Just ask Corlette champion 4 year old Jarrod Walls (pictured), he will tell you that the thrill of catching your first fish will remain with you for a long time.

Jarrod wrestled this 1kg kingfish up onto the wharf at Pearson Park - all by himself.

There are a number of wharves and jetties spread throughout the Port which are sensational platforms for kids to learn the basics of fishing in a comfortable and safe environment. Shoal Bay, Little Beach, Salamander, Cromarty Bay, Taylors Beach, Tanilba, Lemon Tree, Karuah, Hawks Nest - just to name a few.

Realising the importance of jetties to the recreational fishing family, not one is inside a Marine Park Sanctuary zone.

Once the young ones have been hooked on fishing, the next step is to interest them in a boat when they reach their early teens.

A 12 foot tinny with a 15hp motor to kick it along will be one of your greatest investments.

The tinny will become the focus of family fun and later, when it comes time for the younger ones to take over the controls, the benefits will become increasingly obvious.

Independence is a great thing, it's a sign of parental trust and confidence, a bit like getting your driver's licence.

A real sense of responsibility and safety are by products of having control of your own boat, particularly if you have a couple of mates on board.

I encourage all parents and grandparents to give some thought to purchasing a tinny, it will be a decision with far more positives than negatives.

With the mullet run slowing down it's time for the bream to do their thing. Big schools of snowy white, broad shouldered bream are heading our way along Stockton Beach, Fingal and over onto Hawks Nest Beach.

Travelling bream are one of the best eating fish to come out of the sea. Inside the port trumpeter whiting are everywhere and dusky flathead are in excellent numbers, the "crabometer" however has dropped down to a miserable 2 and isn't expected to fire up again until next season.

Outside the heads, surface fish dominate the scene with bonito, fishcakes, tuna and dolphin fish on the prowl.

STINKER