We can only hope and pray that August will provide us with some sort of stable weather – remember that stuff ? It’s what we used to have prior to all this flooding rain, gales and huge seas that have plagued us all year.

In the past, August was considered the month for westerly winds and very slow fishing but with the way things have been this year, who can really predict what’s going to happen?

Normally, rock fishing is still quite productive at this time of year. When the silly weather and sea conditions have allowed, I’ve enjoyed some excellent fishing at spots between Norah Head and Catherine Hill Bay.

Blackfish have been the main target and at times they’ve been as thick as I’ve seen them for many years.

If conditions allow, I’ve been fly fishing for the blackies and last month I mentioned that you won’t fill up a keeper net by fly fishing for them. Well, I was wrong, because if I didn’t release a lot of fish I would have filled a few keeper nets.

Some solid drummer have also been lurking around the washes, along with a few bream, salmon and groper.

Tailor numbers have thinned right out now, although there may still be the odd chopper hanging around this month.

Some rat kings have been hassling some of the blackfish I’ve been catching around the Frazer Park area and one greedy king snatched a big blackfish right at my feet. It’s funny to see just how fast a blackfish can swim with a king up its rear !

Over the next few weeks I suggest chasing drummer when there is a bit of wash around the rocks and groper if the seas are dead flat.

Pillies cast out off the rocks at this time of year are sure to get nailed by salmon.

\Beach fishing in August will also result in salmon, as their numbers are really building up now. Pilchards, cut in half or presented whole on ganged hooks, are by far the most effective baits but casting 30g to 45g metal lures on light tackle will also score.

A few bream and tailor may also be interested in pilchard baits this month, if they can get past the salmon. There is also an outside chance of a jewfish and a good chance of gummy sharks for those keen to stay after dark.

Brisbane Water has been fishing slowly through Winter, with blackfish and leatherjackets the most active species, particularly around the lower reaches from Woy Woy, to Saratoga and down past The Rip bridge. A few bream and small flathead have also been caught here and there.

I was lucky enough to run into numbers of bream by casting Berkley Gulps under the boats near Point Frederick one morning. They certainly weren’t huge fish but they kept me entertained for a couple of hours.

As I mentioned last month, slowly fished soft plastics are probably a better bet than hardbodies at this time of year.

Tuggerah Lakes have suffered quite a bit from all the rain this year. Each time the lakes start to get back to normal, the floodwaters hit again, turning the lakes to mud.

The Entrance has been the best place to fish because each incoming tide clears the water up enough to chase blackfish, which have been biting most of the time.

A few good-sized estuary perch have also been caught at The Entrance, but we must remember that the Winter closed season means that any EPs should be released unharmed until the end of this month.

Some larger tailor and quite a few salmon have been lurking around the lakes this year, which was also the case last year after the big flood.

A couple of giant herring were recently netted in the lakes, which shows us that there are probably a lot more weird and wonderful creatures swimming around than we would think.

Offshore fishing has also been tough, with cold water, big seas and wind making things difficult.

On the good days, there have been trevally, leatherjackets, morwong, a few reds and some rat kings caught and, out wide, yellowfin to 40kg have been taken.

Salmon may not be highly prized table fish but catching them on light gear could provide some fun if other fish aren’t biting.

Once again, the good old pillie on ganged hooks is about the most reliable way of catching them but most of the time they aren’t hard to tempt with small soft plastics or metal lures.

A 2kg or 3kg sambo jumping around on the end of your light bream gear really is top sport fishing action and if that sort of thing doesn’t raise a smile, it could be time to find a new hobby.