Finally Mallacoota is returning to its sleepy self after one of the biggest summer to autumn tourist season ever seen.

Fishing is the main reason tourists visit Mallacoota and they weren’t let down! Fishing offshore on the beaches and in the lake system provided everyone with enough fish to keep them happy.

Offshore flathead are still being caught but with the water cooling the fishing is starting to slow down. Gummy sharks are providing anglers with some great fishing. To target these great fish, find the depth of water where the fish are holding, then concentrate your efforts at that depth. Good quality fresh bait can really make the difference with fresh squid and fillet baits a top choice.

Not many boats venture out wide to the Shelf and Star Banks at Mallacoota, but this time of year would see you onto the last of the yellowfin tuna passing by with an even better chance of encountering a southern bluefin tuna.

Salmon is the fish to target for the winter months on the local beaches, with fish moving from gutter to gutter depending on the tide. Some good-sized tailor are also being caught amongst the salmon.

Fishing with metal lures has been successful with the pilchard and surf popper rig catching plenty of fish, with most caught on the popper.

The lake has been fishing well with the entrance area providing good catches of flathead, yellowfin bream and black bream. Fishing for silver trevally will also improve over the coming months with the weed edges the best spot to target these hard fighting fish.

The new fishing platforms around Lakeside Drive have been popular with tourists and locals alike. They have provided a comfortable place to fish and, more importantly, the fish are being caught off these platforms.

The walkway from Coull’s Inlet to Karbethong Jetty should be completed by summer providing yet more places for anglers to fish off the bank.

Good bream have been caught in both the bottom and top lakes with clients enjoying some great fishing with lures, catches of 50+ fish not uncommon for a day on the water. Most of these fish are around 30-34cm with the odd thumper to 45cm getting in on the action.

Bait fishing has been good with fresh local prawn catching good quality fish; just keep moving until the fish are found. Black bream and flathead are also being caught in the rivers from Gypsy Point upstream.