With the onset of autumn pinkies have made their presence felt, both offshore and in the inlet. Although they aren’t as big as the spring run of bumpy heads they are still good sport and even better table fare.

The snapper appear to be in good numbers from Manns Beach down to the reef system of Reeves. The best results have come from drifting over patches of good reef or over schools of fish that have been picked up on the sounder. Paternoster rigs baited with squid, silver trevally, mackerel or pillies have been accounting for the majority of fish.

The gummies have been a little quiet with only a few captures reported. The bigger fish appear to be out wide in the deeper water between 25 and 35m. Whale Bay is still providing small bronze whalers with local Natalie Whelan taking a nice 20kg bronzie.

The good flathead out at the 30m mark are still about in good numbers. The water around the Cliffy Island group has also been producing some good catches of flathead.

A little trick to increase flathead catch rates is to use a sea anchor to slow your drift down. That combined with a Silstar Jig’em rig and you’ll soon have a good feed onboard.

For those adventurous souls, the makos have been seen and caught in berley trails out beyond Cliffy Island and as far as Redondo and Moncoeur islands. Just remember you’re a long way from port so pick your day.

On the inside scene the whiting have been patchy. Catches of three and four fish seem to be the order of the day with the occasional diehard getting their bag. The Wreck and the Nine Mile Creek area appear to be producing more consistently.

The ever reliable flathead are still being caught in good numbers around the boat harbour at Manns. The weed beds at Kearney’s are producing a nice feed and while here, you can try your luck on the local garfish by throwing around some berley.

The Port Albert Jetty has been fishing well with yellow-eye mullet and flathead caught on the run-out tide. Whitebait and pipis have been the baits of choice.

As the water becomes cooler over the coming month the silver trevally will become more prevalent from the jetties. Spotty salmon will move into the estuaries and seven-gill sharks will make their presence felt offshore. With cooler weather come calmer seas and some of the best fishing of the year.