Even with the dropping water temperatures there have been good reports from the local Port Welshpool jetties where the run-in tide has been the best time to wet a line. Silver trevally, salmon, flathead and even whiting have been taken on pipis, squid and Bass yabbies according to Cindy and Peter Rose, who run the local general store on the foreshore.

Cliffy Island has been producing kingfish, salmon, gummies and good-sized snapper. Top baits include pilchards, bluebait, whole squid and fish fillets.

George Holmes loves the Lewis Channel and last month visited the area on two occasions. Each time he managed whiting, garfish and silver trevally, along with snapper to the 34cm mark. Other anglers have been having similar success in the area. In the Franklin Channel, snapper are still making an appearance on the run-in tide along with the occasional gummy shark.

Yarram Hotel licensee, Mick Alderson, has been bagging gummies and snapper using West Australian pilchards at his secret spot in the entrance in around 30m of water.

On a recent visit to the area I spoke to Colin Anderson from Narre Warren, who loves to wet a line. He says that garfish to 40cm have been around in good numbers. Generally he has been taking them when looking for bottom feeding fish – but he isn’t complaining.

On the same trip there was a group of visiting fishermen who were very impressed with the improvements made to the boat ramp since their last visit. For their efforts they took very good bags of flathead, silver trevally, salmon and garfish, using pipis purchased from the boat storage.

For the benefit of those contemplating a visit to the area, the double boat ramp is in great condition and can take just about any sized vessel. The floating pontoon also makes life much easier, especially for those of us who aren’t as active as we used to be.