PLOMER Bay has witnessed an extraordinary mackerel season, since the new year, both locals and visitors have enjoyed remarkable catches of Spanish mackerel, often landing personal bests.
Alongside the mackerel frenzy, cobia have appeared in impressive numbers, ranging from a few kilos to hefty thirty-kilogram giants.
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The cause of this abundance remains a topic of speculation, with possible influences including currents, unique weather patterns, or simply a rare abundant year.
In the Hastings River, recent rains have spurred excellent bream fishing.
Luderick numbers are on the rise, particularly around the breakwalls where cabbage is proving effective.
Flathead remain plentiful upstream, while the whiting season is winding down, though a few late catches are still possible.
Mud crabs are active, but anglers should be aware of reported trap thefts around the lower reaches of the river. Beach fishing is equally productive, with bream abundant along all stretches of sand, responding well to pipis and mullet strips.
Whiting and an increasing number of tailor, especially south of Port Macquarie, are also being caught by those using beach worms.
Rock fishing is also yielding good results, with tailor catches around two kilograms reported from most headlands, and surface poppers and spinners enticing larger fish.
Bream and luderick are biting well off the rocks, with Plomer Point being a particularly productive location.
Offshore, those who ventured out mid-week reported mackerel, cobia and tuna in Plomer Bay.
Further out, the reefs produced some great catches of pearl perch, kingfish and snapper with a temporary break in the current.
In the Camden Haven, the river is producing excellent flathead catches, and occasional schools of mulloway are tempting anglers near the break walls. Beaches around Bonny Hills and Dunbogan are holding bream and tailor, especially in sheltered areas where beach worms are effective.
Rock fishing offers the chance to catch tailor or school mulloway and heading south towards Crowdy Head the ledges have held sizable drummer.
Calmer mornings before the wind picks up are recommended. Offshore reports, while not specific to Camden Haven, indicate decent catches of snapper, pearl perch, and kingfish off Crowdy Head and around Lake Cathie reefs.
In South West Rocks rock fishing enthusiasts are still enjoying success with pelagic catches off the local headlands. The Macleay River this week has also produced cobia and kingfish around the breakwalls.
Offshore reports continue of pelagic action from black marlin, wahoo and mackerel.
By Kate SHELTON