With school holidays upon us there is going to be increased boat activity on the water and at the boat ramps so remember to be patient when launching and loading your boat. Late afternoon storms will be rolling in so get out early and get into the fishing before the wind picks up.

It’s been a great start to summer with the whiting on the chew around the Green and Gold Banks, Short Island, Slipping Sands and the Broadwater with bloodworms, beachworms and yabbies are all working the best. Jason Pivott caught a couple of elbow slappers from the Logan River recently with the best weighing 622g.

Flathead are also still about but the really big 75cm+ fish are a bit harder to find now the season is over. I managed to sneak out recently and landed an 80cm flattie on a 7” white soft plastic out from Swan Bay in 40ft of water. My deckie Julian Morrow also scored a 58cm lizard on a pillie from Kalinga Bank.

Plenty of keepers around 50-60cm can be caught at the top of the tide as it turns and starts to run-out. If you can catch live bait like herring, mullet and hardiheads you will certainly catch more flathead. But soft plastics are a great alternative as they simulate the action of live bait.

A fishing club mate of mine swears by 5” plastics in light pink and light blue colours to land a few lizards. Try around Kalinga Bank, the Mud banks between Cabbage Tree Point and Rocky Point, the mouth of Behms Creek, southeast of Kangaroo Island on the flats and the Logan near Marks Rocks. Neil Brundell who featured in last month’s QFM struck again on soft plastics at Crusoe Island landing another quality lizard.

Bream are always available at the ‘Pin making this area a truly great spot to fish. Try for bream around the Pig Sties, Stockyards, Flatr ock, the Powerlines and Tipplers Island.

Small school jew have been about but since the size limit has increased to 75cm not many keepers have been weighed in. Try around Marks Rocks with livies, as well as out from Swan Bay, Kalinga Bank and Crusoe Island.

Muddies and sandies have also fired up with the recent rains so don’t forget your pots and dillies on your next trip out. Lately the best catches of muddies have come from those angler who have managed to nudge deep in the mangroves dropping their pots at high tide. Fish frames or off meat have been the better baits. Sandies have been taken along the edges of channels such as Jacobs Well Channel, Tiger Muller, north Canaipa and up near the Powerlines.

Thank you for your reports and feedback and if you have any questions give me a call on (07) 3287 3868, pop in and see me at Gem Bait & Tackle or shoot through an email to --e-mail address hidden-- . I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with plenty of fishing for all.