With the holidays here, there is no shortage of visitors enjoying all Mallacoota has to offer. The past year has been the busiest any locals can remember.

On the water, many anglers are noticing just how finicky flathead can become when constantly bombarded with soft plastics. Some anglers have gone back to using live baits like nippers and mullet with good results from these fast-becoming-fussy fish.

Fishing offshore is a good option for a feed of flathead with the bigger bag limits and no shortage of fish. Many locals are taking this option when after a feed of fish, as they are noticing the difference in the flathead numbers in the lake as the years go by.

Not only are there flathead offshore there are also plenty of gummy sharks, which are great eating. And the action will only improve as the water temperature rises.

Fishing along the beaches has been good with plenty of quality salmon moving along the beaches and fish still entering the lake on the rising tide.

Locals have their fingers crossed that this year will be a good one for prawns – sadly, the past few years have been duds.

Healthy numbers of good-sized garfish are in the lake. The weed edges are the place to fish and if you lay out a berley trail you’ll help to concentrate the fish around you.

Plenty of good luderick are in the lake. Most of the anglers targeting these fish set up towards the front of the lake.

Luderick fillets taste surprisingly good if the fish is bled on capture and then filleted and skinned. Try them crumbed and pan-fried and you won’t be disappointed.

In early December we had up to 150mm of rain, which should help the fishing no end over coming months. The effect of the rain is already being felt, with the bream starting to fire.

The fish are spread out with fish in the Bottom and Top lakes as well as in the rivers.

Hardbody lures fished around the edges have been working well with the Rapala Husky Jerk and the Bushy’s Stiffy lures catching plenty of fish. No doubt many other brands work well, too.

Because the fish are spread out, it takes a bit of searching to find the best spot on the day.

Yellowfin bream are also being caught on bait and lures, with the Bottom Lake fishing well.

Plenty of yellowfin bream have been caught around Goodwin Sands as well. The best times to be on the water are early morning and late afternoon, right up in the shallows.