August can be a bit of a strange month to go fishing. It can be cold and windy one day, and then sunny and warm the next. I find that with this irregularity in the weather pattern, it can play havoc with the temperature of the water, which in turn plays havoc with the fish. This makes it very hard for any angler to decide when the best time would be to go for a fish.

For some of you, the only time that you are able to fit a fish in is on the weekends or when you are away on holidays. For others, it can be at anytime. I have found that what makes a good angler is time on the water. The more time you spend fishing, you better you become at it.

This is where you should think about getting out with a fishing guide and learning the tricks of the trade from them. In Sydney, you have a number of fishing guides that will cover a variety of fishing scenarios that you can choose from.

It has been a few weeks since the last lot of rain that we have been experiencing in Sydney, so the Port Hacking River should have cleared up to a point where you can see the bottom in about 3-4m.

If you’re chasing flathead and mulloway, live poddy mullet and yellowtail will be your best option.

For bream, trevally and whiting, pink nippers and bloodworms have been working, and if you are after a few luderick for the pan, you will need fresh cabbage or green weed.

If you’re not into using baits and would prefer to use lures, I would suggest that you get yourself a few blades and start working the deeper areas of the Port Hacking River. Places like Gymea, Yowie, Burraneer and Gunnamatta bays would be good from out of a boat. The trick to using blades, is to work them as slow as possible with plenty of pauses in-between. When you are next in your local tackle shop keep an eye out for Berkley Power blades, TT Switch blades and Strike Pro Cyber or Astro Vibes.

From the shore you could try Gymea and Gunnamatta Bay baths, the sailing club in Yowie Bay and off Wally’s Wharf.

Even though the mornings will be cooler, you could try fishing off the beaches from Wanda to Boat Harbour for whiting and bream. Beach worms would have to be the number one bait for this style.

The rock washes from Bondi to Garie Beach will be worth a shot for bream, trevally, luderick, drummer and the odd snapper. You could also try spinning for bonito, salmon and tailor with metals or whole pilchards and garfish.

Further north in Botany Bay, there will be trevally and bream in the deep water off Trevally Alley, the oil wharf, Bare Island and the outside of The Drums. Berley with peeled prawns or nippers would be the go.

Tailor and salmon will be schooling up around the ends of the runways and off the sand bar at Dolls Point. Try casting or casting metals or whole pilchards.

Both the Captain Cook and Tom Uglys bridges will be worth a shot for bream and luderick towards the top of the tide. The southern side should also be producing a few mullet.

Sure, August is going to be one of those months that it is a bit harder to get a few fish in the bag, but if you put in the extra effort or maybe try one of the guides, you will not only learn something, you will go home with a few fish too.

If you have something to report or would like to know more about how and where to fish Southern Sydney, all you need to do is send me an email at --e-mail address hidden-- and I will get back to you.