The new year is shaping up nicely for Botany Bay anglers, with plenty on offer for the next few months.

Bream have always been a top species to target in Botany Bay over the summer season. Lots of anglers are flicking soft plastics or small hardbodies at every marker pole, wharf, pontoon, weedy flats and so on. However, I still target bream in the bay with bait and it can be quite productive, especially when they form big schools during spawning as they smash the baits on the run.

To target bream you will need to anchor anywhere in the middle of Botany Bay and fish the run in or the run out tide with nippers or bloodworms. To get the best results keep moving around. Use a long soft rod and a ball sinker and long trace of about 2m and a no. 1 hook.

Flathead are another great species to target with soft plastics and small live bait. Soft plastics are great for fishing over the shallows in water around 1-5m, cast and work the plastic over the bottom as you drift. If fishing 5m and over, I find it’s far better to drift and bounce your plastic up and down straight under the boat.

When using live baits, drift or anchor on weedy drop-offs for best results. Small yellowtail or small mullet baits will produce well, just fish them on the bottom. A 6kg main line and a 10kg trace are ideal, as flathead will swallow live bait and could bite you off.

Kings are the other top species on offer and will fish well right through until May. They are rather easy to target as long as you can find good bait, like small yellowtail and squid. Spend time looking for good bait and you will improve you kingie catches this year. Anchor in deepwater around structure and keep the baits off the bottom.

Trolling will also work well on kingies and I have found small McGooes Skirts work a treat, just make sure that they break the surface while trolling.

With so much on offer and the great weather ahead Botany Bay should produce the goods.

For further information, keep any eye on my web site www.fishingsydney.com.au