be filleted with a sharp knife and a holding fork. When properly presented as a boneless fillet they are very hard to beat. There have also been quite a few good-size flathead, silver trevally and mullet being caught when the conditions. When this happens the jetty is also worth a try on the eastern end of the structure.

On the other side of the inlet at Yanakie, Tony Holgate runs the caravan park and says that the conditions have been awful as they usually are at this time of year. He says that flathead are in reasonable numbers and being taken on soft plastics and natural baits. Although there have not been any reports of silvers or gummies they should be around and when conditions allow, a trip to the area may well be worth the effort.

A short distance to the west is Shallow Inlet, which appears on the map as not much more than a splash but this is misleading. Karen Starrett and husband Andrew who run the local caravan park say that the cold conditions have kept most of their regulars away but recently there has been the annual influx of big salmon that will really test angler and equipment to the limit. They have been taken on just about any surface lure and natural baits where best results have been near the entrance. As well as salmon, big silvers have also arrived in good numbers along with flathead and mullet.

Regulars will know that there is no constructed boat ramp as such but the firm sand is suitable. Just be a bit careful though and if you are not sure where to go ask Andrew and he will point you in the right direction.