The local fishing is now starting to fire in Botany Bay and offshore. Many are keen to head out for the day as the warm weather approaches.

Botany Bay will see bream start to show in good numbers across the shallows. I find 3-6m about right to anchor, and then I drift these areas working small blades or soft plastics. I also soak a prawn bait or chicken strip on both tides at any time of the day. Move about for best results.

To give the bream a try this summer just anchor anywhere in the middle of the bay. My rig is rather simple; 6kg Schneider mono, a number 5 ball or bean sinker, and trace approximately 1.5m down to a number 1 hook. I just cast out, place the rod in the holder and wait. The bream will hook themselves, too easy!

A good outfit for bream is the Shimano 4000 baiter matched to Bushy SW Snapper 732 rod.

Bream are a great chance for all anglers all summer in Botany Bay or the Port Hacking River.

Kingfish are one species many are super keen to catch. I hope the rain holds off a little, the last two seasons have been tricky with dirty water moving through the system.

Kingfish move into Botany Bay mid November in good numbers and by the middle of December all is in full swing. They are one of our toughest sports fish to catch, so make sure your gear is up to the job. Don’t fish too light as it’s better to land the fish with plenty of life left in them, so they can be released if under size. Many are under 65cm so put them back, and let’s hope we see Fisheries on the water this summer doing their rounds.

Summer is also a top time to chase surface action with metal lures. Lately I have given Bumpa-Bar Lures range a good work out and these are top quality lures made from 316 stainless steel made right here in Sydney. They come with heavy rings and hook and will stand up to all you can hook on them. I have also used them in Weipa with great results on many species. It’s worth having a mix of colours in your tackle box.

Tailor, bonito and salmon are target species and the feeding birds will point you in the right direction. Try and work out your drift so you can stop wide and drift into the feeding fish for best results.

Summer is a top time to head out with lots on offer.

I’m back on deck after another great trip to Weipa and some outstanding results.

First few days had us fishing the blue water out from Weipa and along the vast beaches that surround Albatross Bay. We were casting poppers and metals and working soft plastics over the shallow reefs, for queenfish, cod, jacks, coral trout and long tail tuna out wide, just to name a few.

Last few days had us working the rivers and creeks for barra, jacks, golden snapper and some big mud crabs.

It’s 6 nights and 7 days aboard Weipa House Boats, spots are now open for 2015.