The rains came to Mallacoota a week after they hit the Eden area, causing the lake to rise about a metre.

The lake shores were flooded, with wharfs, roads and fish cleaning tables under water and even launching a boat was a nightmare.

The amount of sand built up at the entrance left the shire no choice but to open the lake mechanically.

The lake has dropped now with a good entrance allowing the tides to move in and out. Hopefully it will last a while because boats can now head offshore with ease.

Good fishing was had in the dirty water as the lake was rising.

Craig Jolly had a great session on the bream in Harrisons Channel using frozen prawn. He caught good numbers of both yellowfin and black bream.

Good-sized tailor were also being caught in the same area, with Paul Menes having a bit of luck landing a thumping tailor while chasing bream using a soft plastic lure on a light leader.

As the water clears, good action will be had around the weed-fringed channels near the entrance. Silver trevally, tailor and salmon will comprise the bulk of the catch.

The rain came at a perfect time to inject life into the estuary right through the Winter.

In the deeper sections of the Bottom Lake, good catches of bream and flathead have been taken by those using soft plastics and blades.

The same can be said for the Top Lake, but it’s taking a bit more searching to find the productive areas.

Garfish have been excellent but with the lake opening, many of the big gars will probably head out of the lake to sea.

Plenty of big yellowfin bream have been caught along the beach near the entrance. These fish will move in and out of the lake with the tide.

This rain is what is needed to fire up the fishing for perch, with their usual haunts coming to life as the water clears.

The beaches have been excellent with plenty of good-sized salmon caught by those tossing metal lures or bait.

Tailor are also taking lures and baits near the entrance to the lake.

Offshore, there have been some good catches of sand flathead coming from Gabo Island, along with some gummy sharks.