Hooked On: From snapper to a surprise cobia

THE Mid North Coast has been a bustling hub for anglers, offering a wide array of fishing opportunities despite recent rough conditions.

The Camden Haven River continues to be a top spot for anglers.

Rock fishing anglers have had mixed success targeting drummer, with Camden Head being a reliable location.

Other nearby headlands are also producing fish.

If you’re looking for a more delicate approach, luderick and bream have been biting exceptionally well, particularly at Perpendicular Point and Crowdy.

Remember to use fresh weed and light tackle for the best results.

In Lake Cathie, local anglers have scored some great tailor and school mulloway particularly at night and on the high tide. Offshore, snapper, kingfish and bar cod have been the main targets.

Rowlands is a prime spot, though other deep reefs in the area are likely to yield similar catches.

For kingfish, live bait and knife jigs have proven highly effective.

Last weekend, Port Macquarie offered diverse fishing for both beach and river anglers.

Before the recent swell, the beaches were a hit with bream and tailor.

Fishing the run-in tide at dawn or dusk with fresh bait significantly improved catch rates.

As the swell calms, expect beach conditions to improve.

Within the river, bream have been the primary species, with anglers finding success at the top of the tide using surface lures, soft plastics, and traditional baits.

For a rewarding challenge, target tailor on light tackle around the mouth of the river on the high tide.

Mulloway have made occasional appearances on the breakwalls, responding to both lures and live bait, though patience is key.

Offshore, snapper action was hit and miss last weekend, with productive fishing on shallow reefs around twenty metres of water using pilchards, soft plastics, and lures any deeper and anglers were finding there to be too much current.

Game fishing enthusiasts have been thrilled with the presence of striped marlin and tuna.

Abundant bait and bird life suggest high potential for a big catch.

Trolling lures, switch baiting, and skip baiting are effective techniques for these pelagic giants.

The Macleay River continues to impress with consistent catches of luderick, bream, and flathead around the local wharfs and breakwalls.

Beach anglers have also been enjoying success with bream and the occasional good-sized flathead.

Offshore, snapper fishing has been excellent for both lure and bait anglers.

For those venturing further out, kingfish, bar cod, and pearl perch were biting before the recent swell.

Deep dropping has also rewarded anglers with blue-eye cod.

While recent rough conditions have impacted some areas, the outlook is improving.

Anglers are encouraged to check local forecasts and reports before heading out.

By Kate SHELTON