There is one river system on the South Coast that runs through lush dairy country bathed in the warmth of the Spring sun and when this warmth heats the river, the fishing heats up, too.

With the rivers origins above Brogo Dam, this system has many miles to heat up and a real diversity of fish inhabit it.

Below the dam the river has many holes that harbour bass migrating upstream after spawning in the Bega River. These fish respond well to most lures.

The upper reaches of the Bega River, where sweetwater meets salt, contain a host of species. Bream, estuary perch and bass yet to return up stream are all there while those ever-present schools of large bully mullet are there for an angler with the smarts to catch one.

In the upper reaches of the salt you will find most of the estuary species. Black bream are among the most sought-after species and will hold in structure.

But if you find them out in the open over a gravel bottom you can be sure they are feeding and are easier to target.

Estuary perch also like structure and can be found around rocky outcrops or fallen timber. Luderick also inhabit these locations and are best targeted with squirt worms or nippers.

At the time of writing, the Bega river remains closed to the ocean. If it continues that way, expect good fishing through the whole system because it will be warm towards the entrance as well as in the upper reaches.

Other estuaries surrounding Tathra that are open to the sea will probably fish better in the upper reaches.

Around Tathra Wharf, the trevally action is pretty hot with plenty of silver bullets to wrap anglers’ lines around the pylons. Yellowtail will keep the kids amused and at tailor and squid are prominent.

The rocky platforms adjacent to the wharf and around to Kianinny Bay are home to many black drummer. Cabbage weed and cunjevoi are best for these, as well as for wrasse, luderick or silver drummer.

Silver trevally react better to cut fish strips, as will yellowfin bream, while passing schools of salmon offer a sporting alternative.

Salmon are in good numbers along the beaches and baits also account for tailor, bream, the odd jewfish and, now things have warmed a bit, gummy sharks on the full moon.

Offshore anglers are having fun chasing mid-water pelagics to bottom species.

Expect salmon and tailor to be on your shortlist with the chance of a stray kingfish.

Bottom fish vary from wrasse to cod, morwong and snapper and there are plenty of areas to try north or south of Kianinny Bay.

The flathead are now in season and more prolific every day.

The prime area is south out from Bournda in about 50m to 60m. You can also try north out from Wapengo, where sand flathead lurk with the tigers.

Travel a little further north to Goalen Head to some good reefs for snapper and morwong if the flatties won’t play ball.