Great Autumn weather has gone hand-in-hand with excellent fishing. Whether on the beach, offshore or in the lake, you need a good excuse if you’re not catching fish.

Those heading offshore have had smooth seas with nearly no wind from dawn until dusk and these conditions have allowed the boats the luxury of launching in the lake and heading out to sea through a calm bar.

The past month has seen some good fish caught by those heading offshore with kingfish and bonito caught by trolling skirted lures. The kings have come anywhere from Gabo Island down to Big Ram.

Those hunting for flathead and gummy sharks have had some good success and some interesting by-catch when the odd kingfish has grabbed the bait.

If you’re launching in the lake and heading outside, remember it is safest to negotiate the bar on the incoming tide.

Many anglers have been fishing the beaches for salmon with all the gutters holding fish at some stage of the tide.

Tip Beach has been firing at the top of the tide, providing plenty of salmon for those fishing with pilchards. The average size is around a kilo with salmon to 2kg not uncommon.

There’s also good fishing in both Top and Bottom lakes and plenty of action in the rivers above Gypsy Point.

The Bottom Lake has fished well for flathead and bream along with some good-sized tailor and salmon.

Bait fishers have done really well using frozen prawns. The water is still a dirty brown and bait is often best in these conditions.

Lures have been good once fish are located, with good bream and flathead falling to blades and soft plastics.

Anglers wading in the Bottom Lake need to remember that there is a good chance you will get a case of pelican itch. My advice is avoid entering the water at all costs.

(Pelican itch is a short-term immune skin reaction after infection by water-borne trematode parasites which commonly live in snails and birds at various stages of the life cycle.

The itchy, raised lumps commonly occur within hours of infection and do not generally last more than a week. The parasite cannot live in humans and an antihistamines can reduce the reaction. – Editor)

The big tides have started to push some clean water back into the system and good water colour will mean good fishing over the Winter months.

Plenty of black and yellowfin bream are being caught right through the Bottom Lake and Top Lake with good black bream in the rivers above Gypsy Point.

The fish are all fat and in top condition as they are feeding up prior to spawning.

Good fun has also been had in the Betka River, which is still closed off to the ocean. There have been plenty of bream towards the front of the river with prawns a good choice of bait.