This time of year we see that nice warm water starts pushing down the coast bringing with it all those summer species we like to chase, whiting, flathead, bass, mackerel, tuna and those jacks.

Last year I was lucky enough to see some insane fish, including a 64cm red devil caught by one of those very secretive Clarence Valley jack fishos.

The big female flatties will all be down the lower end of the river, lying up along the walls, deep holes and reefs.

Remember to release these big breeders after a couple brag photos; we want to be catching these great fish well into the future.

But if it’s a feed of flatties you’re after, places like the North Arm or Oyster Channel are top spots to chase some nice eating quality 40cm-50cm flatties.

Throwing around plastics like Z-Man Minnowz in the space guppy colour has been dynamite on the flathead lately, as have the BJP Machete Blades in solar flare and blood prawn.

The whiting should be in full swing by now in places like North Arm and Browns Rocks. The best baits are live worms and live yabbies but if you can’t get hold of them, some fresh peeled prawns might get you in the chase.

If you’re keen to find some good-sized whiting, you could do a lot worse than fish at night on the new moon at places like Sleeper Island on the run-out tide with the aforementioned baits.

On the rocks and from the beaches, this is a good month to try to find some good-sized jewies on the big high tides. Fresh large squid and big hardbody lures are the pick presentations.

The beaches have had a few nice dart and whiting, with pipis and live worms being a safe bet.

Outside fishos will be waiting with baited breath for the first whisper of mackerel and then the madness will begin.

If everyone just uses a bit of commonsense and courtesy can make everyone's day a bit easier.

One important way we can do this is to have our boat completely ready to launch before we reverse down the boat ramp. There have been plenty of tempers flare when someone that has been waiting in line for 15 minutes reverses down the ramp and then takes the next five minutes to fiddle around and get everything ready.

Another way is to just fit in with everyone else when trolling. Usually when you arrive on the ground there will be a certain direction that everyone is trolling.

Just go the same way everyone else is and leave a nice distance between you and the boat in front of you – don't drive in their spread of lures.

And last but not least, if you see someone hooked up, don't see how close you can get to them!

Give them plenty of room to fight their fish; there is no worse feeling than losing a good fish when it is because some muppet cut you off.

If we just use a little common sense and courtesy we can make everyone's day, after all that's why we do this to relax, not to get agro.