Did you achieve your 2005 fishing goals? Maybe that jew off the beach, a kilo bream or just to take the family fishing more often. I hope so.

My goal was to try to fish my local patch at least once a week but I found work and travel made that hard. I’m not complaining as it’s been a great year, during which I started a weekly fishing segment on Fox’s Weather Channel, completed a nine-episode fishing program for Channel 10, had plenty of boat tests and articles and I also finished my coxswain’s certificate at TAFE, something I have been meaning to do for years.

The kingfish are back patrolling the Pittwater rock ledges and prowling the moorings terrorising the local bait population and giving lure and fly chuckers the time of their lives.

Over the warm nights I just love heading down late to a local beach after jew. A big lump of squid or a whole mullet will always attract something and you don’t get tiddlers with big baits.

Working lures round the oyster leases is another way of having fun and luckily, I have a mate who has a boat designed for casting. I would love to crack a 2kg bream this season but will have to wait and see.

A bit of wind and a little sporadic rain haven’t deterred the hardy from getting out recently. Current to the south was a bit of a problem but it sure put the snapper in a feeding mood.

Chinaman leatherjacket activity at last has stopped but good-sized six-spined leatherjackets have come from the wrecks off Collaroy on dropper rigs.

Out wider there are schools of striped tuna taking pushers and Christmas tree lures – look for bird activity or feeding schools.

East Reef has performed well at night for jew on the high tide. Fish light and be patient as these fish can be very finicky.

Fishing Flat Rock, that top spot at Curl Curl, two anglers had a ball on tailor which moved within casting distance. They also hooked kingfish but only a few were landed.

The ledges at North Head have seen some great battles with kingfish. More than a few anglers have been smoked on these big greenbacks with the drag wound up as tight as it will go.

Beach activity has waned, with few reports filtering through. Henry Leong managed two whiting and a bream using live bloodworms at Freshwater Beach but that was after a solid six-hour session.

Rain has been a catalyst for action in the estuaries. Dusky flathead have graced the shores near The Gut in Brooklyn and bream are keen to eat pumped nippers in Mooney Mooney and Mullet creeks.

Using wheat as berley, Ian Jeffries and Rick Menzies scored five keeper bream while anchored off Bar Point. They used running sinkers right down to the hook and fished the slack water and Ian said fish were queuing up to get on the hooks.

After taking ages to get squid in Pittwater, Lance Jansen and Jon Byrne managed a couple of monsters and they trolled them near Long Nose Point. One was crash-tackled but the leader broke, then the second squid was hit hard and a 74cm king was boated.

I said I wasn’t going to mention Narrabeen Lagoon until the entrance was opened up but Jason Hargraves fished live poddy mullet near the Scout Hut for two flathead and a small mulloway.

Thanks to all those who supply information for this column – Lance, Evan, Ron, Phil, Steve and many more.

• My tip: When lure fishing and things go quiet, try this little trick. Dip the lure into tuna or pilchard oil and then cast out.

Adding a bit of scent to lures often sparks action as fish are drawn in to the mini berley trail.