THERE are not too many big fish that will not feast on a live yellowtail.

We are fortunate here in Port Stephens to have a steady supply of yellowtail and equally attractive bait – live slimy mackerel.

Just about anywhere you anchor over reefs from Birubi to Broughton you will find baitfish schooling under the boat.

Catching a few ‘livies’ for bait is a simple exercise.

Lower a longshank No 8 hook baited with a small cube of prawn over the side and hang on!

On some occasions the baitfish may need a cloud of bread to get excited.

Once they begin to bite they just keep at it.

Over the years I have regularly reported kingfish, mulloway, big tailor and sharks that are keen to attack a yellowtail or slimy mackerel.

This week it was champion Anna Bay fisho Sam Finn who hooked a great thumping 9kg snapper on a yellowtail just south of Uralla. Fish like Sam’s are swimming over all the reefs off our local coastline.

Lemon Tree champ Mick Dall fished the Pinnacle early in the week for a couple of cracker mulloway and a couple of handy snapper.

The sea has been flat as a flounder and boating conditions are ideal.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE