IT seems to me that catching a mighty mulloway is on the top of every fisherman’s catch list.

The good news is that mulloway are everywhere – on the beaches, over the offshore reefs, in the deep holes, over wrecks, around bridges, along breakwalls and way up in the shallow waters.

Catching one is another matter.

You don’t need me to tell you that the mulloway is a big fish, some close to 40kg, so it is necessary to prepare yourself for a real battle with heavy line (15kg plus) and big hooks (6/0 plus).

When it comes to bait, mulloway aren’t fussy and will have a crack at just about anything.

They do however have a preference for fresh squid, live yellowtail or slimy mackerel and fresh fillet of tailor.

They love nothing more than a big sea worm if you are fishing off the beach.

Mulloway will also gobble up a big prawn, pilchard, luderick fillet and live tailor or mullet.

Where there are masses of schooling fish there are predators, sharks and mulloway.

My favoured time to strike is one hour before sundown to two hours after with a rising moon on a full tide.

Berley with a rich mixture of bread, prawn heads and diced yellowtail – lower your bait into the berley trail and hang on!

The hottest mulloway spots at this time of the year are Stockton and Fingal Beaches.

Inside the port, target Karuah Bridge, Salamander Wreck, deep water around Middle Island and the Nelson Bay Breakwall.

Mighty mulloway can be caught around all the rocky headlands and islands from Birubi north to Broughton Island.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE