It’s that time of year when many fish species are on the move. Estuarine fish congregate near the entrances ready to migrate to sea, there are changes on the game scene and the beaches and rocks are showing signs of things to come.

The Bega River is a magnificent system holding a variety of species and plenty of ways to target them. After recent rain fish are more concentrated in the lower parts, meaning easier with bait or lures.

Lure anglers are enjoying some excellent flathead towards the entrance in shallow and deep water. There is the odd jewfish there as well while farther up the system around Thompsons, bream and estuary perch are in good numbers.

Flatties and jew like prawns, nippers, worms, live mullet and striped tuna. Whiting, mullet and trevally are over the flats towards the mouth while blackfish are being taken on weed around the bridge and the rocks adjacent to the boat ramp.

Around Tathra Wharf things are also active. Often underrated but delicious, sea garfish have moved in, providing great fun and a good feed.

Underneath them are some good trevally willing to wrap a line around the nearest pylon.

On the surface schools of salmon, bonito, frigate mackerel and kingfish pass and for those on the ball, action of plenty can be had using minnows and metal slugs while live slimy mackerel and yellowtail will account for the larger kingfish.

These species can also be found off the rocks from the wharf right around to Kianinny Bay boat ramp.

In sheltered Kianinny, schools of garfish congregate to provide easy angling.

On the rocks down below the pub around dusk and dawn, drummer can be taken on cabbage weed and cunjevoi. Remember, it is now illegal to use abalone gut. A float rig or a small ball sinker running to the hook work well.

The beaches are holding good numbers of salmon taking bait and lures. Whiting, bream and mullet can be targeted on beach worms in the shallower gutters near the entrances of the estuaries.

Offshore anglers are having a fine time with sand flathead easy catches off most beaches while tiger flathead are out in the deeper water.

Snapper are moving in over reefs north and south of town. They can be targeted in shallow water on lures and bait or out wider on bait. Goalen Head and out from Nelsons are the better reefs with a good mix of morwong, wrasse, leatherjackets and perch as by-catch.

Quite a few kings have been caught in these areas, too.

Trolling close to shore will pick you up salmon, tailor, frigates, bonito and kings on small bibbed lures and skirts. Have a spin stick ready for fish following those already hooked.

Out wide, game fish action is solid with marlin still hanging around and tuna starting to arrive.

Trolling lures will attract most action out around the continental shelf and Tathra Canyons. Large blue marlin are often encountered following schools of small striped tuna, medium albacore and larger yellowfin.

These tuna will also be taken on the lures but if they start to school up. try berleying.