Most land-based and boat-based anglers agree that the long hot summer predicted for this part of the world seems to have missed us to a large extent.

Nevertheless there have been good reports of snapper being caught in places such as the Franklin Channel. Alexander Davidson is one of the lucky boaters who has a set crew of two others that have had some great times, mainly on the reds up to the 8kg mark. They have also caught pleasing numbers of gummies and flathead that have been bagged on the run-in tide. There have been times when they have had to battle for a fish and having to contend with weed that does nothing as far as the fish are concerned.

The best time has been on the run off water and the results are even better when this coincides with early morning or dusk where baits such as pilchards, fish fillets or squid have been the best of the presentations.

The Lewis Channel has also been very good as far as whiting have been concerned but they are taking a back seat with many boaters looking for the bigger fish. There is a very serviceable triple boat ramp, which will take all size boats as well as ample parking facilities. The local council has installed a parking ticket machine where there is an applicable fee.

The whiting have been to the 40cm mark but most have been around 37cm and are taking baits such as Bass yabbies, squid, silver fish and strips of pilchards.

The entrance has also been popular with boaters who have been happy with their bags of flathead to the 2kg mark, gummies and snapper. The best time has been in calm conditions on the run-out tide. This same area can also be dangerous when the wind blows up against the tide.

Out wide there have been quite good size kingfish, but many boaters are saying that they are fairly hook shy and those that are being caught are taking jigs.

The jetties are well worth a visit and on calm days on the run-in tide there have been good numbers of flathead, silvers, mullet and squid being bagged. The east end of the structure is usually the best place to try your luck.

A short distance away is the other port in Port Albert where there is also ample parking and launching facilities.

Rob Killury runs the local general store and says that there have been good numbers of kingfish caught, as well as gummies and snapper both inside and outside the entrance. He has installed a gantry for the larger fish, such as sharks, and scales for the smaller species of fish. Just before this report he had one of his customers, Darrell, came into his shop and was very happy with his 6.5kg snapper that he asked Rob to weigh for bragging rights. He finally reckoned that he had out fished Jenny, who usually comes in with a bigger fish than him. He was very happy and in full bragging gear when the good lady came in with one that was 7.5kg!

The jetties have been getting a fair bit of a workout with best results being on the run-in tide. This is where there have been good numbers of flathead, silvers, mullet, garfish and eels taking baits such as whitebait, silver fish, pipis and Bass yabbies.