The season has had its ups and downs but when conditions have allowed there have been some very good results.

I like to visit the areas and most anglers are only too happy to share their stories, even if some are nothing much to brag about – sometimes that’s fishing.

Information from the Welshpool Boat Storage is that the Franklin Channel has been going along fairly well far as snapper are concerned. The reds have been to the 9kg mark, which puts them in the bragging range. Dave Harper was one of those lucky ones along with his crew who were also sharing the success.

One of them reckons that they deserve a mention as John ‘Rocca’ Stone said that this was his GPS mark and at the end of the day they shared the fish any way. ‘Rocca’ said that as well as the big fellow they also bagged half a dozen other snapper and a very nice gummy that made an appearance shortly before they decided they had enough for the day and headed home.

There have been good reports as far as the whiting have been concerned, where they are being caught to the 38cm mark, which puts them just about in the kidney slapper size.

Barney Davidson and a mate decided to tie up off the long jetty, which is located on the edge of the Lewis Channel. They picked the run out tide and were son into the royals that took Bass yabbies, squid and pips. As well as whiting there were a few silvers and flathead that made up for a good bag and although they kept them they were most happy with the whiting.

The entrance known as Singapore Deep has also been very productive with best results on the run-out tide where gummies, snapper and very good size flathead are being caught.

Outside the entrance around Hunter Point there has been good numbers of gummy sharks and snapper being bagged where pilchards have been the preferred presentations. Dan Godding said that his crew started off well with not much to show until they decided to try outside the entrance around Hunter Point and looked like missing out again. As a last resort, Dan decided to drop his pilchard in tuna oil before casting out one more time to see what might happen. He didn’t have to wait long until there was an enquiry and after a long fight landed a very nice gummy. His mate decided to try the oil method and he too bagged a gummy shark as well as a good-sized snapper that was around the 5kg mark. They also added a very nice fathead to the bag and were happy.

Out wide there have been positive reports of kingfish making an appearance and although there have been some thumpers around the 15kg mark, many have been not all that big but still well worthwhile taking home.

Back inside the entrance around the jetties, there has been some very good results as far as land-based anglers are concerned. Last month there were good numbers of squid, silvers, flathead and mullet being bagged. The best times have been on the run-in tide where a variety of natural and baits have been doing the job.

A short distance to the east is the other port in Port Albert. Rob Killury is the proprietor of the local general store and is always a good source of information, especially as far as fishing is concerned. He also has a large variety of supplies on hand. He says that there have been very good results inside the entrance where big flathead, gars, whiting and gummies have been in very good numbers, which is pleasing.

Local legend ‘Wheelo’ can always be found out on the water and doing what he can do very well, catching fish. Rob says that just last month he managed a very big gummy shark and although he doesn’t really worry about bragging rights, as that novelty has worn off a long time ago, he’ll still always be out looking for a quality fish.

The jetties are really firing and there has been a very good variety of fish being caught that includes flathead, mullet, squid and eels. Although there haven’t been any reports, no doubt there will be whiting hanging around a short distance out from the jetty.

Around the area known as the Blue Hole in around 20m of water there have been good numbers of big gummies, flathead and snapper being bagged. A variety of baits that include pilchards, squid and fresh fish fillets have been the best of the presentations for these species.