The kingfish have already started to show up in numbers in Botany and Bate bays, even though some of them are a bit small at present.

This month these fish will definitely increase in size and numbers so they would be worth a shot. Try casting a live yellowtail or squid at one of the many marker poles in the bay.

If you can’t get any livebait, you could flick around a few 4” to 6” soft stickbaits. I fish these stickbaits three ways – cast and retrieved at a moderate speed with the rod tip held high; retrieved in a jerking motion or slowly drifted down beside the pole or mooring buoy.

We should also see an increase in the numbers and size of flathead, whiting, blue swimmer crabs and bream in the bay and in the Georges River. Places worth a look include The Sticks, Watts Reef, the oil wharf, Yarra Bay, Trevally Alley and the end of the Third Runway.

If you are fishing from the shore you could try anywhere from the breakwall at the entrance to the Cooks River and near the pine trees at Dolls Point. Best times are early in the morning, just before dark and on overcast days.

Port Hacking should fish very well for bream, sand whiting and silver trevally. When baitfishing, have a steady stream of berley going – just enough to attract them, not feed them. A BaitRunner-style reel helps in allowing the fish to run before you set the hook.

Over the past few months I have had a couple of inquires from concerned anglers as to whether you are allowed to fish in the Sylvania Waters area. They told me that they had been abused by many residents who had told them that no fishing is allowed in Sylvania Waters.

These residents have also told them that they own the waterway and that a sign at the entrance to Sylvania Waters says ‘no commercial fishing’. Don’t they realise that there has been no commercial fishing in the area for a number of years?

My understanding is the residents own their land, pontoon, wharf and the seabed out in front of their house. They do not own the water or the fish so if I fish there from a boat I am committing no offence. Am I right or wrong?

Port Hacking kingfish have come along in leaps and bounds over the past few years and it is not uncommon for bream anglers to get busted up by kingfish while casting soft plastics under moored boats. To have a good chance of landing one you will need to beef up your gear and terminal tackle.

This month we will also see increased numbers of anglers on the beaches of southern Sydney. Try Wanda, Maroubra, Bondi, Coogee, Greenhills, Jibbon, Garie and Stanwell Park for bream, sand whiting, mullet, tailor and mulloway.

The best times are during the week, early morning, late in the afternoon and on overcast days. Baits that will produce are beach and blood worms, white bait, whole and half pilchards and pieces or fillets of fresh tailor or slimy mackerel. Fresh squid should also work.

Rockhoppers can’t go past the Kurnell Peninsula, North Garie Beach and Coalcliff Point. Just remember to watch the swell and use fresh bait for the best results. I like using skinned yellowtail fillets.

The Woronora and Georges rivers will start to fire for bream, whiting and flathead this month. Try fillets of chicken, mullet gut, peeled Hawkesbury River prawns and strips of salted strip tuna or bonito. The upper reaches of both of these rivers are also worth a try for bream and estuary perch, usually in close to the rock walls and tight on the snags.

Offshore, the mahi mahi, kingfish, snapper, morwong, trevally, sand and tiger flathead will be on the move. You might need to get an early start to beat the wind.

To everyone who reads my column, especially those who email and phone, have a great Christmas.