The days are starting to get longer as we head into Spring and I say bring it on!

This has been one of the toughest Winters for fishing in a long time but it won’t be long before the water starts warming and this is what is needed to get the fish back on the go.

We didn’t get good Winter rains but with luck we will get some over Spring. Hopefully, anyway, because Summer is usually dry.

Salmon fishing along the beaches has been good with specimens up to 2kg.

Good gutters are along all of the beaches and those anglers who don’t mind a bit of a walk are catching some nice fish at Shipwreck Beach.

Good gutters at Davis Creek have also provided anglers with some great action.

The fish have been moving quickly and can be in one gutter one day and then gone the next. Psycho lures in 20g and 40g sizes retrieved flat-out have been catching plenty of fish.

Some good-sized gummy sharks and with the odd flathead have been caught by those heading offshore. The best area has been off the front of Gabo Island.

The good news for offshore fishos is that after much debate, the planned upgrade of the Bastion Point boat ramp has been given the go-ahead. If all goes to plan the new ramp should be up and running within 12 months.

As soon as more boats start heading offshore from Mallacoota it won’t take long before we start to see some gamefish captures – few boats currently fish out wide.

The best fishing in the estuary lately has been in the Top Lake, with yellowfin bream, black bream and flathead all being caught.

The bite has been tough and hard to predict, though. One group of anglers fishing with me caught just under 50 fish for the day and the next day they worked just as hard for half that number.

Flathead up to 50cm (a good eating size) have been caught with the odd bigger fish to 65cm thrown in.

The bream have been averaging 35cm with a few fish to 40cm. As usual for this time of year, blades and vibes have been catching the fish.

Good-sized salmon have been roaming around the estuary and turning up in unexpected places. Some have been caught well above Gypsy Point.

Some big tailor have also been about, making short work of light leaders.

The entrance is still open to the ocean but only just. The rest of the creeks and rivers in the area are currently all closed to the ocean.